Digest>Archives> Mar/Apr 2014

Book Reviews

By Timothy Harrison

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Lighthouses of Texas

When it comes to the history of the Lone Star State, most us of might conjure up thoughts about the Alamo, Sam Houston, Davy Crockett, and Jim Bowie. It is doubtful that most Americans would think of lighthouses when asked about Texas. In fact, when I asked a few people the other day what first comes to their mind about Texas, all three of them answered with J.R. Ewing, the fictional TV scoundrel. So much for history; I thought for sure that they would have said the Alamo, which fortunately did come in second when I asked them what else came to mind.

Texas had 28 lighthouses built along its 367 mile coast line - a seemingly small number when you first think of the size of the state that was once its own country. Perhaps the remoteness of the Texas lighthouses has caused them to fall way behind in the public’s interest. But then again, many lighthouses in other states were also in remote areas. Another reason might have been because so many family records and photographs of life at the lighthouses were lost in devastating hurricanes.

But author Steph McDougal has done a wonderful job of gathering so many historic images of the lighthouses of Texas in another in the series of Images of America books from Arcadia Publishing, a company that has been working hard at saving images of bygone America.

Not only is the book loaded with really neat historic images of Texas lighthouses, the author has included lightships, life-saving stations, and photos of the destructive force of the hurricanes that have so greatly affected the lives of the lighthouse keepers and the people who lived on the Gulf Coast, especially in an era when life itself was difficult.

Although the life of the lighthouse keepers and their families was different in many ways from the life of their northern states’ counterparts, there were also many similarities. Such was the case of Stephan Decatur Hull, who is pictured in the book; was a native of Baltimore, Maryland who raised six daughters at two Texas lighthouses. Two of them grew up to marry assistant lighthouse keepers. The book mentions that in 1909 his daughter Florence married assistant lighthouse keeper Henry C. Clausen at the Sabine Pass Lighthouse. Strangely, there were no photos in the book of the wedding or the assistant keeper whom she married. In fact, the book is lacking in photographs of the lighthouse keepers or the assistant keepers of the Texas lighthouses. Perhaps none could be found. Perhaps more research should have been done.

The book does have some nice photos of a couple of the lighthouses when they were being built and what has happened to the remains of other lighthouses that no longer stand and where you can visit those remnants today.

As time moved on, many Texas lighthouses were abandoned, some were lost, and others found their way into private ownership. Some are still aids to navigation. It is said that a photo is worth a thousand words, then this book, with its amazing collection of historic images, will keep you fascinated for hours.

All in all, Lighthouses of Texas is a good read and will be a welcome addition to the collection of lighthouse aficionados or those who are interested in the maritime history of America and its Lone Star State. Although the soft cover book with 127 pages retails for $21.99 it can be purchased from Lighthouse Digest as item #2148 for only $19.99 plus free shipping at P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630 or on-line at www.LighthouseDigest.com.

Everyday Heroes

Everyday Heroes – The True Story of a Lighthouse Family

Every so often a lighthouse book comes out that is more than the standard history or pretty pictures book and Everyday Heroes by Seamond Ponsart Roberts is one that stands out among them.

Since I’ve known Seamond Roberts for years, and she has even written a few stories over the years for Lighthouse Digest, I had a pretty good feeling that this would be a good book, but I was wrong; it is better than good – it is great. In fact it’s almost like a time machine. If you look at the photos in the book before you read it, and then, as you read it you may find yourself like Christopher Reeves in Somewhere in Time and be right there with the author during this period of time experiencing a way of life that can never again be repeated.

It’s a true story - there is no fiction here. It’s a story of childhood memories and recollections of growing up at remote lighthouses that were close to civilization but yet so far away. It’s a love story of sorts, a love for a way of life that is long gone, but is still so loved today. It’s rich with history, devotion to duty, ups and downs, trials and tribulations, hardship and happiness, a way of life that was uncomplicated, yet in some ways very complicated, and it is bound to give you, through its pages, a different outlook on life.

Whether or not you are a lover of lighthouse and maritime history, or you just want a touch of nostalgia of a way of life that has changed so much in the last 40 or 50 years, this book is one book that you will not want to put down once you start to read it. And when you are done reading it, you are likely to have a better understanding of the way of life that Lighthouse Digest has been working at to preserve for future generations. In fact, this book rates toward the top of our list of the lighthouse books that help promote what our mission has been since we started publishing in 1992. After you read it, this is the perfect book to pass on to a younger generation person and encourage them to read it. It would wonderful reading for a school book report.

Everyday Heroes, The True Story of a Lighthouse Family, by Seamond Ponsart Roberts is a soft cover book with 244 pages and it is available from Lighthouse Digest as Item #2131 for $16.99 plus free shipping at P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630 or online at www.LighthouseDigest.com. You can also call 207-259-2121.

This story appeared in the Mar/Apr 2014 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.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.


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