Lighthouse News

Press Release

Tim Harrison, editor and publisher of the Maine based Lighthouse Digest magazine says it’s time to make August 7th as our nation’s official National Lighthouse Day. In doing so, he has asked for help from Maine’s Senator Olympia Snowe. Harrison said that ever since the 200th Anniversary, on August 7, 1989, of the federalization of our nation’s lighthouses, lighthouse groups have unofficially celebrated that date.

Nottawasaga Lighthouse In Holding Pattern

One of the six Imperial Towers along Georgian Bay on Lake Huron will be waiting a bit longer for repairs, thanks to the economy. Although Canada is one of the least affected countries by this persistent recession, it still doesn’t have the $4.5 million to give to the Department of Oceans and Fisheries for the repairs to this beleaguered beacon. Member of Parliament Helena Guergis has been lobbying for the funding as well. A letter from her detailing her efforts was part of the agenda package for the town of Collingwood (Ont) Council, who heard an update on the lighthouse last week.

May 30 Relighting Planned

Wow. May 30, 2009 might go down in lighthouse history as the “Day of the Relighting.” On that date, McGulpin Point near Mackinaw City will be relit, a new lighthouse at Richards Landing, St. Josephs Island, Ont., will be dedicated and lit, and now South Manitou Island Lighthouse near Traverse City will be officially relit on that date. If you can drive fast enough, you might even be able to catch the celebrations at all three of them. The lighthouse was restored through a partnership of the Manitou Island Memorial Society and the Manitou Island Transit (ferry service from the mainland). The light has been dark since its decommissioning in 1958.

Repairs Expected to Exceed $2 Million

After waiting more than two years, the West Pierhead LIghthouse has been transferred to the city of Oswego, New York. Unlike Port Huron officials, this transfer has city officials beaming. Working with the H, Lee White Museum, the transfer dragged on while a lease was negotiated with the Army Corps of Engineers, who own the breakwall where the lighthouse sits. The deed giving the city title to the 75-year-old West Pierhead lighthouse was filed May 8 at the Oswego County Clerk’s office. “It’s good to have ownership,” said Oswego Mayor Randy Bateman in a story at Syracuse.Com.

“Some people see things that are, and ask ‘Why.’ My brother Bobbie saw things that were not there, and asked, ‘Why not?’” - Eulogy by Ted Kennedy for his brother.

In a time when the Coast Guards in the U.S. and Canada are trying to shed their unmanned lighthouses to save money, there is at least one man who saw something that was not there, but should be. The Honorable Ray Stortini, a retired Justice of the Superior Court of Justice in Algoma, Canada, has sought for several years to build a lighthouse. And he has finally succeeded. A new lighthouse, replacing the small navigational light sitting atop a warehouse, will be dedicated and lit on May 30, 2009.

Lighthouses Available For Transfer To Non-Profits

The National Park Service has finally released the list of lighthouses that have been excessed by the Coast Guard for this year. These lighthouses are only available after a rigorous vetting process to qualified state and local governments, nonprofit corporations, educational agencies, other federal agencies, and community development organizations. There’s no charge for these lighthouses if they are transferred under the National Historic Preservation Act of 2000, other than the costs of restoring and maintaining them. As always, the lights are working beacons and the Coast Guard maintains unrestricted access to the optics. And the usage of these lights must be to make them as available to the public for educational, cultural and recreational purposes.

City Manager Wants to Renegotiate Terms With NPS

Michigan is my home state. While others revile Detroit and the state, I still am proud to refer to myself as a Michigander. On the one hand, the state supports and cherishes their lighthouses. Emmett County even went so far as to buy a private lighthouse and return it to its original state and relight it. But on the other hand, there are certain clueless city managers that refuse and obstruct the transfer of one of the most historic lighthouses in the state to their care. That manager is Bruce Brown, City manager of Port Huron, Michigan, pictured at left. An article in the Port Huron Times Herald appeared today that completely shocked me. If my calling Brown clueless sounds harsh, it’s because I’m privy to certain knowledge about what has been going on behind the scenes. And there is absolutely NO excuse for Brown wanting to send back the deed for “further negotiation.” Let me explain…