T he Beam Journal of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society, Inc. www.njlhs.org IN THIS ISSUE Lights Across the Border 1904 Annual Report on New Jersey’s Lighthouses Ladies Delight 3 Days on 3 Great Lakes Number 78 T he Beam December 2009 This issue of The Beam caught me off ting up the tour, getting buses, contacting the National Parks for guard and as you notice it is smaller than a tour of the Fort Wadsworth Lighthouse and the Coast Guard to usual. I have been busy working on the open up the Staten Island Lighthouse. I was sweating a lot hoping 10th Anniversary Challenge® Program that it would be a success--and it was. It was sold out and I did a Book, the September issue of The Beam, second one the following year. As the older generation moves on, From The working on the Delaware Bay Boat trip it is up to the younger generation to take over the reins of the So- Editor’s Desk that was canceled due to the weather, and ciety and lead into the future. We have several open positions that now I’m on vacation out West--working on this issue. The time be- need to be filled. The future of the Society does not look bright tween the last issue and this one was shorter because the December now, with membership going down, meeting attendance is low and meeting is at the beginning of the month, not at the end. volunteers for the Challenge® was down this year. Please look into I remember when I joined the NJLHS in 2002 I felt that the four volunteering and turn the Society around and help make it grow to meetings a year just weren’t cutting it for me--I wanted do more be bigger and stronger. and getting more involved with the Society was the way to do it. I I’m always begging for stories and photos to fill the pages of The asked Tom Laverty if I could do a tour of the Staten Island light- Beam. With all the trips and photos people take of lighthouses houses and he said “by all mean set it up.” I got involved in set- from around the country during the year, one would think I would have a back log of stuff to pick from--but I don’t. In the last issue I The Beam, the official journal of the New Jersey Lighthouse So- put in three photos that people sent me hoping it I would get more ciety, Inc., is published quarterly, March, June, September and of their favorite photos and I received none. It all goes back to December. Membership dues are $20.00 single and $25.00 fam- volunteering your time. ily, and are for the calendar year. Back issues are available free for members joining mid-year. All materials are copyrighted and I’ll admit I did not want to get involved with volunteering at one cannot be borrowed or reproduced without permission of the New of the lighthouses for the Challenge®, but was asked to do so at Jersey Lighthouse Society. The NJLHS - New Jersey Lighthouse Tuckerton Seaport. Judy and I did volunteer, and we had a great Society, Inc., is a non-profit educational corporation (501c3). time meeting the public and fellow members of the NJLHS--most OFFICERS AND BOARD MEMBERS I don’t even know. I’ve done a few outreaches over the years and President Mary Beth Doherty (973) 978-0129 always had a great time. If I didn’t get involved at Sandy Hook 1st VP Brett Franks (856) 256-0881 as a tour guide I never would have met my wife Judy--who also 2nd VP Cindy Mitzen (908) 281-6879 volunteered her time to run the gift shop that day. Treasurer Faith Giamboi (732) 580-0155 Rec. Secy Bob Gleason (732) 238-7066 Please step up and volunteer some of your time. Corresp. Secy Jayne Swope (856) 468-2561 Director Tom Laverty (732) 872-2966 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Director Doreen Berson (732) 202-7420 Mary Beth Doherty Director Jim Cope (609) 587-6266 Wow, how time flies--here we are celebrating another holiday sea- Director Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 Director Marty Hudspeth (609) 877-1393 son! COMMITTEES NJLHS has had quite a year! So many changes—we said hello to many new members, and sadly said good-bye to some long time Archivist Vacant Beam Editor Mike Boucher (845) 787-4807 members. There were new faces on the Board and we faced many Beam Assistant Editor Judy Boucher (845) 787-4807 challenges. With the way things are going, I’m sure we’ll be facing Challenge® Co-Chair Doreen Berson (732) 202-7420 many more in 2010. ® Challenge Co-Chair Laura Portee (908) 222-0107 NJLHS Highlights for 2009: Community Outreach Chair Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 NJLHS celebrated its 20th Anniversary and its 10th Lighthouse Education Outreach Bill Volpe (732) 846-2196 ® Historian Christine Jochem (973) 538-3473 Challenge ; the anniversary logo was created and items were sold; Hospitality Co-Chairs Linda & Bob Gleason (732) 238-7066 we presented Barnegat Light with a Proclamation and a $1,000 Hospitality Co-Chairs Carol & George Naill (215) 657-4559 check for it’s 150th Anniversary; we donated $1,000 to Tinicum Membership Chair Mary Beth Doherty (973) 978-0129 for restoration purposes; our presence was made at numerous Out- Preservation Chair Brett Franks (856) 256-0881 reaches around the state (seeing children excited about lighthous- Programs Cindy Mitzen (908) 281-6879 es!); the Speakers Bureau spread the word in many locations and Publicity Anthony Albence (302) 983-3200 hit a milestone of 10,000 attendees since 2001; Helping Hands Sandy Hook Coordinator Ken Schumacher (201) 342-0108 cleaned the Cape May lens for the Challenge®; The Beam received Trips Chairperson Apryl Roach (609) 799-0008 an award for Outstanding Publication from the NJ Historical Soci- Ways & Means Marion Hudspeth (609) 877-1393 Webmaster Howie Wright (908) 725-9782 ety; two successful bus trips to both Delaware and Seaway Trail; a huge initiative to sort and catalog the archives; we received a NJLHS Web Site: http://www.njlhs.org Proclamation from Ocean County for the Challenge® weekend; Trips Email address: [email protected] over 1,400 participated in the Challenge®--in spite of the inclement NJLHS Email address: [email protected] weather; Sandy Hook volunteers greeted and gave tours to hun- The BEAM Email address: [email protected] NJLHS Announcements: (732) 291-4777 dreds of visitors; and I’m sure I’m missing a few! Society Address: Beam Address: NJLHS Lowlights for 2009: NJLHS, Inc. Mike Boucher Unfortunately there was a lack of volunteers in many areas of the P. O. Box 332 15 Starrow Dr. Society; and the cancelation of the two Challenge® boat trips due Navesink, NJ 07752-0332 Newburgh, NY 12550 Continued on Page 3 Page 2 1989 – 20th Anniversary NJLHS - 2009 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT was at Mulholland Lighthouse just after pobello Island. Lubec Channel Light- Continued from Page 2 crossing the bridge to Campobello Island, house, known as “The Sparkplug” by lo- to the weather (which will be rescheduled). New Brunswick. Mulholland Lighthouse cals, is a white conical tower standing 40 was built in 1885 and guided boats through feet tall. The lighthouse was built in 1890 NJLHS--Looking ahead to 2010: the channel separating Campobello Island and consists of five levels. Our readers As you know, we are in dire need of volun- and Maine. The lighthouse became obso- may well remember the story told by the teers in many areas within NJLHS. With- lete when the Roosevelt Memorial Bridge late Connie Small in her book “The Light- out your time and effort, NJLHS will not was completed in 1962 and navigational house Keeper’s Wife”. Connie married As- be able to continue as we have in the past. lights were placed on the bridge. Even- sistant Keeper Elson Small and went out to We, the Board, cannot do it all--we work tually the lighthouse was donated to the the lighthouse to visit. She wrote about her and have families, too. The bottom line Roosevelt Campobello International Park fearful experience climbing the 30 foot lad- is, if we do not have the volunteers to take Commission. Mulholland Lighthouse is a der to the lighthouse and shared some other care of certain responsibilities, we will not 44 foot octagonal white wooden tower with memories. While photographing Lubec be able to do the activities that have been a red lantern. The Park Commission is cur- Channel Light, one can’t help but picture done in the past. We will have to downsize, rently restoring the lighthouse. Although Connie and Elson Small sitting on their regroup, and proceed with who we have to the tower is closed to the public, Challenge chairs out on the landing deck in the early work with. participants were able to enter the base of 1920’s watching the gulls and the boats Please don’t come to us and tell us what the lighthouse to receive their stamps. A passing by. Today this lighthouse cannot more we need to do. Step forward--let the group of harbor seals entertained visitors in be visited as it is privately owned. the channel next to the lighthouse. Board know what you’re willing to help us Next we drove with! Next we proceeded to West Quod- On behalf of the NJLHS Board, have a to the far end of dy Head Light- safe, healthy, happy, light-filled holiday Campobello Is- house knowing season.