By Sue Clark on Sep 19, 2007 in Opinion, Other | Comments Off 
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The above was the headline in the Baltimore Sun which caught the eye of Lighthouse News. The story is referring to the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge, and is a very nice overview of the weekend activities, which was to visit as many of Maryland’s ten lighthouses as possible. While it certainly seemed to be a fun weekend for lighthouse enthusiasts, the real meaning behind the story’s headline is that all of our nation’s lighthouses have so little time. And this applies to other countries as well. Most are endangered by years of neglect, as almost all are automated. Without a lighthouse keeper to tend to the maintenance, these historical gems are in danger of being demolished or just left to rot.
By Sue Clark on Sep 16, 2007 in Lighthouses For Sale | Comments Off Print This Post
The Virginian Pilot came out with a timely article on a fixer upper. An offshore, rundown lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay, the Middle Ground Light. Two years ago, it went up for auction from the GSA along with three others, and it was Bob Gonsoulin’s dream to own one. He persuaded his wife and inlaws to let him enter the online bidding for the decrepit but still active light. They claimed they went along as a lark, and to keep him from pouting. But he outbid the others, with a winning amount of $31,000.
By Sue Clark on Sep 15, 2007 in Lighthouses For Sale | Comments Off Print This Post
Looks like Strutt and Parker have become the premier broker for lighthouse properties in the UK. Besides the Belle Toute Lighthouse, they’ve now added another to their offerings. This time, it’s the West Lights, Tayport Fife, Scotland. But, minimum bids for this one are £475,000, or $953,040.20 USD. Not a bad price, considering you get an awesome view of the River Tay from the sunroom (pictured at left).
By Sue Clark on Sep 12, 2007 in Lighthouse Keeper Jobs | Comments Off Print This Post
Added September 14:
The two new caretakers at Wind Point Lighthouse are Michael and Susan Arts of Racine, Wisconsin. The couple met at a lighthouse in Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, and were married at a lighthouse on Sullivan’s island, South Carolina.
It’s down to two possible candidates for the Wind Point Lighthouse caretaker according to the Journal Times Online. The hiring committee, after interviewing a dozen of the top applicants for the job, selected just two for a second round of interviews. The committee is comprised of members of the Friends of Wind Point Lighthouse, village officials and members of the community. They received 159 applications for the job. A decision by them is expected to be made later this week.
By Sue Clark on Sep 10, 2007 in Lighthouse Keeper Jobs | Comments Off Print This Post
The Boothbay (Maine) Register had a nice story about the restoration effort at the Cuckolds Island Lighthouse recently, with the highlight of the story coming from Nancy Conley, former Coast Guard wife who served at the station in 1965 and 1966. The event was a trip out to the island to view the progress being made on rebuilding the house, which was demolished in the late 1970s.
Maine Senator Susan Collins was on hand to greet the visitors before they left for the island from the Carousel Marina in Boothbay Harbor. Part of the purpose of the trip was to be on hand as the Coast Guard installed a new lens from Sweden in the tower.
The above was the headline in the Baltimore Sun which caught the eye of Lighthouse News. The story is referring to the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge, and is a very nice overview of the weekend activities, which was to visit as many of Maryland’s ten lighthouses as possible. While it certainly seemed to be a fun weekend for lighthouse enthusiasts, the real meaning behind the story’s headline is that all of our nation’s lighthouses have so little time. And this applies to other countries as well. Most are endangered by years of neglect, as almost all are automated. Without a lighthouse keeper to tend to the maintenance, these historical gems are in danger of being demolished or just left to rot.
