The Keeper's Blog

Long Time...

2006-04-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

I've been pretty busy since last Summer, so I haven't posted here in a while. Let's catch up quickly:

1. My next book, New York State Lighthouses, comes out July 3. This is the main project that has been keeping me busy. I'll post more info on the web site and here as we get closer to the release date.

2. The 2006 LI Lighthouse Challenge is May 20-21. Cruises out of Greenport will run on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings. Check the web site for updates. Cruise tickets can be purchased from LighthouseTShirts.com (631-277-4611). Tell Nancy that Bob sent you.

3. The optic at the Fire Island Light was privatized earlier this year. Facing the prospect of having the powerful DCB-224 and it's cool sweeping beams replaced by an anemic VRB-25, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society took the bold move of taking responsibility for maintaining the old light. It's nice to see groups stick their necks out to do the right thing.

4. Wobbles the Lighthouse Kitty was ill over the Winter. Poor little Wobs had to deal with Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease. He's better now -- no more medication, and he's almost back to a regular diet, although we are handfeeding him twice a day to make sure he gets enough fluids and the right food. He's eager to get back out and have some new adventures!

5. Speaking of Wobbles, I am working with illustrator June Blair on a children's book about Wobbles. I expect the text to be done within the next couple of months, then we'll see what June comes up with, followed by the daunting task of finding a publisher.

That's it for now. More soon. :-)

Another Haunted Lighthouse Program

2005-08-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

SciFi must be short on topics for their Ghost Hunters series, as they once again spotlighted (please pardon the pun) an eastern Long Island Sound lighthouse. This time, at least, it was one that has been reported to be haunted.

Now I won't say that there are or aren't any such things as ghosts, spirits, etc. That's not a bad topic for casual -- or even heated -- conversation between friends, but it is a little beyond our scope here. Let's stick to the show.

Many lighthouse fans know the story of "Ernie the ghost" at the New London Ledge Light in Connecticut. In short, Ernie was a keeper whose wife ran off with a local sea captain. Ernie, distraught over the loss of his wife, jumped from the top of the lighthouse to his doom. I don't believe that I have ever heard what he died from -- it's not that far from the sea level to the top of this harbor light -- perhaps he drowned; perhaps he bounced off the pier. Regardless of the cause, he perished, but has remained about the lighthouse ever since.

The TAPS team, which this SciFi Channel series follows, investigated the lighthouse with their special cameras, and other whizz-bang, hi-tech stuff, but didn't find anything that couldn't be explained by human activity. You have to find it ironic that the famous Ernie did not make an appearance at New London Ledge, while the Race Rock Light -- with no previous stories of hauntings -- was found to be haunted by these guys last year.

Again, I'm not here to make any claims or push any agenda about ghosts or other paranormal or supernatural activities. I do, however, wonder if SciFi is picking these sites just because 1) they're not far from TAPS HQ, and 2) lighthouses have a natural mystique that lends itself to spooky stories and, just perhaps, ratings.

I'll admit to a personal peeve that I have about folklore being used to make historic sites more marketable. It's an unfortunate fact that there are folks in the lighthouse community who use stories to take money from your pockets via poorly-researched books and various knick-knacks. I just fear that this is another one of those cases.

Almost September

2005-08-27T19:23:00.000-04:00

Wow, time has been flying. Although I have been pretty quiet publicly since the lighthouse challenge, I have been very busy behind the scenes...

- The Long Island Lighthouse Challenge went well. The long days wore me out a bit, but it was fun, and the participants, as well as all the groups involved, had a good time. Planning is under way for 2006, with May 20-21 as the target date.

- I'd like to thank all who have offered congratulations and nice comments regarding my receiving the US Lighthouse Society's 2005 President's Award. I was stunned by the award and, knowing Wayne Wheeler's strict and high standards, quite honored by it.

- Speaking of Wayne Wheeler, his retirement this Summer ends 22 years at the front of the American lighthouse preservation movement. It's sad to see him step down -- I will miss his leadership and advice.

- In early August, I signed a contract for my second lighthouse book -- this one on the lighthouses of New York State. It won't have the depth of research seen in my first book, but will have more images. I suspect it will sell more copies than the first book, primarily due to the backing of a major publisher. I am excited about this project and have been working hard at it. The book should be out late Summer or early Fall 2006. I may do a more in-depth NY book down the road. As I did with my first book, a complementary web site will be set up: NewYorkLighthouses.com. Watch for it in October or November.

- Another book project seems to be coming together, as well. Wobbles the Lighthouse Kitty has become so popular and there have been so many recommendations to make his life and adventures into a children's book that I have decided to move in that direction. I have been speaking with a children's book illustrator (I won't spill her name until we commit to the project) who has done at least two books about cats. She and I also spoke about a children's coloring book, but more on that at a future time. This illustrator, by coincidence, lives just a few towns away, in the town where my mother grew up and I was born.

- Speaking of Wobbles: Wob now has his own web site, at www.LighthouseKitty.com. He is doing well and is eager to go on a new adventure. He has been stuck in the house too much and is ready to take a trip. With less than a month left until my wedding, it'll be tough to find time for a lighthouse adventure for him, but he is going to a family barbecue with us tomorrow, and there will be kids there, which he loves.

- I have been playing guitar with Sampawams Creek (www.SampawamsCreek.com), thus far performing two genres: traditional nautical music and colonial era music. The colonial has been surprisingly fun, and we do it in period dress (tri-corn hat, waistcoat, stockings, buckle shoes and all that). September will be a busy month for the band, with about five or six public appearances. Check the web site for dates and places and come see us!

That's all for right now. I hope to be able to post more soon!

Lighthouse Challenge Near

2005-05-08T20:38:00.000-04:00

- The inaugural Long Island Lighthouse Challenge is just days away. The groups had the last meeting on Saturday, May 7. The coins arrived Friday. The banners are ready. The merchandising is underway. The Challenge has been the subject of show segments/articles on WLIW's Ticket, Plum TV's The Morning Show, LI Boating World, Newsday, Lighthouse Digest, the World Lighthouse Society's newsletter, North Fork magazine, Suffolk Life, the NY Times, (I probably missed a couple) and I still have a radio interview on WLIU on Wednesday.

- The May 14 cruise is sold out, but there is still room on the 15th. Contact Nancy at 631-277-4611 or nbahnsen@LighthouseTShirts.com about the cruises (and merchandise). Also, check her web site: www.LighthouseTShirts.com We are also having a non-Challenge-related cruise on May 21.

- I will be at Orient Point 8am to 3pm both days, then on the cruises in the evenings. I will also be at the reception dinner on May 13. Please say Hi if you see me.

- Once the Challenge is over, I'll have a little time to catch my breath, update my site, and get on with some other projects. I have a new adventure for Wobbles in the works, among other things.

April Updates

2005-04-16T19:21:00.000-04:00

- The inaugural Long Island Lighthouse Challenge is getting close. there has been a greater buzz about it than I expected. Several magazines, newspapers, and newsletters have run stories on it. I was even interviewed on WLIW/Channel 21 about it. The May 14 cruise sold out in 14 days without any press releases, with a waiting list of over 50 people at present (more on this below). The basic schedule for the weekend:

Friday, May 13 - Reception dinner at the Islandia Marriott, with Wayne Wheeler (US Lighthouse Society president) and Bill Younger (Harbour Lights president).
Saturday, May 14 - Challenge sites open 8am to 6pm
Saturday, May 14 - Cruise to see Long Beach Bar, Cedar Island, Orient Point and Plum Island departs at 4:30
Sunday, May 15 - Challenge sites open 8am to 6pm
Sunday, May 15 - Cruise to see Long Beach Bar, Cedar Island, Orient Point and Plum Island departs at 4:30

More about the Challenge is at: www.LongIslandLighthouses.com/challenge.htm

- Since the May 14 cruise sold out so quickly, and there was such a demand for tickets, we have added a cruise on Sunday. It will see Long Beach Bar, Cedar Island, Orient Point and Plum Island. $60 includes sandwiches, salads, and soft drinks. There is one stipulation, based on the fact that there is only one boat in Greenport that can do this cruise: If Saturday's cruise gets postponed due to weather, it will run on Sunday and Sunday's cruise will be canceled and all ticket costs refunded. Visit www.LighthouseTShirts.com for reservations, or contact Nancy at nbahnsen@LighthouseTShirts.com.

- And one more cruise: Because of the "buzz" about the Challenge and the fact that it will undoubtedly create more interest in local lighthouses, LightouseTShirts.com and I have added a longer cruise for Saturday, May 21. This cruise will see Long Beach Bar, Orient Point, Plum Island, Little Gull Island, Race Rock and, if the conditions are right, we'll get a look at the ruins off Gardiner's Island. I'll be along to share local lighthouse history and lore, and will probably talk a bit about Gardiner's Island and the Gardiner family. The 16th, and last, lord of the manor, Robert David Lion Gardiner passed away last year, ending the oldest chapter in Long Island history. I met Bob Gardiner a few times (he was my niece's godfather) and will share some stories (funny, interesting, and sad) about Long Island's last nobleman and his family's heritage. This cruise is $70, including sandwiches, salads, and soft drinks. Inclement weather date is Sunday, May 22. Again, visit www.LighthouseTShirts.com for reservations, or contact Nancy at nbahnsen@LighthouseTShirts.com.

- Work on the bluff at Plum Island is nearly completed. The rocks procured by the LI Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society (www.LILighthouseSociety.org) several years ago are in place. These will help protect the bluff from wind and waves. Plantings above the rocks will help control erosion from runoff. With a rate of erosion similar to that at Montauk Point, and only about 50 feet left in front of the lighthouse, this is good news for the future of this lighthouse. The Plum Island Animal Disease Center should be commended for their efforts to get this done.

- The professional architectural assessment of the Plum Island Light conducted last November, also arranged by the LI Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society, should result in a written report very soon. The assessment was paid for by the descendants of former Plum Island keeper William Maynard Chapel and a grant from the NY State Council on the Arts.

- The Cedar Island Light was assessed the same time as the Plum Island Light, with both being done by Walter Sedovic Architects (www.modernruins.com). Cedar Island's written report should also be ready very soon.

- March saw more visitation at LongIslandLighthouses.com than any previous month: 21,136 visitor sessions; 682 per day.

Enjoy the nice Spring weather!

March Updates

2005-03-22T06:38:00.000-05:00

- Yesterday (Monday, March 21) I was interviewed for WLIW Channel 21 show, Ticket. Everyone there was wonderful and friendly - and interested in lighthouses. I had a great time on the show, but wish we had had more time. As is, I spoke about the book and the LI Lighthouse Challenge. Some of Nancy Bahnsen's photos were shown (I only gave her about five hours notice to get some photos together for the show), and I had one of the new Harbour Lights Cedar Island Lighthouse replicas on the table on the set. I would have liked to mention the replica and a bunch of other topics, but time was short. It was fun, and I think I was more comfortable on TV than I have been previously. Incidentally, the shirt and tie I wore were a Valentine's Day gift from Diane.

- The Cedar Island replica, as seen on the table on the Channel 21 appearance, is now available. You can order one from the LI Lighthouse Society and have the profits go to the Cedar Island Lighthouse preservation effort. Go to http://longislandlighthouses.com/cedarislandreplica.htm for more information.

- I've added more new stuff to the 2005 LI Lighthouse Challenge part of the site, including pretty detailed directions, and a PDF version of the brochure. If you'd like to help distribute copies of the brochure in your local area, contact me at LILighthouses@aol.com and I'll send you some.

- The May 14 evening cruise that I'm doing with Nancy Bahnsen of LighthouseTShirts.com sold out in 14 days. We'll try to find a way to accommodate more people next year. The speed at which we sold out 100 spots surprised us.

- February saw 19,351 visits to my web site. That's 691 per day, up from January's 642 per day.

- I'll be performing with Sampawams Creek Friday, April 8, 8 to 10pm, at the Pisces Cafe in Babylon. I believe we'll be doing some colonial American music and Irish music, in addition to the sea songs and shanties.

- On Sunday, April 10, I'll be speaking and signing books at the St James General Store.

That's about it for now. Enjoy the Spring!

Early February Updates

2005-02-03T18:39:00.000-05:00

A little this and a little that today...

- LongIslandLighthouses.com had 19,914 visitor sessions in January. That is probably the busiest month the site has ever seen. It's nice to see it growing. I had neglected it for some time to work on other projects, yet the visitorship stayed pretty good. Now that I have been working to update and expand it, the numbers have been growing greatly. That makes the work more worthwhile.

- New material on the site includes links for Life Saving Stations, a couple of new sea songs, and updates on the LI Lighthouse Challenge. I'll continue to add more, so check back often.

- Exciting news: Harbour Lights will be releasing a replica of the Cedar Island Lighthouse soon. This is something that several of us have been working on for about 5 years. I have seen several photos of the replica, and it is neat. There are a couple of real special touches incorporated into it. To learn how to get yours, visit my site (www.LongIslandLighthouses.com).

- I received a call from the Fire Island National Seashore about the Lone Hill Life Saving Station this week. The Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association has applied for a permit to demolish the 1912 building. I doubt it can be stopped, but I was asked to poke around and see if there's anything else that can be done. There are a bunch of practical problems with saving it. Of course, there are a bunch of cultural and ethical problems with demolishing it. It'll probably be lost. That's a shame, as there is so little left to commemorate the amazing bravery and sacrifice of those who served as surfmen on Long Island.

- Van Field, author of Wrecks and Rescues on Long Island, has been prompting me to look more into trying to save the Tiana Life Saving Station, in Southampton (not far from where the Shinnecock Bay Lighthouse was). Right now is a tough time, as I have a bunch of projects in the air, but I am doing some preliminary research on it. If you are interested in helping out, contact me at LILighthouses@aol.com.

- Planning continues on the Long Island Lighthouse Challenge. The Village of Old Field has agreed to allow visitors on their property, as has the Coast Guard at Eaton's Neck. It also looks like the Nantucket Lightship should still be in Oyster Bay in May. There is still a bunch to do, but with everyone pitching in, it'll get done. Special guests for the weekend will include Bill Younger of Harbour Lights, and US Lighthouse Society president and founder Wayne Wheeler. Visit www.LongIslandLighthouses.com/challenge.htm for updates and lots of info.

- The LI Lighthouse Society's Gold Coast cruise is scheduled for Sunday, May 1. See the lights at Stepping Stones, Execution Rocks, Sands Point, Cold Spring Harbor, Eaton's Neck, Huntington Harbor, and the remains of the Lloyd Harbor Light. The Nantucket Lightship may be included, if it is still in Oyster Bay. Sampawam's Creek is providing the live entertainment again this year. The cost is $85 (unless you are a member) and includes continental breakfast, hot buffet lunch, narration, entertainment, and more aboard the Skyline Princess. This is Long Island's premier lighthouse cruise, and it only happens once a year. Sign up before it sells out. Call 631-207-4331.

Hopefully, I'll have more to share soon!

Another New Project

2005-01-04T07:12:00.000-05:00

To those who know me, and many who visit my site, it is no secret that I like to stay busy. There's just so much to do in this world, and such little precious time to do it. So it won't surprise too many people that I have a new project. This one will allow me to help preserve maritime history, share it with many people, and have fun while doing so.

Many of you have probably seen the new pages on my site related to songs of the sea. This has become an interest for me through working with lighthouses. I have seen a few maritime musical acts at various events, and even began using a local band at some lighthouse events. This band, Sampawam's Creek, performs a variety of maritime music, including forecastle songs and sea shanties. And they do so in a fun, friendly, and educational manner.

The core of the group, brothers Tim and Mike Fitall, are friendly guys who play several instruments (Mike on banjo and Tim on mandolin is my favorite combo). After seeing them play a few times, I asked them to perform for the East Islip Historical Society. Coincidentally, both of them are local guys -- Tim lives about two blocks away from me, and Mike used to live right around the corner from me. Anyway, after their performance at East Islip, I mentioned in passing that I play guitar. They asked me if I wanted to audition to join them as a fourth member (Ken, AKA The Rocket, plays with them most of the time, and he's a wiz on the harmonica). Although I had never played any folk music, and had played very little acoustic guitar at all, I thought I'd give it a shot.

Monday night (January 3) I went to Tim's with my new Ovation guitar (I used the audition as an excuse to buy another guitar) and sat down with Mike and Tim for a couple of hours. They seemed satisfied with my playing and singing, so I'm in.

I'm really excited about playing in a band with these guys. They're all better musicians than I, which means I have a great opportunity to learn from them. I have even uncovered my father's old tenor banjo, and have begun to learn that instrument, as well. I have a photo of him playing it at a Halloween ball in 1943 (he was 31 years old then), and it's neat to think the old banjo may get a new lease on public life. Dad would be happy.

So keep an eye on my site for performances by Sampawam's Creek. I'll make note of those at which I'll be performing. If you see one you can attend, let me know you'll be there. Or if you'd like to book the group for an event, call Tim at 631-277-1180 and let him know you heard about the band from me. I'm sure Tim will bring CD's to sell, and I'll bring copies of my book. :-)

The Lighthouse of Genoa

2005-01-04T06:59:00.000-05:00

Although my site is primarily about the lighthouses of Long Island, I don't mind branching out here and there to embrace related topics. Recently, I have been adding many new features, and they have seemed popular, so I'll keep adding what the site's visitors seem to want me to add. That will include off-island topics.

I recently added a link to my site for the Lighthouse of Genoa, Italy, after receiving an e-mail from Alessandro Fasciolo, the lighthouse's web-"keeper." Since it is a nice site, I'm happy to pass it along to readers of The Keeper's Blog.

Alessandro's site contaions photos and information on one of the world's oldest (and probably one of its tallest) lighthouses. A read through the page will undoubtedly make you want to book a trip to Italy to see it. Enjoy!

http://www.provincia.genova.it/lanterna/lighthouse.htm

LongIslandLighthouses.com's Popularity Gaining

2005-01-02T19:03:00.000-05:00

Visitorship numbers have been good lately, averaging above normal for the last few months, but December 2004 set a new record for monthly visitorship on the site: 17,232, or an average of nearly 559 per day. For a specialty regional history site, I think that's pretty good.

The continuing popularity of the site is probably due to a few things, including the recent updating of information, addition of new features (the LI Lighthouse Challenge, Wobbles the Lighthouse Kitty, songs of the sea, and life-saving stations) and the fact that I have been in the papers about four times in the last couple of months.

2005 will see a bunch of improvements on the site, so be sure to stop by every so often. And don't forget to keep an eye on the events page (www.longislandlighthouses.com/news.htm) for the most up-to-date LI lighthouse event info.

Happy New Year!

2005 Long Island lighthouse Challenge

2004-12-31T18:42:00.000-05:00

Today, Chatt Chapman (a director for the LI Lighthouse Society) and I did a dry run to scope out the course for the first Long Island Lighthouse Challenge, which will be held May 14-15. We did the run to work on getting good directions and other important information for the many expected participants.

We started out at Chatt's house (in the Babylon area) about 7:15am. We went in the following order: Fire Island Light, Montauk Point Light, Cedar Island Light (then across Shelter Island using the ferries), East End Seaport Maritime Museum, Long Beach Bar Light, Plum Island and Orient Point Lights, Horton Point Light, Old Field Point Light, Eaton's Neck Light, Huntington Harbor Light, and Nantucket Lightship, then to the Islandia Marriott (where we expect many people to stay).

We did not enter any lighthouses, but did at least see each of the lights on the course from its intended area. The course was about 210 miles and took us ten hours. We estimate that taking tours at the open lighthouses, and getting as close as possible to the others, would add close to another ten hours to the course. With the schedule for the weekend being 8am to 6pm both days, that makes the time allotment just about right for the course, without making it too easy.

We wrote down pretty exact directions, and added various notes (such as the high cost of food and fuel in some areas, or the location of gas stations and restrooms in areas largely devoid of such things, or the danger of wildlife crossings, etc.). I will take all ten pages of directions and notes and put a readable version on my web site for participants in the challenge to use. An abbreviated form will go in the brochure. I will also do my best to make the directions usable for folks staring in different spots, or going in a different order.

Chatt's a great guy, so ten hours in the car with him was easy. We took our time, rarely exceeding the speed limit, and took time for breakfast on the South Fork and hanging out a bit at the Eaton' Neck Coast Guard station in the afternoon.

I'll have more info on the challenge before too much longer (our next meeting about it is January 9), and will update the challenge web site then: www.longislandlighthouses.com/challenge.htm.

Right now, I'm off to some New Year's Eve merriment (Yes, I'll be careful). Have a wonderful 2005!

Holiday History Fun

2004-12-30T07:50:00.000-05:00

I have always enjoyed the holidays. It's a special time of year -- friends, family, and the opportunity to review the last year and look ahead to the new one. I have also always enjoyed the history of the holidays. Special things do happen at this time of year, and have for some time, so it is always fun and educational to look back at Christmastimes past. This year, I had the opportunity to enjoy some holiday history.

On December 11, I was part of the Fire Island Light's second annual Flying Santa program. Last year was the 50th anniversary of the Flying Santa's visit to the Fire Island Lighthouse, so we celebrated it with a program involving the history of the Flying Santa, and were lucky enough to be able to involve the light's keeper at the time, Gottfried Mahler, and his wife Marilyn. This year's program included me giving a talk on the history of the Flying Santa, going back to 1929, words from Gottfried about his experiences with the Flying Santa (his note to Ed Snow -- the Flying Santa at that time -- was published in Snow's 1955 book), a fly-by from a historic plane, and a visit from Santa Claus. People were attentive to my talk, and gracious to Gottfried, but Santa always steals the day when he shows up. The kids had a great time, and even I had my photo taken with Santa. More about the Flying Santa is at: http://flyingsanta.org/

Last night, December 29, I went to the annual Candlelight Evening at Old Bethpage Restoration Village. Now, this doesn't involve anything to do with lighthouses, but it is big on history. The nighttime event, which was held the weekend before Christmas and the week following, includes historic music and dance (contra dancing, fife and drums, fiddle, organ) at several places in the village, readings of holiday stories (including the obligatory "'Twas the night before Christmas..."), interpretation of old holiday traditions, a big bonfire, hot cider, a magic lantern show, and more. If you have never attended this, and can possibly find a way to do so next year, don't miss it. Dress warm, bring a lantern, and be prepared to enjoy one of the most unique events around. To fully enjoy it, plan on spending two to three hours at the village. The hours are 5PM to 9:30. I had a blast, and will be back next year. More information on Old Bethpage is at: http://oldbethpage.org/home.htm.

That's it for now. I expect to have some more soon...

Harlan Hamilton's Long Beach Bar article

2004-11-30T20:13:00.000-05:00

An article in the November/December edition of Long Island Boating World may have established a new low for lighthouse-related journalism. The article on the Long Beach Bar Light, by Harlan Hamilton, managed not only to disseminate grossly wrong information, but promote fraudulent fundraising, and walk mighty close to the edge of libel.

As if it wasn't bad enough that he made inexcusable mistakes in the article, he actually attacks my book (and then makes a sales pitch for his right underneath that). I guess the funny part is that even though I did not include his book in the Suggested Reading section of mine (because of his questionable research and writing), I have never publicly criticized him, his book, or his articles. I have not even written to Long Island Boating World about mistakes in past articles by him in their publication. Now, he is unfortunately forcing me to do so.

A response to this article is posted on my web site at: www.longislandlighthouses.com/hamiltonresponse.htm.

I have also requested, in writing, a correction and apology from Long Island Boating World.

More Updates and Expansion at LongIslandLighthouses.com

2004-11-30T15:01:00.000-05:00

Lots of new stuff...

In addition to page updates and Wobbles the Lighthouse Kitty, I have been adding even more...

The site is now the official site of the 2005 Long Island Lighthouse Challenge, an event taking place May 14-15, 2005. This will be largest lighthouse event ever on Long Island. Go to the site for more info, and keep an eye on it as we update the specifics of the event.

I have begun adding a section on the Life Saving stations of Long Island, with the help of historian/author/preservationist Van Field. This will be an ongoing project.

Another ongoing project is a section on songs of the sea. I've been posting the lyrics of some popular sea songs and chanteys (shanties), along with some notes on them. There will be lots of additions over time.

The number of visitor sessions on my site for November was 14,101. That's a bit higher than normal, and is probably due to the fact that I was in the newspaper a couple of times about the Lone Hill Life Saving Station.

Life Saving Station Demolition Update

2004-11-14T14:01:00.000-05:00

Over the last week, I have been working with local shipwreck and Life Saving Service historian/preservationist/author Van Field on a report that the old Blue Point station, which has been used for many years as a community center, was about to be torn down and replaced with a newer, larger building.

This morning, I took a ferry out of Sayville to Fire Island Pines to see the building. I was met by Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association member Ron McKenna, who provided us with a ride to see the building (there are no cars on Fire Island, so I rode in the back of a John Deere utility vehicle).

Well, it turns out that the building is not the Blue Point LSS station -- it is the Lone Hill Station (a 1935 photo of it is on my home page). It is an old building, and was used by the Coast Guard going back at least to the 1920s, but has been greatly modified over the years, is not in a position where it could be moved without extreme cost and effort, and does not appear to be a candidate for preservation.

Unfortunately, not all historic buildings can be preserved. I'm sure there are interesting and educational stories hidden deep inside the walls of this old building, but I doubt there will be any way to preserve it.

The assistance of Ron McKenna, and Mark Peckham of the State Historic Preservation Office, are greatly appreciated. It's a shame there appears to be nothing that can be done.

Working on this for the last week has given me a new interest in Life Saving history. So much so, in fact, that I am now planning to add Long Island life saving stations to my web site.

Busy Day at Fire Island Light, and Updates on My Site

2004-11-07T20:32:00.000-05:00

Today's celebration of the 146th birthday of the Fire Island Lighthouse benefited from great weather. We usually do hourly tours, but today we had to run tours every 15 minutes. I don;t believe I have ever seen so many people at the Fire Island Light. Fortunately, the volunteer turnout was good.

Special happenings included the presence of former USCG keeper Gottfried Mahler (1948-1954) and his wife and son, a US Life Saving Service drill, crafts for kids, and traditional maritime music by the increasingly popular Sampawam's Creek.

In other news...

I have begun updating individual pages on my site (www.longislandlighthouses.com). I'm going in alphabetical order, for the most part. I'll be changing information that I have found to be incorrect or incomplete, and adding any changes that may have occurred at the lighthouses since the pages were last updated. I'm also adding some new photos here and there.

The number of visitor sessions for my web site in October was 13, 609 -- a little bit above normal.

Fire Island Lighthouse Event this Sunday

2004-11-02T17:26:00.000-05:00

This Sunday, the Fire Island Lighthouse will celebrate its 146th birthday. There will be a Life-Saving Service demonstration, maritime music by Sampawam's Creek (http://sampawamscreek.com/), pirate tales, reduced fees for tower tours, and other fun stuff. I'll be there most of the afternoon, as well, probably doing tower tours.

Also coming up are sunset and sunrise tours. Keep an eye on my events page (http://longislandlighthouses.com/news.htm) for these and other events.

Call 631-661-4876 or e-mail programs@fireislandlighthouse.com for more info on Fire Island Lighthouse events.

Haunted Long Island Lights?

2004-10-31T04:43:00.000-05:00

While watching the SciFi Channel last week (yes, I'm a bit of a geek), I was floored when I saw a promo for Ghost Hunters that seemed to show the Race Rock Light. I kept an eye out for it and eventually, yes, I found out it would be Race Rock on an upcoming episode. This surprised me for a few reasons...

1. I never heard a word about the show. I usually hear the buzz about things affecting Long Island lights (not always, but I am amazed -- and occasionally disgusted -- at the things I find out).

2. It didn't seem like the sort of thing that the Coast Guard, which owns the light, would want to get involved in.

3. In several years of researching the lighthouse's history, including writing a chapter on it in my book, meeting descendants of its builders, meeting former keepers, and nominating it for the National Register of Historic Places, I never -- not once - heard about any ghost stories or mysterious happenings.

I'll spoil the show for you and tell you that they found that the lighthouse was "haunted," but not necessarily by a ghost (I'm not the ghost expert -- don't ask me what that means). The electromagnetic readings and moving chair in the attic seemed to be enough for them to declare it haunted (sounding like a skeptic, am I?).

I guess the funniest part for me was when they showed the ghost hunters on their boat heading out to Race Rock and passing the New London Ledge Light; the one area lighthouse that has a persistent ghost story. Of course, it's not spooky looking like the Gothic Revival Race Rock Light, nor does it have the same air of danger.

As far as I know, no one ever died in the Race Rock Light. There were deaths during the construction in the 1870s, and one assistant keeper died while rowing out to the lighthouse in 1886 (his body washed up on Groton Long Point), but that's about it.

Lighthouses, in their solitude and long lives, lend themselves to spooky stories and folklore. And I have done enough lighthouse tours in the dark to understand how one can feel watched in an old lighthouse. I suppose it's all part of the fun

If I ever do get to meet the ghost of an old keeper, I'll be sure to do an oral history interview and write about it. I'm not sure if I'll be able to post any photos, though.

Happy Halloween!

October Update

2004-10-30T16:56:00.000-04:00

There have been a few changes for me, and for my web site...

As of October 1, I am no longer president of the Long Island Lighthouse Society. After four-plus years as founding president, I elected not to run for another three-year term. I certainly still believe in the organization and its work but I couldn't keep going with the responsibilities I have with several organizations, the web site (which I have neglected), the house, yard, family, etc.. I also thought it would be good for the organization to have a fresh leader. Carol House, Ph.D., is our new president, and I am quite happy about it. Carol is intelligent, energetic, creative, honest, and fun. She'll do great, and bring a renewed energy to the group.

I'm not going anywhere, though. Carol has asked me to stay on as Preservation Coordinator and Historian for the group, and I am honored and pleased to do so. In fact, I think that I'll be able to make more of an impact now, with fewer administrative duties and more time to work on the aspects of the field I really love. I am also the coordinator for the new Cedar Island Lighthouse Preservation Committee, the creation of which was one of my last directives as president. Silke Griemsmann, a real estate associate in Bridgehampton, is our committee chair, and I'm her right-hand man. Meetings of the committee are held in Bridgehampton. If you're interested in getting involved with the Cedar Island project, contact me by e-mail or phone (631-645-5230).

With a little more time on my hands, I have begun work to upgrade the offerings at my web site...

This blog replaces my Long Island Lighthouse Notes, an electronic newsletter established in July 1999. I should be able to reach people easier now, using the ease of weblogging. I thought the name, The Keeper's Blog might make a nice play on words. I hope it doesn't bug Wayne Wheeler, though, as the US Lighthouse Society's excellent magazine is called The Keeper's Log (If you like lighthouses and don't get The Keeper's Log, you are doing yourself a disservice. You can get the Keeper's Log and The Long Island Light Keeper by joining the Long Island Lighthouse Society. More info is at www.LILighthouseSociety.org)

Also on my web site is the new area for Wobbles the Lighthouse Kitty. Wobbles is a special needs kitten I adopted when he was a couple of months old. Because of his condition (more about which you can read on his site), he cannot walk and run like your average cat. This inability to run away allows me to take him places with me. That works well for him, as he is very curious, loves to travel in the car, and loves meeting new people (and the attention he gets). In fact, he's bouncing around under my chair right now, attacking my shoelaces. I decided that, since he was easy to take along to historic sites and has been an instant hit with everyone, especially kids, I would put him to work. Wobbles' area on my site is told from his perspective, and he relates stories from his little adventures, while also talking about proper pet care. Wobbles' experience as a cat, and mine as a former SPCA cruelty investigator and wildlife rehabilitator, make it possible for us to help kids learn about responsible pet care. Wobbles also has a weblog, or, as we call it, a Wob-log, at www.wob-log.blogspot.com. You can visit Wobbles, and follow his adventures, at www.LongIslandLighthouses.com/wobbles.htm.

Watch for more changes to my web site, and more lighthouse preservation updates, soon. :-)

July Update

2004-07-18T01:45:00.000-04:00

CEDAR ISLAND'S RESTORED OIL HOUSE LOOKS GREAT - The 1902 brick oil house at Cedar Island, restored by DeGroot Historical Restorations with funds raised by the Long Island Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society, is saved. The project, which began in late 2003 and was completed in the Spring, cost about $16000 and required work on all aspects pf the building. The foundation was excavated and reinforced, the walls -- parts of which were missing --- were repaired with bricks conditioned to match the existing ones; the door and hinges were handmade; and much of the roof had to be completely rebuilt. The roof, a standing seam metal design, was recreated based on a photo from the family album of the descendants of William Follett, the light's last keeper. The entire building was then painted to match its appearance in the 1920s-30s, when Follett was the keeper. The big test for now is to see how vandals react to the restored building.

HUNTINGTON HARBOR'S INTERIOR IS COMING ALONG - With the exterior of the Huntington Harbor Light pretty much complete, attention has turned to the interior. The wall between the two rooms has been reconstructed (albeit modified for interpretational purposes). Also, the plastering of the interior, in its original sea foam green, has begun. You can see the progress by visiting the offshore light. I have the dates on my events page.

ABOUT HALF OF BOOKS SOLD, AMID GREAT REVIEWS - The reviews of my book have been quite positive, which is nice, and sales have also been good. About 1000 books have thus far been sold, raising funds for several Long Island lighthouse groups.

USCG AUX CANNOT "ADOPT" LONG BEACH BAR LIGHT BECAUSE OF ACTIONS OF LOCAL GROUP - A local Coast Guard auxiliary group recently wanted to "adopt" the Long Beach Bar Light, handling the maintenance of the optic so that local Coast Guard personnel could concentrate on more demanding tasks. The legal problems at the site, caused by a local "lighthouse group" trying to wrest control of the lighthouse away from its owners, has caused the Coast Guard to deny the Auxiliary's request, though. Thankfully, the current Long Beach Bar Light s not an actual historic lighthouse (It is probably the only vinyl-sided plywood lighthouse in the nation), so the troubles at the site don't directly threaten a historic structure -- yet.

PLUM ISLAND REVETMENT SHOULD START THIS SUMMER OR FALL - The stone revetment at Plum Island, which will help protect the Plum Island Lighthouse from erosion, is scheduled to start this Fall. The rocks for the project were obtained by the Long Island Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society a few years ago, but have been sitting in piles on the island awaiting placement. Despite the claims of a group making all sorts of statements to get you to send them money (the same group that caused the Long Bear Bar problem) , don't expect the lighthouse to be relit any time soon.

April Update

2004-04-24T00:05:00.000-04:00

BOOKS, CRUISES, CEDAR ISLAND, PLUM ISLAND, AND MORE...

FINALLY, THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE - Obviously, this is the biggest news for me personally. It's been nearly six years since I started this project. I have worked hard at it, strived to be precise and thorough (yet readable), and have high hopes for what the book might accomplish. Visit http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/ to order a copy via PayPal, or print out a form and mail it with your check. Remember, all proceeds benefit historic preservation and education. I'm not getting a cent of the money.

MEDIA ATTENTION FOR THE BOOK - This morning, I was interviewed by Bill Bleyer of Newsday, (his article appears in Monday's paper). After the interview, I went to Fire Island for the photo shoot. Next Tuesday, I am doing a radio show (In Nassau County, I'm not sure of the station). In late May (the 21st, I believe), I'll be on an East End cable show. And several newspapers have requested copies for review. It'll be interesting to see what kind of reviews it gets.

SUFFOLK COUNTY LIGHTHOUSE DAY IS ALMOST HERE - The U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation team from Station Shinnecock will be participating in the Suffolk County Lighthouse Day celebration at Cedar Point County Park. This will be a rare opportunity to see and speak with the modern-day lightkeepers. There will also be former lighthouse keepers (from the days of manned lighthouses), a Harbour Lights display (with free gifts for the first 400 guests), history walks to the Cedar Island Lighthouse, vendors, artists, live entertainment, historical societies, lighthouse societies, kite demonstrations, historical demonstrations, educational activities for the kids, the debut of my book, and more. Saturday, May 1, at Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton.

GOLD COAST CRUISE IS SOLD OUT - The May 2 cruise is sold out, but you can make reservations for the September 18 Beacons of the Night sunset/moonlight/lighthouse cruise. That one will sell out, too, so don't wait too long to make your reservations. www.LILighthouseSociety.org

CEDAR ISLAND OIL HOUSE ALMOST DONE - Walter DeGroot, of DeGroot Historical Restorations, expects the Cedar Island Light's 1902 brick oil house to be completed for Suffolk County Lighthouse Day. The oil house, the only remaining outbuilding at Cedar Island, was getting dangerously close to being lost to the elements and vandals, until the restoration began last Fall. The next issue of The Long Island Light Keeper will have a full story.

PLUM ISLAND EROSION PROJECT TO BEGIN SOON - A recent call from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center confirmed that the Army Corps of Engineers plans to build the erosion control revetment in front of the Plum Island Lighthouse by this Fall. The stone for the project was procured by the Long Island Lighthouse Society in 2001, and it has been sitting in the harbor on the island since, awaiting the acquisition of proper permits and funding. This will be an important step toward ensuring the future safety of the lighthouse.

BOOK SIGNINGS IN 2004 - I have always believed that authors and nonprofits have an obligation to support their products and serve the community. Since my book is a fundraiser for a nonprofit group, that belief doubly applies in this case. So I will be having public, and private book signings. Suffolk County Lighthouse Day will be the first signing. Next will be at the Fire Island Lighthouse, on Saturday, May 22, at the opening of their new exhibit of postcards of the Fire Island Light.. I will also be speaking and signing at the Riverhead Free Library later this year, and several other locations. I will also be available to sign books at every LI Lighthouse Society meeting and event (unless something serious prevents me from attending, but that hasn't happened yet). I will also be available for private groups, as I have done many times in the past. I hope that readers of the book will attend these signings and events and share their thoughts about it. Your feedback will help to make the next book better.

FALL LIGHTHOUSE COURSE - In October and November, I will be teaching a ten-hour adult education course on the history of Long Island's lighthouses. This course will be at the East Islip High School, in Islip Terrace. The school is easy to access from Sunrise Highway or the Southern Parkway. The dates: October 14, 21, and 28, and November 4 and 18 - all Thursdays, from 7pm to 9pm. A Saturday trip to a lighthouse will be optional. Tuition has not been set, but should be in the $50-$70 range. The cost will not include a copy of my book, which is not necessary, but is, of course, recommended. :-)

ON THE EVENTS PAGE - I have been trying to add more events that will appeal to visitors of my site. One of the additions is the schedule of meetings for the East Islip Historical Society, which is perhaps best known for its fine guest speakers. If you have any more suggestions, please send them to me.

NEW LI LIGHTHOUSE WEB SITE ON THE WAY - The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society is expected to launch a new web site this year. I will announce it when it is available and, of course, will provide links from my site to theirs.

March Update

2004-03-02T13:27:00.000-05:00

I've been enjoying the recent warm weather, and staying busy...

LONG ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY MEETS AT FIRE ISLAND - The LI Lighthouse Society (AKA, The Long Island Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society) met at the Fire Island Lighthouse on Sunday, February 29 for their first general meeting of 2004. Updates on the society's 2003 accomplishments and 2004 plans preceded a slide presentation on Long Island lighthouse preservation efforts over the years. Watch for several more free public meetings this year. www.LILighthouseSociety.org

SPEAKING OF THE FIRE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE - February 29 was one busy day. I was at the lighthouse from 10am to about 6:30pm. We did a total of nine tours that day, including a sunset tour. Near-perfect weather brought out lots of folks. If you haven't been to Fire Island lately, consider making the trip before the Summer traffic, crowds, and haze set in. www.FireIslandLighthouse.com

HARBOUR LIGHTS SUPPORTING LONG ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND - A recent call to Kim Andrews of Harbour Lights confirmed their support of, and participation in, the first Long Island Lighthouse Weekend. On Saturday, May 1, Kim will be at Suffolk County Lighthouse Day and will have ornaments for the first 400 guests of the day. On May 2, Kim will be aboard the Skyline Princess for the Gold Coast Lighthouse Cruise. She will be providing a Harbour Lights Little Light of Mine for all the guests onboard. Harbour Lights has been a strong supporter of the Long Island Lighthouse Society since its inception nearly four years ago, and has been a big part of the society's success. I have some more info on my home page, or you can visit http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/. Sales have been increasing for the cruise, so don't wait too long to make your reservations.

BARON'S COVE INN ALSO SUPPORTING LONG ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND - The Baron's Cove Inn, in historic Sag Harbor, is offering special rates for those participating in Long Island Lighthouse Weekend. The inn is near Cedar Point County Park, home of the Cedar Island Lighthouse and the Suffolk County Lighthouse Day festivities. For your reservations and special rates, call Call 631-725-2100 and ask for Bill Dalton.

PROGRESS AT THE HUNTINGTON HARBOR LIGHT - Work on the Huntington Harbor Light's interior has progressed, and may be completed this year. Take advantage of the Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society's free trips to the offshore light, see what they've been up to, and please make a donation to help them continue the great work they have been doing. Call 631-427-2636 or 631-271-3535 to find out about donating, volunteering, or visiting the lighthouse.

NEW EVENTS ON THE SITE - I have been adding new 2004 events, including schedules for Fire Island, Montauk Point, Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, Long Island Maritime Museum, and Mashomack Preserve. If you have some free weekend time this Spring or Summer, you should be able to find something fun and educational to do with just a quick visit to LongIslandLighthouses.com. I'll be adding more events as I find out about them. Check out Events.

WATCH OUT FOR FRAUDULENT CLAIMS ABOUT THE PLUM ISLAND LIGHT - Many Long Islanders, and especially North Fork residents, know that we have one group on Long Island (East End Lighthouses, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation) known for making false claims. Recent claims on their web site have included fraudulent fundraising claims for the lighthouse, announcing work they will be doing on it, and a relighting date of June 4 (Last year, they were going to relight it on August 9). Calls to the State Historic Preservation Office, Coast Guard, and Department of Homeland Security (DHS, which owns the lighthouse and property) proved all of those claims to be false. DHS made the group change the aforementioned information on their web site, but there are still some more lies on there. I say this every so often, but cannot stress it enough: Don't believe everything you read, and be careful to whom you give your hard-earned money. You could end up actually harming legitimate historic lighthouse preservation and education.

Now turn off the computer and go visit a lighthouse. :-)

February Update

2004-02-01T10:14:00.000-05:00

Hello all! This is the first web-based edition of a newsletter that started out as an e-mail newsletter in July 1999. The time needed to maintain an up-to-date list, as well as everyone's increasing spam problems, led me to move the newsletter to the web. Here, the information will be available to more people, there will be links to help you get more information, and you will have access to past editions, too.

WHALE SIGHTING - I was at the Fire Island Light this afternoon, where I am National Parks Service volunteer tour guide, and had a very cool experience: For the first time, I saw whales from the top of the lighthouse. It was a cold, but very clear day. We didn't have many volunteers, nor too many visitors. Our 2:00 tour was delayed as we waited to see if we could get a few more people. At about 2:40, we started the tour with nine people. I did my usual babble on the way up to the top. When I got to the top and opened the door to the catwalk, I saw a puff of steam come up from the ocean, less than a mile offshore. I thought "Could that have been a whale?" I had seen a presentation by whale expert Arthur Kopelman of Coastal Research and Education Society of Long Island (CRESLI) at the East Islip Historical Society a few weeks prior, so I thought maybe I just had whales on my mind. I didn't mention the thought to the folks on the tour (I didn't want them to think they were stuck with a crazy tour guide 150 feet above the ground). But once everyone was out on the catwalk, I saw it again, and pointed it out. We saw the whale (or perhaps it was more than one, even) several times, blowing steam and barely surfacing. I had been told by another tour guide that whales were sometimes visible offshore, but this is the first time in about 5 years of volunteering there that I saw one. It was very cool.

LONG ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE WEEKEND, MAY 1-2 - It's already February; before you know it, May will be here. And that means the first Long Island Lighthouse Weekend. The Weekend combines two existing events, Suffolk County Lighthouse Day and the Gold Coast cruise, into one big celebration of Long Island lighthouses and history. As a member of the committee for both of these events, I can tell you that planning is moving along well. Suffolk County Lighthouse Day (SCLHD), on May 1, will be bigger and better than last year, and will once again be at Cedar Point County Park in East Hampton. SCLHD is an official County holiday, and Cedar Point County Park is home to the only lighthouse owned by the County: the Cedar Island Light. The FREE event will feature historical societies and lighthouse societies, historic demonstrations, vendors, stunt kite demonstrations, live entertainment by Long Island bluesmen Little Toby Walker and Joe Vicino and the Smokedaddys, history walks to the Cedar Island Light, and more (attractions are still being scheduled). I'll be there to sign copies of my book and talk about lighthouses. The next day will be the 2004 edition of Long Island's premier lighthouse cruise. Leaving out of Port Washington at 9am, we'll see the lights at Stepping Stones, Execution Rocks, Sands Point, Cold Spring Harbor, Eaton's Neck, and Lloyd (Huntington) Harbor. This was a cruise I had thought about for a few years before we tried it last year, and it was a blast. The ship, Skyline Princess, is much nicer than what you'd expect on a lighthouse cruise (I heard some of the people comment on that on the boat), with three levels (the first two carpeted and set up much like a nice restaurant), and indoor and outdoor viewing areas. We'll once again have a continental breakfast, hot buffet lunch, live entertainment (artist TBA), some lighthouse keepers aboard, and some special guests (I'll give names when everything is confirmed). I will probably handle the historic narration this year. Visit http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/ for more info or to make reservations.

THE BOOK SHOULD BE OUT IN APRIL - After consuming nearly six years of my life, the Long Island's Lighthouses: Past and Present book is just about here. The publisher expects to deliver it in April. I'll be happy to hold a copy in my hand, but don't expect me to read it. I know if I read it, I'll see lots of things I'd like to have done or said differently, and it'll make me nuts. I do think that the rest of the world will enjoy it, though. It ended up with more than 370 pages and 140 photos, covering 24 historic light stations, plus an introduction, a chapter on the area's minor aids to navigation, and a chapter on the future of Long Island's lighthouses. There's also a large bibliography, a glossary for lighthouse initiates, and a suggested reading list. I included the suggested reading list because I've read almost every lighthouse book on the market (and there are so many bad ones) and I wanted to share the ones that I thought were worth your time and money. I think that the way the book ended up, it will be useful for lighthouse fans, students, historians and researchers, and the general public. We'll see. I hope you will share your thoughts on the book, so I can make the next one better. To can still pre-order one, and save $5 of the price. Remember, ALL of the proceeds benefit historic lighthouse preservation and education. When the book is released, it will be available at several lighthouses, some museums, and Long Island Lighthouse Society events, as well as through the mail. I'll post the locations when the books are delivered. There may be a couple of local gift shops that will have them, too (In that case, a portion of the purchase price will go to that business, with the rest going to lighthouse preservation and education). If your local library or school library does not have a copy by this Summer, you might consider donating one. As of right now, the first run is over 40% sold out, so don't wait too long to order your copy.

SUNRISES AND SUNSETS AT FIRE ISLAND - This is the time of year to do the sunrise and sunset tours at the Fire Island Light. There's no traffic and the air is clear (you can clearly see the NYC skyline). Call 631-661-4876 or contact programs@fireislandlighthouse.com for more info. I am scheduled to do a sunset on February 15 and a sunrise on February 22.