Buffalo Main Light to Open

The Buffalo Main Lighthouse in Buffalo, NY will be open to the public as part of a waterfront revitalization project recently announced. The first phase will be a water taxi service, operated by Buffalo Sailing Adventures that will start this year that will move people from the Central Wharf site in downtowns Canal Side complex to points along the waterfront. In addition a series of Erie Canal replicas will be built that is hoped will become a key attraction. It was stated that over 200 different events are planned for this summer at the Central Wharf in Buffalo. Recently New York State approved $170,000 to complete masonry repair on the lighthouse, Visitors will no longer have to pass through a security gate. It will be the first time the lighthouse is open since the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Thieves Strike Lighthouse

Thieves removed and took away with them two large aluminum doors of the outbuilding at Nova Scotia’s Point Aconi Lighthouse. Then, after breaking into the tower they removed and stole as much copper as they could. In doing so they damaged the electrical wiring to the lighthouse. This was a bold move done under the darkness of night, which is typical of these type of criminals who don’t want to work for an honest living. Hopefully they will be caught and tossed in jail where they belong. The Aconi Lighthouse is located near North Sydney, Nova Scotia near the entrance to Great Bras d’Or Channel, Cape Breton.

Maine Lighthouse Museum Weekend

You are invited the First Annual Maine Lighthouse Museum Special Weekend Event to be held on July 22, 23 and 24. Although the final details are still being planed the weekend will include a Cocktail reception, wine, cheese and hors d oeuvres, Coast Guard boats and personnel, a concert by John Mock, autograph signings by a dozen authors, a movie, bag-piper, boat cruise and a gigantic auction. This is a lighthouse event weekend you will not want to miss. The Maine Lighthouse Museum is located on the waterfront at 1 Park Drive in Rockland, Maine. For more information you can call them at 207-594-3301 or visit their web site at www.MaineLighthouseMuseum.org

Mother Nature at West Point

Even though Mother Nature is returning some of the sand in front of Canada’s West Point Lighthouse that it removed in a violent storm last year, local officials state the sand and stone revetment must be built to save the lighthouse. (Please refer to the March-April issue of Lighthouse Digest for dramatic photos of the storm at the lighthouse.)

Twin Lights Gets Large Artifact Donation

The large personal collection of United States Life-Saving Service artifacts amassed by the late Howard Hayden has been donated by his daughter Laurie and her husband Roy and sons Ryan, J.J. and Aaron to the Twin Lights Historic Site in Highlands, New Jersey. The amazing collection consists of over 400 items including uniforms, badges, documents and photographs. The collection will be displayed at the Spermaceti Cove Life-Saving Service boat building that is located on the grounds of the Twin Lights of Navesink, which will be celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2012.

Telegraph Island Photos Wanted

We are searching for photographs of the Telegraph Island Lighthouse that stood until the early 1950s in the Bay of Quinte on Lake Ontario near Deseronto, Ontario, Canada. We would also like to locate photos of the keepers and family members who lived at the lighthouse along with any memories of life at this lost and forgotten beacon. If you can help, please contacts us at Editor@LighthouseDigest.com or P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630.

Trips Offered to Thacher Island’s Light

Every Wednesday, until September 10, (weather permitting) you will have a chance to visit the historic twin lighthouses at Thacher Island, Massachusetts. Trips depart at 9 AM and return at 1 PM from the Rockport, Massachusetts town dock next to the Sandy Bay Yacht Club. Only 12 people can go on each trip and reservations are required by calling 617-599-2590.

Sunset Views Offered

The Old Lighthouse Museum in Stonington, Connecticut has new hours for the summer months with extended hours on Thursday evenings until 8 PM. The longer Thursday hours will allow visitors to climb the steps of the Stonington Harbor Lighthouse and view the sun setting over three states. For more information you can visit their web site at www.StoningtonHistory.org.

Island of Tragedy Correction

In a story in the last edition with the above title we reported the lighthouse keepers were removed from Rocher aux Oiseaux Lighthouse in 1961. We should have stated that lighthouse families stopped living at the lighthouse in 1961. After that the station became staffed by Coast Guard keepers on a rotational basis. However, in 1988 the Coast Guard de-staffed the lighthouse, also known as Bird Rock Lighthouse.

Heceta Head Light Closed

Oregon’s 118-year old Heceta Head Lighthouse may be closed for as long as two years during its $1.3 million restoration. However the grounds and interpretative center at the lighthouse will continue to be open to the public during the renovations.

Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival

The public is invited to the annual Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival to be held in Alpena, Michigan Oct 6 -9. Lighthouse Digest will be there. For more information go to www.LighthouseFestival.org. This is one event you don’t want to miss.

This story appeared in the Jul/Aug 2011 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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