Daymark A Publication of the American Lighthouse Foundation July 2012 www.lighthousefoundation.org | Daymark 1 Daymark IN THIS ISSUE: July 2012 The Curiosity of Weather Conditions Fascinates Guests at Race Point Lighthouse ......................4 Removing Winter’s “Wrinkles” at Little River Light Station ..................................................6 “Keepers” at Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Stay the Course ......................................................7 Newport Harbor (Goat Island) Lighthouse, Rhode Island: A Brief History ..........................8 Volunteers add a Touch of Gleam to the Interior of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse .................12 American Lighthouse Stay at a Lighthouse! ....................................14 Foundation One More Reason to Tour Wood Island P.O. Box 565 Lighthouse ���������������������������������������������������18 Rockland, ME 04841 (207) 594-4174 Oswego West Pierhead Lighthouse… �������������19 Leading the Way for Visitors at Pemaquid Point www.lighthousefoundation.org Lighthouse ���������������������������������������������������20 Race Point Lighthouse Sets Attendance Record During Mariner’s Day ...................................21 Mission: Yankee Magazine... ���������������������������������������21 The mission of the American Lighthouse Foundation is to save and preserve our 2012 Lighthouse Gala Award Recipients .........24 nation’s historic light stations and their rich heritage. Lighthouse Tours & Open Houses ..................26 This will be accomplished through Maine Open Lighthouse Day - September 15, the restoration, promotion and 2012 .............................................................29 adaptive re-use of America’s historic light stations, as well as educational Persevering Without a Float at the Lighthouse 30 initiatives that foster the sustainable preservation of lighthouses and Taking the First Steps to Restoration at perpetuate the legacy of the men and Whaleback Lighthouse ..................................32 women who have tended them. FRHL Receives Grant for Interpretation ........33 ALF on Facebook! ........................................33 “Autumn is in the Air!” - Online Auction ......34 © 2012 American Lighthouse Foundation 2 Daymark | July 2012 AS SUMMER BEGINS... The American Lighthouse Foundation and our twelve support so faithfully. Together we continue to make a chapters have been waiting for this moment since spring meaningful difference in saving and sharing our lighthouse blossomed a few months back — the chance to delve into heritage — and in the process, we ensure that the light new lighthouse restoration projects at many of our sites and burns bright for tomorrow. to once again share the lights and their rich history with the For all this we sincerely thank the volunteers of the public as we embrace another great season in the making! American Lighthouse Foundation and the many donors As you will read within this issue of “Daymark,” some who help make our efforts possible! exciting work has already been accomplished, with the promise of more preservation achievements as summer Bob Trapani, Jr. strengthens its warm grip on the calendar. This type of dedication, effort and success is what we ALF Executive Director work so hard for — and what our members and friends Pomham Rocks Lighthouse East Providence, RI Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr. www.lighthousefoundation.org | Daymark 3 The Curiosity of Weather Conditions Fascinates Guests at Race Point Lighthouse Jenkins went on to note, “From inside the house one is unable to see the height of the tide or get a true “feel” of the wind. A quick check of the tide clock can tell the Keeper whether a beach fire can be conducted or not, (high tide restricted). Adding the wind vane, anemometer and the moon’s phase to the equation will get the Keeper thinking about an upcoming drive off-sand, and how, if a strong southwest wind blowing at high tide, it would be better to take the outer beach route instead of the pole line because it is probably flooded.” “When guests, as well as Keepers, hear the wind howling past the windows during an unexpected strong storm like we recently encountered, everyone focuses in on the wind velocity. Safe and warm inside, we quickly checked the wind speed, which was blowing steady and gusting to 58mph. Everyone knew that to step outside meant that you could be placing yourself in harm’s way, and that it was better to remain inside the safety and comfort of a 136 year old keeper’s house that has withstood the test of far more powerful storms.” With Race Point Light Station being so exposed to the full force of the wind that can sweep unabated over the sandy dunes for days Race Point Lighthouse on end, even the Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr. weather station, which is designed to stand up to such abuse, No matter the season, weather impacts much of what we can sometimes be do in our lives and is often the topic of daily conversation damaged itself. with co-workers, family and friends. When staying at a lighthouse like Race Point, the ever-changing conditions This very thing in the air and on the water can be even more amazing—a occurred during this fact that never fails to fascinate overnight guests at this past year when strong gorgeous Cape Cod location. storm winds downed the weather station A panel of weather instruments maintained inside the atop the keeper’s keeper’s house at Race Point has long proved to be a house, forcing popular spot with guests for just this reason, and is also volunteers of the Cape an educational tool as much as it is a magnet for attention. Cod Chapter to spring “Weather fascinates the majority of people, be it simple into action in order to curiosity of the outside temperature and precipitation falling, to the MOST asked question: How hard is the wind blowing?” says Bill Jenkins, Chairman for ALF’s Cape Cod Chapter. “The weather instruments provide a “connection” Bill DeFord secures the weather station to the to the world going on around everyone.” tripod stand on the roof of the keeper’s house. Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani 4 Daymark | July 2012 The weather station is Such an opportunity provides visitors with a chance to once again ready for better understand how weather conditions have always duty atop the keeper’s been an inseparable aspect of lightkeeping. The keepers of house at Race Point old were vigilant — forever keeping a watchful eye on the weather in an effort to safeguard the seafarer and batten Light Station. Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr. down the hatches at the light station when necessary. Some things never change at Race Point. Today, modern repair and reestablish day ‘keepers’ carry on the tradition of keeping a watchful it before the 2012 eye on the weather. And though their efforts are not for overnight guest season the mariner as once was the case, they remain so for the started. preservation of the historic site—and for the safety of the guests who enjoy one of the finest ‘front row seats’ for A determined group unsurpassed beauty and tranquility. of volunteers, led by Cape Cod Chapter’s In referring to the efforts of the Cape Cod Chapter Vice-Chairman Gary volunteers, Bill Jenkins noted, “You know, time truly does Childs and Executive give people a chance to ‘show their colors’. The people Committee member the Chapter has distilled to are a group of remarkable Bill DeFord, tackled the project this spring, and when all individuals. They are so diverse in education and careers, was said and done, were triumphant in the effort to make financial resources, likes and dislikes, introverts and those the weather station operationally functional once again. who are always on display, young, old, single, married, divorced, looking; each of them love the time spent at Race Reestablishing the unit atop the keeper’s house was only Point and understand what is expected of them - they are part of the challenge for this project. The other challenging there to share this experience. Though I do not spend any aspect was the need to repair components of the weather leisure time at the house any longer, a quick read of the station before it could be placed back in service. Guest Log never fails to remind me of why I still volunteer.” “The sending unit was tired and needed replaced,” said Jenkins concluded, “The group of volunteers who worked Gary Childs. We also had to install all new connections on the weather station project this spring was no exception. before we could erect it again. Thankfully, when Jim They proved to be a microcosm of our group as a whole.” Walker originally came up with the design of the weather station and satellite antenna, he did so in a way that made everything as unobtrusive as possible.” Childs went on to say, “The design has helped to limit the damage caused by storms since the antenna must have clear view of the hemisphere to see the circling satellites. Simply put, there is no place at Race Point Light Station that is protected from the wind. The light station buildings are fully exposed to all points of the compass. Traditional hurricanes and winter gales test the mettle and metal of the weather station as salt spray and wind make it a tough spot to stand at 35-feet in the air!” Overnight guests have now arrived at Race Point Lighthouse for the 2012 season, and during their stay, they no doubt are lured to the weather instruments panel (L to R) Norm Poindexter, Bill DeFord, Mark inside the keeper’s house to satisfy their Lewandowski, Nancy Lewandowski, Bob curiosity as to the dynamic actions of the Trapani, Jr., Cate Ayott and Gary Childs. air, wind and tide. Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani www.lighthousefoundation.org | Daymark 5 Removing Winter’s “Wrinkles” at Little River Light Station Anyone who has volunteered at a lighthouse knows that winter is never kind to the wood, brick and iron structures of a light station. Driving rain and snow, salt spray, powerful winds and the dreaded freeze/thaw cycle combine to take a toll on the exteriors of the buildings, but the adverse affects of the elements are not confined to the outside.