Whooo! What Ghosts? Some Interesting Insite Into Lighthouse Ghosts
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The Newsletter of Bay Run The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers and Friends Association, Inc. "Our mission is to preserve the history of the Volume 10 Issue 3 Delaware Bay and River Lighthouses, Lightships and their Keepers Fall 2010 Whooo! What Ghosts? Some Interesting Insite Into Lighthouse Ghosts As researched and written by our own Maxine Mulligan on Jersey area Lighthouses REPORTED HAUNTINGS IN AND AROUND THE LIGHTHOUSES OF OUR AREA Are there such things as ghosts? What is it that is so fascinating about the supernatural? We love to hear stories about ghosts that have “returned to reclaim” their property, making their presence known in various ways. Many of these tales involve the victims of tragic shipwrecks along the Jersey shore, pirate spirits returning to claim their bounty, and other tales that continue to haunt the 127 mile stretch of the beaches of New Jersey. Some of these haunting tales deal with lighthouses where strange lights appear, ghostly images float around lantern rooms and inhuman sounds emanate from the tower. The Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City is reported to be haunted, they even have “Haunted Lighthouse Tours”. It seems that footsteps have been heard ascending and descending the stairs to and from the tower, whiffs of cigar and pipe smoke can be detected by visitors, there are voices and laughter heard in the lantern room, and a spectral hand coming out of a coat sleeve with a white cuff would appear then disappear on the railing. (Continued on page 4) In This Issue: 1-Who What Ghost-Haunting stories 5- More Ghost Stories by Bill Geilfuss 2-Beam from the President-List of Officers 6- Peggy’s Corner- Keep These Dates 3-Log of the VP Report from Board Chairman 7- More Ghost Stories 4- Lighthouse Ghost Con’t from cover 8- Lighthouse Challenge-Plus Page 2 The Bay Run THE BAY RUN” is the official publication of The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers and Friends Association, Inc. and is A BEAM From published quarterly throughout the year. A subscription to the newsletter is included with the cost of membership. The Presidents Membership dues are now $20.00 single or family and are for Desk By the calendar year beginning March 1st. Angelo S. Rigazio, Jr. Back issues are usually available for members joining mid- year. Materials are copyrighted and may not be reproduced without permission of the DBLHKFA, Inc. President’s Message Well the summer season is over, summer For Newsletter ideas, Contact traffic is gone, the kids are back to school DBLHKFA c/o Maxine Mulligan and my drive to and from work is back 1049 Simca Terr., Vineland, NJ 08360 down to 15 minutes each way It’s been a E-Mail – [email protected] busy summer with our lighthouse events, boat cruises, outreaches and picnic. We Jim Moffatt had a cruise cancelled due to inclement 1728 Woodcrest Dr Vineland, NJ 08361 [email protected] weather but all of the others were great. Now we look forward to the rest of this year with the “Lighthouse Challenge and The DBLHKFA, Inc. Officers and Directors our Annual Reunion Banquet already President……………… Angelo S. Rigazio, Jr. planned. Things are not looking good for Vice President…… Gaylord F (Dusty) Pierce Ludlam Beach Lighthouse, according to Chairman of the Board………...Rod Mulligan th Treasurer……………………Maxine Mulligan the Atlantic City Press on August 25 Secretary……………………...Darlene Rigazio 2010. The City of Sea Isle will not Membership……………………Sharon Hewitt contribute any funding to the moving of Activities/Programs………...Peggy Stapleford the lighthouse and if something isn’t done Sunshine/Hospitality………..Martha Ruddick by Sept 20th it could be over. Let’s all of us Publicity…………………………….Jean Jones Historian…………………….Peggy Stapleford hope that it will not end here. The Friends Ways and Means Anthony Giletto of Ludlam Beach Lighthouse have worked Newsletter……Jim Moffatt, Maxine Mulligan so hard to save it. Webmaster…………………….Kelly Mulligan On a good note, we have good news at the Scholarship Committee……...Anthony Giletto home front. Our daughter Roxanne and her husband Matthew are expecting their Board of Directors second baby in December and it’s a boy. Rod Mulligan, Bill Geilfuss, Tony Giletto Big sister Bella is just as excited as we are. Steve Hewitt and Fred Ruddick Our son Angelo has been transferred back Phone Numbers and E-Mail Addresses to Salem Oregon where he will take over A. Rigazio (609) 884-1329 [email protected] the management of another Borders G.F.Pierce (302) 684-3512 [email protected] Bookstore. Our grandchildren in PA, R & M Mulligan (856 )691-8224 [email protected] Kylie, Madison and Brady have been to J Jones (856) 825-3386 [email protected] S & S Hewitt (856) 456-4484 [email protected] the shore to visit us 3 times this summer F & M Ruddick (609) 927-1781 [email protected] season. All in all things are good. Bill Geilfuss (732)-477-7768 [email protected] D. Rigazio (609) 884-1329 [email protected] Until Next time P Stapleford 484-947-3191 [email protected] KEEP THE LIGHTS SHINING!! Jim Moffatt (856)691-0201 [email protected] Tony Giletto (856)482-8874 [email protected] Angelo K. Mulligan (856)-691-8224 Kelly@delawarebaylightkeeper- friend.org SEE YOU AT THE ANNUAL REUNION The Delaware Bay Lighthouse Keepers and Friends Association, Inc. (DBLHKFA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit BANQUET ON OCTOBER 24TH 2010 preservation and educational organization. Page 3 The Bay Run From Fore & The Aft Log of the Vice President Gaylord F.(Dusty) Pierce Report from Rod Mulligan Where did the summer go? Thanks to all of the Chairman of the Board great publicity, all four cruises were sold out but we did lose one Sunset Cruise due to inclement What a wonderful year so far! weather. I would like to highlight some of our What a beautiful sight viewing the lighthouses accomplishments: We had a great Spring “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” When we Meeting at Cape May State Park with an arrived at 14ft Bank Light, the moon was interesting presentation by Rich Chiemingo on centered directly over the lighthouse reflecting the many Cape May Lighthouses. Member on the Bay. We couldn’t have planned it any attendance was very disappointing considering better. Thanks to Elma, Jean, Darlene, Rod, the great weather. Our Annual Picnic in June at Angelo and, Maxine and myself as one of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was another grand narrators, all went smoothly. We certainly met day great food and lots of camaraderie plus, a some interesting people. Plus A great group of terrific program. Again low attendance. 20“Red Hat Ladies.” OurProgram/Activities Chairperson does an If you haven’t taken advantage of our cruises outstanding job of time consuming planning for and know some one who is not a member, get extremely interesting maritime themed your names placed on our mailing list NOW for programs and events plus, moving program next summers cruises, Our Bonanza II Captain locations around, times and dates for everyone is considering a different route which will convenience include lighthouses we haven’t viewed before. We would appreciate greater attendance and Our Annual Picnic was spectacular… great participation. Tell us what we can do? food, friends and weather. Steve Murray gave a Suggestions please!! talk on his new book “Guardians of the On the flip side I was very pleased with the Hereford Inlet” A history of the Hereford number of volunteers at the two day 1st Lighthouse, Life Saving Stations, and USCG Maritime Festival at Hereford Inlet July 16/17 Life Boat Station #133 Book available at making this a great day for our DBLHKFA Hereford Lighthouse Gift Shop. group. We also participated in the 1st Maritime Days Further information on the NJ Lighthouse Festival at Hereford on July 17/18 Thanks to all Challenge Weekend of October16/17th in this the volunteers who came out to help. issue and from President Angelo or myself. The most exciting Annual Keepers Reunion Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Banquet on October 24th Annual Reunion October 24th will feature one of the most interesting speakers we have ever had the good fortune to hear. General George G, Meade portrayed by Prof. Dr. Andie Waskie from Temple University, an internationally acclaimed speaker. See future meeting/events in: Peggy’s Corner, page 6 this issue Page 4 The Bay Run Lighthouse Hauntings (Continued from cover story) Speaking of Delaware, it seems that even though Since there have been 7 deaths in the lighthouse, the Cape Henelopen Lighthouse toppled into the plus over one thousand deaths and many sea several years ago, it seems that again on foggy shipwrecks in this area, “Ghost Hunters” were nights its ghostly beacon can be seen guiding ships called in to check out this supernatural phenomena. safely through the fog. According to some books it Cameras and other very sensitive equipment were seems that Cape May holds the record for being the placed in various areas of the lighthouse. “most haunted seashore resort.” Strange voices, shadows and crazy sounds Almost every Victorian house, inn, shoppe and emanated from the 3rd landing; plus, the even Congress Hall and Higbee’s Beach has had its Nor’easter wind howling outside around the tower ghosts and stories of haunting. Bunkers near Cape sounded like ghostly conversations. May Point built during World War II reportedly are Footsteps were even heard in the keeper’s quarters. still manned by a ghostly crew. Public visiting the According to the “ghost hunting” equipment bunker witnessed “spectral sailors performing their something supernatural was taking place in the duties inside and outside of the edifice.