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By Sharon Linstedt | Source: The Buffalo News

Two local maritime groups are competing to gain control of the historic South Buffalo Lighthouse.

The Buffalo Lighthouse Association and the MAIN (Maritime Activity Interyouth Network) have both filed letters of intent with the federal agency that is handling disposal of the long inactive beacon tower.

Both organizations met a Sept. 23 deadline for nonprofit groups or government agencies to signal interest in owning the 105-year-old lighthouse, which is situated on Stony Point, at the tip of the former Bethlehem Steel site.

…Buffalo Lighthouse Association President Tom Johnston said his group’s goals are restoration and public access for the circa-1903 tower, which is accessible only by boat.

More about the groups, plans at the Buffalo News >>

Benjamin Wideman | Source: Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter

“Man overboard! Man overboard!”

…Four days before the training exercise, Boyer and Petty Officer 2nd Class Linden Hannon, 27, found themselves treading water two miles offshore after rescuing two men whose boat sank. One of the Coast Guard’s dewatering pumps went down with it.

Five days after the training exercise, Boyer was back on Lake Michigan with three other crewmen, this time rescuing four Two Rivers residents — two adults and two children — from the water after their fishing boat filled with water an hour earlier.

“We live and work in the community, so the people we see in town or we live near, those are the same people we rescue and help. It’s a rewarding job.”

…On this day, [Chief Petty Officer John Davis] presents one of the youngest crewmembers, Fireman Trina Beiring, 19, of Calumet, Mich., with a boat engineer certificate.

Quarters lasts about 20 minutes.

Biering and a handful of others head home on their day off, while Davis and most of the crew return to the station.

…Petty Officer 3rd Class Jonathan Belval has been monitoring distress frequencies and incoming calls in the communications room since 6:50 a.m.

Personnel in Milwaukee handle the overnight duties remotely, immediately notifying Two Rivers crews if an emergency arises. The SAR crew works 48 hours on, 48 hours off, with sliding weekend shifts. The ATON crew typically works Mondays through Fridays.

“It’s like a dispatch in here,” says Belval 28, of Virginia Beach, Va., noting mariners frequently call seeking weather updates.

The communications room has nautical maps, weather instruments, a phone, radios set to distress frequency channel 16, a secured-access computer for confidential Coast Guard transmissions, and four security cameras scanning the fenced-in property.

“As long as we stay calm in here, they stay calm out there,” Read the rest of this entry »

Source: Duluth News Tribune

For sale: Prime waterfront property, centrally located with spectacular views of Lake Superior, Park Point, Canal Park and the Lift Bridge.

The catch? A list of restrictions and requirements — including agreeing to maintain the structure’s historic designation and allowing unrestricted government access.

The federal government is putting the light tower next to the Aerial Lift Bridge on Duluth’s south breakwater on the auction block Sept. 16.

…The federal government decided last year that it no longer needs the 107-year-old light… The government made the tower available at no cost to any qualifying government agency, nonprofit, school or community development organization willing to use it for educational, recreational or historic preservation purposes. But with no takers, the U.S. General Services Administration decided to put it on the auction block.

The structure, properly called the “Duluth Harbor South Breakwater Inner Light Tower,” will come with many strings. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and a new owner must maintain the structure’s historic designation and conduct a photographic survey. The owner must get a lease from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before the property is transferred. The winning bidder must obtain written approval from the government before making any alterations or improvements to the property. And the Coast Guard would reserve an unrestricted right to enter the structure to service, replace or move the still-operating aids to navigation.

“Outside of that, it’s yours,” Ullenberg said.

Read the full story, photos and how to place a bid (you know you want it!) at the Duluth News Tribune >>

by Sue Clark | Source: Lighthouse News

The entrance at the base, however, remains open for a look inside, but no one can climb the tower of Michigan’s oldest lighthouse. It’s definitely not a case of the museum falling down on the job, though. The money is there in the form of a grant, waiting, unfortunately, for the GSA to get off its rear and transfer the lighthouse to the museum officially.

But it’s not totally the fault of the GSA. The Environmental Protection Agency is mostly at fault here.

Sue Clark boils it down to the bottom line at the Lighthouse News >>

Source: Congressman Bart Stupak

U.S. Congressman Bart Stupak (D-Menominee) presented testimony on Wednesday to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation regarding the need to increase ice-cutting capacity on the northern Great Lakes.

Stupak urged the committee members to enforce congressional intent by requiring the Coast Guard to replace the decommissioned Coast Guard Cutter Acacia in Charlevoix. “It is important that a new Coast Guard cutter or similar asset be stationed in Charlevoix to replace the Acacia and continue the Coast Guard’s long-standing presence in the northern Great Lakes,” Stupak said. “While the Mackinaw is now stationed in Cheboygan, ice breaking capacity in the northern Great Lakes has been reduced from two cutters to one, threatening the Coast Guard’s ability to meet its operational responsibilities on the Great Lakes. The Coast Guard fleet is down one hull, but the scope of its icebreaking mission is still the same.”

The Acacia was decommissioned on June 7, 2006, after more than 60 years of service. The Acacia provided essential navigational and search and rescue services in the northern Great Lakes, tended to nearly 200 buoys and lighthouses, and kept channels open by breaking ice.

Stupak, who was scheduled to testify in person before the committee, submitted his written testimony instead.

Stupak was pulled into a strategy meeting with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to discuss pending legislation on energy speculation, which Stupak is playing a leading role in crafting.

The committee heard from additional witnesses who spoke on the Coast Guard’s icebreaking mission on the Great Lakes and other regions.

Stupak noted the frustration he has faced in working to replace the Acacia.

He included language in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2006 that would, in effect, require the Acacia to be replaced.

Efforts to force the Coast Guard to do so have been ignored.

“I have written the Coast Guard multiple times requesting that they follow congressional intent,” Stupak said. “Unfortunately, the commandant of the Coast Guard continues to insist that the Coast Guard will not follow the law Congress wrote, leaving northern Michigan without a replacement for the Acacia.”

Stupak continues to work with Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar (D-Minn.) to replace the Acacia.

Source: NewsChannel 9 WSYR

The federal government has finally decided to hand over the Oswego Pierhead Lighthouse to the Port City. City leaders applied for ownership more than a year and a half ago.

The lighthouse is one of the first things you see in Oswego. “It’s a pretty popular sight,” said Mercedes Niess, the director of the H. Lee White Marine Museum.

If you think it’s neat now, just wait a while. The H. Lee White Marine Museum is going to work alongside the city of Oswego to maintain the lighthouse.

Full story, quotes and photo at NewsChannel 9 >>

by Ken Brown | Source: Toronto Sun (includes video)

The western end of Toronto Island is home to the 200-year-old Gibralter Point lighthouse, and Ted English is a member of the Durnan family, which has a long history with the island and its lighthouse.

Completed in 1808, it’s the oldest working lighthouse on the Great Lakes and the second oldest in Canada.

The third keeper of the Gibralter Point lighthouse was English’s great-great-grandfather James Durnan.

“It’s much more than a lighthouse,” said English, a former Toronto Island resident himself. “It’s a keystone of the whole family”

Read this special family’s history, and the 200th anniversary of the light at the Toronto Sun >>

Source: The Beacon

Lighthouses themselves are the focus of a public outdoor art exhibit that will light up historic downtown Sandusky throughout the summer of 2008. “A Light in the Harbor” will feature 28 lighthouse replicas, each decorated by a local artist. The variety of themes and choices of decorative styles and materials is reminiscent of the diversity of lighthouses of old.

A few of the lighthouses depict water and shoreline scenes, while others highlight local landmarks. One even represents a wine bottle, in a tip of the hat to Lake Erie’s thriving wine industry.

Maps showing the locations of the lighthouses is available at the Lake Erie Shores & Islands Welcome Center on State Route 250 near the Sandusky Mall and at the Merry-Go-Round Museum in downtown Sandusky.  A free down-loadable map is available on-line at www.alightintheharbor.com.  “A Light in the Harbor” memorabilia, including T-shirts, posters and a souvenir booklet, are also available at these locations.

The majority of the lighthouses will be auctioned to the public on September 18 at Castaway Bay Resort in Sandusky.  Several of the lighthouses have been pre-sold to their sponsors.  Advanced bidding will be available on-line at www.alightintheharbor.com.  Proceeds will benefit the Merry-Go-Round Museum, Firelands chapter of the American Red Cross and United Way of Erie County.

Read the full story, interviews and more about the exhibit at The Beacon >>

Source: Detroit Free Press

Great Lakes lighthouse historian, photographer and author Wayne Sapulski will be at the Waterford Township Public Library at 7 p.m. Monday, June 2nd to present “Success Stories in Great Lakes Lighthouse Preservation.”

Call 248-618-7694 to register for the free program. The library is at 5168 Civic Center Drive, Waterford, MI. (Click for Map/Directions)

BY CHRISTINA HALL | Source: Detroit Free Press

Whether novice or veteran, keepers at Grand Traverse Lighthouse have standard tasks they share: raising and lowering the flag, taking admissions, regulating the number of visitors in the lighthouse tower, stocking inventory and running the cash register in the gift shop for sales to guests, such as Gayle and Ray Lyle of Eastpointe.

Opening and closing the museum, greeting and helping visitors, turning on and off lights, cleaning, vacuuming, mowing and building or fixing displays also are part of the job.

The historic white- and green-trimmed lighthouse built in 1858 is one of 10 in Michigan that offer a keeper program.

Map of lighthouse keeper programs | How to Become a Keeper

“It’s always something different. There’s always a challenge. You’re trusted to do what you have to do,” said Pat Trombly, 63, a retired homemaker from Norton Shores.

Employees are there most days with the keepers, who have a checklist of tasks they must sign off on. At night, keepers protect the lighthouse on their own.

“When everybody’s gone, you hear the waves batting, the birds,” Len Thomas said. “You begin to imagine how lonely it could have been.”

Most of the keepers have come from Michigan and a half-dozen other Midwest states and range from college students to retirees, said Georgienne Hammer, program coordinator. Some are single; others couples. Some are groups of relatives or friends. Those who did not know each other before coming to the lighthouse bond while there and often reunite for another week the next year.

Many more interviews and stories at the Detroit Free Press >>

GLSW

An unprecedented opportunity to see ten Lake Michigan lighthouses, and physically tour the inside of four of them, is taking place this weekend in Door County, Wisconsin.

Of the four lighthouses on the “mainland” which are open for tours, two of them (the Baileys Harbor Range Lights, and Sherwood Point Lighthouse) are normally closed to the public. In fact, the grounds of the Sherwood Point Lighthouse are usually completely off-limits to civilians.

A Lighthouse Walk ticket is not required at all properties. Please download the free 12-page PDF Lighthouse Walk booklet to see where all the properties are located, as well as the requirements to visit each lighthouse.

The self-guided tour’s hours are 9 AM - 4 PM Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, 2008. Many area hotels and resorts have available rooms, so reservations are not required if you wish to spend the night in the county.

The Door County Lighthouse Walk is sponsored by the Door County Maritime Museum.

GLSW

The Door County Lighthouse Walk takes place this weekend at lighthouses throughout Door County, Wisconsin.

Sponsored by the Door County Maritime Museum, this is the 15th year the event has been held. Six properties are accessible to the public on the Door County mainland, and five more lighthouses are visible by boat.

Participants may take their time and visit lighthouses at their leisure during Walk hours (9 AM - 4 PM) on Saturday and Sunday. Visit as many or as few of the properties as you wish, as the tour  is not structured.

For those who do not wish to drive, tours are available through Door County Nature & Travel and the Door County Trolley (limited space available, please contact the operators directly for reservations).

Exclusive to this weekend, the U.S. Coast Guard has graciously opened the Sherwood Point lighthouse to public access on Saturday and Sunday. Sherwood Point is currently used as a private retreat for military personnel, and the grounds are usually off-limits to civilians. This is a rare opportunity to tour the keeper’s quarters.

At Cana Island, both the keeper’s quarters and the tower will be open on Saturday and Sunday.

The Eagle Bluff lighthouse keeper’s quarters will also be open, and tours available. A state park sticker is required, but well worth the nominal cost to see the fully-restored quarters and guided tour.

In Baileys Harbor, both the upper and lower Range Lights buildings will be open during the walk. Normally access to the upper building is limited, and the lower building is closed, so this is a special opportunity.

Five lighthouses are visible by water. Several cruise operators are offering tours aboard their vessels; please visit dcmm.org for contact information.

A 12-page full-color booklet with full information about the Lighthouse Walk, each property, tour operators and local businesses can be downloaded for free here. Tickets for the Lighthouse Walk are available at the Door County Maritime Museum website.

Source: Grand Haven Tribune

Jerry and Barb Roach, members of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association and authors of “The Ultimate Guide to West Michigan Lighthouses,” will be at the Tri-Cities Historical Museum, 200 Washington Ave., on Monday, May 12, as part of the museum’s Brown Bag Lunch Series.

Beginning at 11:30 a.m., they will give an overview of their book in a slide presentation highlighting the lighthouses of West Michigan. They will also sign copies of their book for those interested in purchasing it.

Source: DCMM

Sturgeon Bay, WI — The Cana Island Lighthouse opened for the season on Saturday, May 3rd.  For the first time in the Island’s history, visitors are able to climb the 89’ tower which offers a stunning visual range of 18 miles.

Cana Island Lighthouse is open to visitors from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. seven days a week.  Fees to access the grounds are $4 for adults and $2 for children.  An additional fee of $2 per person will be charged to climb the tower (rules and regulations for climbing the tower are available on the Island).

The Museum is looking for individuals who would be interested in volunteering their time to help staff the tower on a daily basis.  If you are interested in volunteering at Cana Island, contact Kay Reiche, Museum Volunteer Coordinator at 920.743.5958 or kreiche@dcmm.org

The Door County Maritime Museum was founded in 1969 and preserves the rich maritime heritage of Door County, Wisconsin and the Great Lakes.  Headquartered in Sturgeon Bay, WI, the Museum operates seasonal facilities at the Cana Island Lighthouse and in Gills Rock, offering visitors a comprehensive view to the County’s local maritime legacy.  Museum information can be obtained by email at info@dcmm.org or by accessing the Web site at www.dcmm.org.

By Jim Geyer | Source: WEYI NBC25

Before the days of global positioning systems or, even, ship to shore radio, lighthouses were there to guide mariners around the Great Lakes. And, while most of the more then 100 lighthouses in Michigan have been decommissioned, their history and legends, still live on.

Two of these facilities, the old and new Presque Isle Lighthouses, are about a mile apart in Northeast Lower Michigan, between Alpena and Rogers City.

The New Presque Isle Lighthouse, which isn’t that new, was built in 1870, is the tallest lighthouse tower accessible by the public on the Great Lakes. It’s a working lighthouse…

Read the full story, links at WEYI NBC25 >>

By Hugh Gallagher | OBSERVER

“For Christmas one year, I got a book, Past Lighthouses, and inside the book is a picture on a lighthouse with a crack at its base. Somebody snapped a picture of it as it was half fallen over and then in the water,” Foley said. “Looking at that inspired the first two paragraphs and from there I’d write a little here and write a little there.”

The book opens: On a cold November morning/My fate came to be;/To stumble toward the shore line,/And fall into the sea.”

Writing the book was the easy part. It was getting published that proved difficult. He sent his creation to eight publishers. Three offered encouragement but all eight rejected his book. The editor of Lighthouse Digest suggested he find an illustrator.

… Foley said he wanted to show how lighthouses have been neglected as ships have moved to global navigation that makes lighthouses obsolete.

After his frustration with waiting and being rejected, Foley decided to self-publish. He created several copies of his book at Kinko’s and distributed them to family and friends.

“I got nothing but positive results,” he said.

He arranged with Xlibris to print his book. The book is available at xlibris.com for $21.99 hardcover but Foley is trying to find other ways to get his book and its message out.

Neat story of a local author and how his book came to be >>