Digest>Archives> Nov/Dec 2011

Keeper's Korner

Tidbits and Editorial Comments from the Tower

By Timothy Harrison

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Fairport Sold - Again

The General Services Administration has sold Ohio’s Fairport Harbor Lighthouse for the third time. The previous auction winners failed to follow though on their purchases and they forfeited their deposits. The current high bid was $72,010.

Cutter For Sale

The former USCGC Bramble now owned as a floating museum by Michigan’s Port Huron Museum is for sale. The asking price is $300,000. The Bramble was decommissioned in 2003 and was one of three cutters to successfully navigate a northwest passage (west to east) through the Arctic Ocean in 1957.

Manitowoc Sold

The Manitowoc Breakwater Lighthouse in Manitowoc, Wisconsin has been sold by the General Services Administration to Philip Carlucci of New York for a paltry $30,000. Interestingly, the U.S. Coast Guard painted the tower just before the sale so it would look good before the transfer of ownership. However, the Coast Guard did not attempt to remove the graffiti on the concrete base of the tower. Carlucci is said to have stated that will be a project he will undertake before he puts on a special coating to make it easier to remove the graffiti in the future. He also hope to partner in some way with local preservationists to help maintain the tower. Photo by Larry Nichols.

Beamer Rock to be Moved

Scotland’s 1826 Beamer Rock Lighthouse is to be moved to make way for a new bridge. For the time being the 20-foot tall lighthouse will be placed in storage. Some locals are hoping that it will be put on display at the Port Edgar Marina with interpretative signage that would explain its history.

Time Capsule Installed

Newspaper reports indicate that as part of the restoration of Michigan’s Fort Gratiot Lighthouse local officials have installed a 12-inch long by 5-inch wide time capsule within the walls of the lighthouse. Unfortunately, they did not share any photos with us of the event. We wonder what the secret is.

Closed Door Policy

The Finnish Lighthouse Association is fed up with the Finnish Transport Agency’s policy of refusing to open the doors of its lighthouses to the public. The association wants the lighthouses transferred to another government agency that could open the lighthouses for the public as tourist attractions.

Unknown Fog Bell

Rumor has it that there is a U.S. Lighthouse Service fog bell on display at the Twin Lakes 4H Camp southwest of Bremerton, Washington. We do not have any photos of it nor do we know which lighthouse it came from. If anyone can help please e-mail us at: Editor@LighthouseDigest.com.

No Money for Barnegat Lighthouse

The State of New Jersey is running out of money to operate the Barnegat State Park where the famous Barnegat Lighthouse is located. However, the lighthouse is not in danger of closing. Numerous area groups have said they will step forward to maintain the park and the lighthouse including the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.

Lighthouse Stamp Released

The United States Postal Service has finally released the lighthouse stamp from a painting named Long Leg by famous painter Edward Hopper. The stamp was originally slated to be issued in August of 2009 but was delayed because of the ongoing financial problems that have beleaguered the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp, which is the tenth in the series of American Treasures stamps, features the Long Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts when the keeper’s house was still standing. Because the stamp has been issued as a “Forever Stamp” you can purchase the stamps now and they will always be equal to the value of the price of a first class stamp, regardless of whether the price increases.

The United States Postal Service has finally released the lighthouse stamp from a painting named Long Leg by famous painter Edward Hopper. The stamp was originally slated to be issued in August of 2009 but was delayed because of the ongoing financial problems that have beleaguered the U.S. Postal Service. The stamp, which is the tenth in the series of American Treasures stamps, features the Long Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod, Massachusetts when the keeper’s house was still standing. Because the stamp has been issued as a “Forever Stamp” you can purchase the stamps now and they will always be equal to the value of the price of a first class stamp, regardless of whether the price increases.

This story appeared in the Nov/Dec 2011 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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