The Beam Journal of the Society, Inc. www.njlhs.org

Number 89 December 2012 The Beam The Beam, the official journal of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society, Inc., is published quarterly, March, June, September and DECEMBER’S MEETING December. Membership dues are $20.00 single and $25.00 The December general membership meeting family, and are for the calendar year. Back issues are available free will be on December 15th. for members joining mid-year. All materials are copyrighted and Please check the NJLHS cannot be borrowed or reproduced without permission of the New website for a map. Jersey Lighthouse Society. The NJLHS - New Jersey Lighthouse See page 10 for more details. Society, Inc., is a non-profit educational corporation (501c3). OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

President Brett Franks (856) 256-0881 What a crazy autumn it has been! My favorite 1st VP Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 thing by far was the Lighthouse Challenge, of 2nd VP Rich Veit (609) 652-1876 course! I don’t think we could have asked for a Treasurer Faith Giamboi (732) 350-9595 more beautiful weekend. The weather was Recording Secretary Karen Stumpf-Owen (856) 299-7583 gorgeous; the cool air and clear skies made it Corresponding Secretary Jayne Swope (856) 468-2561 the perfect setting for climbing the Director Jim Cope (609) 587-6266 and taking pictures of them. I’m happy to say Director Doreen Berson (732) 202-7420 Director Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 that my boyfriend Matt and I, plus three of my Director Mary Beth Doherty (973) 978-0129 good friends, completed the Challenge. Matt Director Carol Winkie (856) 468-6199 climbed his first ever lighthouse at Finns Point, Director Karl Fahringer (732) 370-0260 and we climbed our first one together at East Point. It was quite the adventure and learning COMMITTEES experience, both on the road and at the sites. Archivist Open I think I’ve made lighthouse fans out of everyone Beam Editor Lauren Ward (609) 320-4889 that went with me! Community Outreach Chair Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 Although my family, our house, and our Education Outreach Open shore house in Sea Isle City were lucky enough to Historian Co-Chair Jim & Nancy Cope (609) 587-6266 get through Hurricane Sandy with little to no Historian Co-Chair Mike & Judy Boucher (845) 787-4807 Hospitality Co-Chair Linda Gleason (732) 238-7066 damage, I know that many, many others were Hospitality Co-Chair Carol Naill (215) 657-4559 affected by the storm, the in Membership Co-Chair Linda Gleason (732) 238-7066 particular. Looking back on the Lighthouse Membership Co-Chair Carol Naill (215) 657-4559 Challenge, I am extra appreciative that I took the Preservation Chair Brett Franks (856) 256-0881 time to visit the coastline and the lighthouses this Programs Open year. Though many communities and properties Publicity Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 were unharmed or will rebuild, some things have Trips Chairperson Faith Giamboi (732) 350-9595 changed forever, and I am grateful that I have Ways & Means Carol Winkie (856) 468-6199 such a beautiful memory of that weekend and Webmaster Howie Wright (908) 725-9782 all the places we visited. Lighthouses have often stood as a symbol of strength and guiding light, NJLHS Web Site: http://www.njlhs.org and I hope that the people who need something Trips Email address: [email protected] to count on will continue to see these towers as NJLHS Email address: [email protected] just that. The BEAM Email address: [email protected] I’d like to wish you happy holidays and NJLHS Announcements: (732) 291-4777 a very happy new year! 2012 has been very good

to me, as I hope it was to you. I look forward to Society Address: Beam Address: seeing everyone at December’s holiday meeting! NJLHS, Inc. Lauren Ward P. O. Box 332 103 Monticello Drive Navesink, NJ 07752-0332 Cinnaminson, NJ 08077 ADDRESS CHANGE To change your address please go to: http://www.njlhs.org/join/AddrCng.pdf *The photograph on the cover is of Sandy Hook Lighthouse and was taken by Lauren Ward during the 2012 Lighthouse download the form and mail to: Challenge of New Jersey. NJLHS, Inc, P.O. Box 332, Navesink, NJ 07752-0332

Page 2 The Beam Who Are the Wondering Wickies? by Elinor & Rich Veit

If you worked the Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey or were lucky enough to take the two day challenge, you might have noticed the how shiny and clean the first order Fresnel lenses at the Barnegat Light Museum and the Cape May County Museum were. This was not by chance. It was due to a small group of NJLHS volunteers, a branch of the Preservation Committee, who call themselves the “Wondering Wickies.”

Armed with a ladder, a vacuum cleaner, long handled dusters, latex gloves, spray bottles, blue shop paper towels and a special “brew” (recipe provided by lampist, Jim Woodward) the group went to work first on the Cape May lens on September 29th, then on the Barnegat lens on From left to right: Gene Goch, Rich Veit, Nancy Cope, October 13th. Each lens took between three and Elinor Veit, Alvin Brown, Jim Cope four hours.

Working on the Cape May lens were Al Smith, Alvin Brown, Patty and John Ade and Elinor and Rich Veit. The Barnegat lens was cleaned by Alvin Brown, Nancy and Jim Cope, Gene Goch, and Elinor and Rich Veit. In the future the “Wickies will probably offer their talents to other New Jersey lighthouses as word of their service gets around the lighthouse community.

Patty Ade Al Smith John Ade

The Beam Page 3 A MESSAGE FROM MEMBERSHIP Carol Naill and Linda Gleason - Membership Co-Chairs

2013 Membership Renewal Begins: Forms will be handed out to attendees at the December meeting & dues can be paid at the Membership sign-in table. Membership renewal forms will be mailed to those not able to attend the December meeting.

We really did something different at the September meeting. We shared our love of Lighthouses with a big group of 4th Grade students and parents at the Samsel Upper Elementary School in Parlin, NJ. Bill Volpe gave a shortened version of his Lighthouse Presentation to the audience of about 150 people. It was a good turn out and reminded us of why preserving lighthouse heritage is important. We look forward to seeing all our members, old and new, and guests are always welcome to our General Membership meetings.

Meeting Attendees: There were 61 members and two guests in attendance at our September meeting. Please remember to sign the book - We want to make sure there are enough seats for you at the future meetings!

Membership Numbers: At the deadline for this issue, the membership numbers are as follows: Single Memberships: 161 Family Memberships: 203 x 2 = 406 Total Members = 567 (23 more than last BEAM!)

Gift Memberships: Not sure what to give that person who has everything? How about a membership to NJLHS? You can find an application on the NJLHS web site and print one out. You can also get one from the Membership Team at the next membership meeting. The membership packet will be mailed to the recipient, with a personal note saying that their membership to the Society is a gift from you. Let’s get our numbers up!

New Members: The following members have joined our Society since the last issue of THE BEAM in September. Please note that if you become a member after the deadline for The Beam, you will be listed in the following issue. If you happen to meet any of these new members at a future meeting, please welcome them!

Linda Castronovo Palisades Park, NJ Ann Costello Westwood, NJ Maryann & Patrick Clark Springfield, PA Alan H. Jacobson Monroe Township, NJ Anne Hruza Brick, NJ Janet Blaes Scotch Plains, NJ Christina Stephic New Field, NJ Henry & Maureen Papiano Franklinville, NJ Paul Bruno & Denise McGloan South Amboy, NJ Doug & Ellen Scott Eastham, MA Robert Ojamaa Toms River, NJ

Page 4 The Beam A NOTE FROM THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COMMITTEE CHAIR

We’ve wrapped up the 2012 Community Outreach season and had another fun and successful year spreading the word about the Society and our vital work preserving key elements of our national and cultural history. Thanks to the ever-present Mary Catherine Kennedy, our “Queen of Community Outreach”, who represented us at so many events again this year. In addition to Mary Catherine, sincere thanks to Sheila Hines, Marty Hudspeth, Kathy Lanzim, Catherine Klix, and Carol Winkie for their efforts throughout year as well. Looking ahead to 2013: please consider participating in the outreach team for next year! As always: volunteers (new and returning) are essential to keep our Society throughout the community. Remember, you don’t need to be a lighthouse “expert” to be part of the team—just willing to discuss our shared interests with event patrons. There’s always someone to “fill in the blanks”. We have an outstanding base of lighthouse knowledge in our membership ranks. Consider joining the Community Outreach team for the 2013 season. For 2013, we will also continue what has now become a tradition of giving out NJLHS logo items to those who visit us at our various community outreach events. We are in the process of replenishing our supplies of these items—and we may have some new items in store, so “stay tuned”! Please feel free to contact me with any info on NJ events where NJLHS might want to be represented. My mailing address and email are listed at the bottom of the page.

Social Networking Update

As always, a friendly reminder to check out the Society’s presence on Facebook & Twitter! While you’re at it, please recommend that others become our “fans” on Facebook. We’re easy to find: either search the Society name in the search bar on Facebook, or navigate to www.facebook.com/njlhs. I’m happy to report that ALMOST 500 people “like” our page as of mid-November. If you’re not of these many “fans” yet, just look us up and “like us” today. For convenience, we’ve configured our Facebook page so that all of the content posted automatically publishes on the NJLHS account the micro-blog site Twitter. You may find us at www.twitter.com/njlhs or on Twitter by typing @njlhs in the Twitter search field. You can now keep up to date via your smartphone, iPad/tablet, and (of course) your notebook or desktop computer. We also continue to publish notices of our General Membership Meetings to approximately 75 media venues (newspapers/radio/websites) throughout the state. However, we are always looking to add outlets to our media list. It seems that, as soon as we add an outlet to the list that, due to continued budgetary cutbacks at various media outlets, we lose one or two contacts on our media list. In light of this reality, please share contact info for any media outlets that you feel would like to receive our media notices. These could include newspaper, radio, TV, or web-based resources. We’re always happy add anyone to our media distribution list.

Thanks so much everyone…and keep the lights shining!

Anthony Albence, 1st Vice President E-mail: Chair, Community Outreach & Publicity [email protected] P.O. Box 8184 Wilmington, DE 19803-8184

The Beam Page 5 STATEN ISLAND’S OLD ORCHARD LIGHTHOUSE

Lighthouse, 119 years old, Disappears Due to Hurricane Sandy

Photo: James Donlon, left and US Coast Guard, right

We are saddened to report the Old Orchard Lighthouse off the coast of Great Kills Park in Staten Island was simply blown away by the storm surge during Hurricane Sandy...right off the shoal. After almost 120 years standing as a strong beacon on the Lower Bay, it is gone. Another loss to Staten Island and the lighthouse community.

Built in 1893 off Great Kills, it was once a refuge for fishermen caught in squalls. Its white flashing light, automated in 1955, could be seen for seven miles in clear weather.

Holiday Meeting/December 15th RECIPE CORNER Marty Hudspeth

Flourless Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies By Ken Wolfinger

1 cup peanut butter (creamy or chunky) All of us have had some unpleasant experiences 1 cup brown sugar, packed during the last few weeks--some of us much more 1 lg. egg, slightly beaten than others. Hurricane Sandy and the 1 tsp. baking soda 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz.) recent nor’easter have left most of us with property damage and much discomfort without Heat oven to 350 degrees. In medium bowl, beat together electricity, computers, etc. peanut butter, brown sugar, egg and baking soda until mixture is smooth and well blended. Stir in chips until It is time that we put this aside and enjoy the evenly distributed. Drop the dough by slightly rounded upcoming holidays. We are putting together teaspoons onto ungreased baking sheet, about 2 inches apart. Bake one sheet at a time in 350degree oven, until several gift baskets and surprises for our Holiday cookies are puffed and slightly golden but still soft to Meeting. Please join us. Basket themes are Beer, touch, about 10 minutes. Cool on sheet 5 minutes then Wine, Desk supplies, Puzzles, Golf, Holiday, transfer to rack, cool completely. Lighthouse, Coffee, Tea and more.

Page 6 The Beam MEMBER CROSSES THE BAR NOMINATING COMMITTEE Joan Stumpf At the September meeting, the nominating committee Raymond Stumpf passed away on September 24, presented the slate of officers: 2012. Along with his wife, Joan, and children, Karen, Cheryl and Ed, he was active in the NJLHS for many • Brett Franks, President years. He enjoyed volunteering at the challenges and • Anthony Albence, 1st Vice President going on many of the Society sponsored trips. • Rich Veit, 2nd Vice President • Faith Giamboi, Treasurer Joan and the family would like to thank all the • Karen Stumpf-Owen, Recording Secretary NJLHS members for their visits, calls, cards of • Mary Beth Doherty, Director love and sympathy at this time. • Carol Winkie, Director

No other nominations were made from the floor. NEWS: OREGON LIGHTHOUSE TRIP Elections will be held next meeting. Mike Boucher

As of November, the trip next year to Oregon is full.

NEW NJLHS T-SHIRT! Carol Winkie - Ways & Means

New t-shirts will be available at December’s meeting! They were designed by NJLHS member Greg DiNapoli. Cost $15.00 Colors: Stone Blue (shown below), Tan, Sand, Pink

The Beam Page 7 So I Wanted to Own a Lighthouse - The Diary of a Lighthouse Keeper by Craig Morrison President, Historically Significant Structures, Inc.

Sometime back around 2001, I was watching the NPR show on TV about the lighthouse act written by Gale Norton, Secretary of the Department of the Interior with my girlfriend/attorney, Linell. I asked if we could start a nonprofit and get one. She agreed. I found a course at St. Augustine Lighthouse, Florida, hosted by the US Coast Guard, the , and the GSA, among many other lighthouse constituents. Linell and I spent a week in classes about bricks and Fresnel lenses and the Secretary of the Interior’s standards for lighthouse restoration. We bought the book in print, which is now available online. We also met a lot of folks that had ownership interests in lighthouses and that were interested in getting one. Some folks just loved lighthouses. We got on the General Service Administration list to be notified of any available lighthouses being excessed by the USCG under the Lighthouse Act of 2000. We received many NOAs (notice of availability) in emails. We responded to several by submitting a letter of interest, after which time the GSA would call and schedule us to visit the properties with the help of the USCG. We visited Goose Rocks, Petit Manan Lighthouse, and several others. We applied for Goose Rocks Lighthouse and were turned down. All hope was not lost. Several years and many NOAs later we received notice for Execution Rocks Lighthouse, in New York’s Long Island Sound. We submitted a letter, visited the site, applied, and were accepted by the National Park Service after several revisions to our application. I was amazed and still am to this day. Linell and I were the only group that applied to Execution Rocks Lighthouse on the gold coast of Long Island, surrounded by several prestigious marinas and yacht clubs! I lived on Saba Rock in the BVIs next to Necker island in 1992 and saw visions of recreating this small island oasis in NY! We got the deed in April 2009, put it in our 501c3, Historically Significant Structures Inc., with New York and Pennsylvania state and federal nonprofit status and applied for a grant in 2010. The New York Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation approved our grant. Let me be very clear at this point: this is a reimbursement grant, which means we have to get bids for the jobs using NY state criteria including MWBE, get the work approved to be done by NYSHPO in Albany, do the work, pay for the work, get that approved, and then get reimbursed. We have yet to raise enough money in our tower climbs and fundraisers to fix the roof and re-point and paint the tower exterior, but the grant office was kind enough to let us have an advance payment to get the lead paint out and redo the walls, ceilings with new paint. This was just completed. They also paid for our architect’s specifications and appraisals. Our grant will reimburse us until the end of 2014 if you truly would like to help the restoration of this historic lighthouse. Page 8 The Beam We are still waiting for the mason to complete the repair of the steps up to the island from the water that were built around 1850. Our island was manmade in the 1840s with granite from around 45th Street in Manhattan. The tower was built by Alexander Parris in 1849, the same year Edger Allen Poe died. The keeper’s quarters, my new digs for next summer, was built by the lighthouse board in 1867, right after the end of the Civil War. This brings me to the ghost stories, a result of the British executing colonists on the rocks beneath our island in the fall of 1775, as rumors have it. We are now offering the lightkeeper’s experience to anyone with the desire to live on the island. We need to raise funds to finish the renovations, including a kitchen and bathroom.The portable caper’s toilet is the best method, until we can afford an Incineret toilet and a generator. We offer thick air mattresses and a propane barbeques grill for the guest food service. We offer the 4th night free for the real lighthouse lovers. Transportation is provided by Matt Meyran of Port Washington Water Taxi, who has carried hundreds of visitors to our island in the past few years all summer long. Please look at the website http://www.lighthouserestorations.org for the 2013 tower climb schedule and the photos of the rooms. We have amazing before and after photos of the keeper’s quarters. We are still hoping to find angels to help us recreate the steam engine room, as a day room and the shed, which will house another bathroom on the first floor. The waters surrounding the lighthouse are great for bluefish, bass, black fish and fluke fishing!You may bring your pole and rent a kayak to fish in! Clean up the fish and throw them on the grill.There’s a beautiful view of New York City on the horizon to the west, about 20 miles away that lights up at night! The island is about 1400 feet offshore, even though the boat ride from Port Washington Town Dock is about 20 minutes long. We hope to see you at the lighthouse in 2013. Please call if you can help us make this light station a better place to visit for years to come! 2013 will be the first year that the keeper’s dwellings will accommodate overnight guests not in the USCG or the lighthouse board ever! Great for painters, authors, fisherman and lighthouse enthusiasts! Please call me, Craig Morrison, at 215-906-5103 for reservations and information.

Stairs & Hall Before Bedroom #1 Before

Stairs & Hall After

Hallway 2nd Floor After Stairs Being Fixed

The Beam Page 9 PROGRAM: December Meeting at West Cape May Fire Hall 732 Broadway, West Cape May Brett Franks Our original intention was to have our Dec. Meeting in Atlantic City. Super-storm Sandy changed our plans. The storm wiped out so many venues along the coast that finding a place to have our Holiday Social became difficult. Our meeting/social will be at West Cape May Fire Hall. We’ll start with Coffee/Ways & Means at 11:00 AM (no donuts this time, goodies will be coming later). You are on your own for breakfast and lunch. The meeting will at 11:30 AM and we’ll try to keep it short. Our program will be the annual Basket Raffle and Silent Auction. There will be about 15 baskets for you take chances on and another dozen items for your bids. Along with this, we will have our Holiday Social of light desserts and snacks in coordination with our annual Society Awards Presentation. Our honorees are to be surprised this year. The social should start about 1:00 PM. The social will be mix of raffle winners and awards. Hope everyone can join us for a few minutes of relaxation before the holidays.

For our March Meeting/Photo Contest, we want to use the winning pictures for our proposed 2014 NJLHS calendar. There will be 4 categories (seasons) this year: Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter photos of New Jersey Lighthouses. Each photo is restricted to only NJ lights. However, Delaware Bay and Raritan Bay Lighthouses are also encouraged as well as the land-based lighthouses. Only, 8” x 10” original matted photos in landscape format with no Photoshop or retouching allowed. Participants will be allowed to enter a maximum of two photos in each category. Judging will be explained later. More info will be announced in the website/March Beam. We plan to represent 12 different lights in the calendar. Finns Point Lighthouse/Supawna Meadows, NWR In early October, right before the annual Lighthouse Challenge of New Jersey took place, the new gift shop opened at Finns Point Lighthouse/Supawna Meadows NWR. This represented the culmination of almost a yearlong effort in planning and communication between NJLHS, The Supawna Meadows Friends Group, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The fixtures and cabinets used for this effort were once at home in our successful Sandy Hook shop. After NJLHS departed Sandy Hook, plans started to develop on how we could use our investment in order to help preserve other lighthouses. This was also the timing of a renewed effort to bring more tourism to Finns Point Lighthouse. Over multiple weekends and with the help of many volunteers and specificallyAl Smith, who knows more about building up and tearing down a lighthouse gift shop than anyone should ever have too, the Finns Point/NJLHS gift shop is up and running and helping to secure funds for another deserving New Jersey Lighthouse. More is planned.

Page 10 The Beam WINTER EVENTS

JANUARY FEBRUARY

ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE Sunday, January 13, Monday, January 14, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, Tuesday-January 15 February 14 thru 17 156th Birthday Party DeLIGHTful Date Days Sunday: “Abby & the Arts” - Contest for local students; Two climbs for the price of one! Bring your sweetie... winners announced & kids climb free Monday: Buy one, get one half off admissions all day MARCH Tuesday: Abby’s Actual Birthday, Cake at 1pm and Free Climbs all day ABSECON LIGHTHOUSE Saturday, March 23 - 7 p.m. “Lit With a Dim Bulb” Murder Mystery 7:00 p.m., doors open 6:30 p.m. $25 per person

LIMBER UP WITH A LIGHTHOUSE CLIMB AND THEN WARM UP WITH LUNCH AT LUKE’S KITCHEN

by Jean Muchanic Executive Director, Absecon Lighthouse

Absecon Lighthouse is teaming up with Luke Palladino to warm your bones and limber you up for some holiday shopping! From now through December 17th, when you visit Absecon Lighthouse and make the climb, you can show your “I Climbed” card at Luke’s Kitchen at Revel and receive a bowl of steaming soup for $4, or a delicious soup & sandwich combo for $8. Treat yourself to some fun exercise, a charming shopping experience in the Absecon Lighthouse gift shop, and then a cozy lunch at Luke’s Kitchen. The Lighthouse is open Thursdays through Mondays from 11am to 4pm. Any shopper making a purchase for $25 or more is invited to climb for free.

The Gift Shop features lighthouse apparel, home décor, holiday ornaments, publications, toys, collectibles, and everything for the Lighthouse lover on your list. The Lighthouse, Keeper’s House and Gift Shop are a “must see” attraction during the holidays. First lit in 1857, Absecon Lighthouse is the tallest lighthouse in New Jersey and the third tallest in the country. It is the oldest man-made structure in Atlantic City, boasts a first-order still in place at the top, and offers fabulous views of Atlantic City and Brigantine. Luke Palladino, award winning chef, has three restaurants in the Atlantic City market, and opened Luke’s Kitchen at Revel this past summer.

For more information about Absecon Lighthouse and its programs call (609) 449-1360 or visit us on the web at www.abseconlighthouse.org.

The Beam Page 11 IN THIS ISSUE Diary of a Lighthouse Keeper...... Page 8-9 Happy Holidays Letter from the Editor...... Page 2 from the New Jersey Member Crosses the Bar...... Page 7 Lighthouse Society! Message from Membership...... Page 4 Nominations Committee...... Page 7 Note from Community Outreach...... Page 5 Old Orchard Light...... Page 6 Programs / December Meeting...... Page 10 Trips 2013 - Oregon...... Page 7 Who Are the Wondering Wickies...... Page 3 Winter Calendar of Events...... Page 11 Ways & Means / Recipe Corner...... Page 7

MEETING LOCATIONS TO BE ANNOUNCED IN EACH ISSUE OF THE BEAM AND ON THE WEBSITE www.njlhs.org

DEADLINE FOR THE MARCH BEAM IS MARCH 1, 2013

New Jersey Lighthouse Society The Beam PO Box 332 Navesink, NJ 07752-0332