Digest>Archives> Sep/Oct 2016

Book Reviews

By Timothy Harrison

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Sea Girt Lighthouse

Sea Girt Lighthouse by Bill Dunn is another lighthouse book in the long line of maritime books of the Images of America series from Arcadia Publishing. As with all of the Images of America books, this one is richly loaded with a large selection photographs that were compiled by Sea Girt Lighthouse historian Bill Dunn, a former reporter who worked for The Detroit News and USA Today. If old historic photos are like gold to historians, then this book with its 230 historic images is worth a small fortune, and perhaps even more when you add the captions that excellently describe the images being viewed. This book, Sea Girt Lighthouse, is the perfect companion to Bill Dunn’s other book Sea Girt Lighthouse: The Community Beacon, which is a 50,000 word narrative illustrated with 100 different photos that was published in 2014 by The History Press.

Sea Girt Lighthouse is available from Lighthouse Digest as item #2183 for $21.99 plus shipping from www.LighthouseDigest.com or by calling 207-259-2121.

To buy this book click here.

Lightships, Lighthouses, and Lifeboat Stations

Lightships, Lighthouses and Lifeboat Stations is part history book and part memoir written by the late Bernie Webber, recipient of the U.S. Coast Guard’s highest award, the Gold Life Saving Medal, and hero of the Disney movie “The Finest Hours.” While many of you may recognize the author’s name from the movie and the best-selling book by the same name, few people know that, during his lengthy Coast Guard career, he also served on lightships and at lighthouses. This book is written in a down-to-earth style that simply “tells it like it was” from Bernie Webber’s memories and those of others who are no longer with us. He recalls it all from the boring times that could drive a person mad to the times when lives were lived in constant fear and danger. This is one of those unique books that are far different than most, and should be required reading by anyone with an interest in maritime and Coast Guard history. Soft cover, 189 pages with black and white photos. Lightships, Lighthouses, and Lifeboats is available from Lighthouse Digest as item # 2179 for $25.95 at www.LighthouseDigest.com or call 207-259-2121

To buy this book click here.

Boston Light

Just in time to celebrate the 300th Anniversary of Boston Lighthouse comes the new hard cover book Boston Light, by Sally R. Snowman and James G. Thomson, as part of the highly acclaimed Images of America series of books from Acadia Publishing. The authors, who have been researching Boston Lighthouse for two plus decades, are probably, without question, the most noted historians on the history of Boston Light. In fact, the couple was married at Boston Lighthouse in 1994, and since 2003, Sally Snowman has been the official Coast Guard civilian lighthouse keeper at the Boston Light, which is the only officially staffed lighthouse in the United States.

In the book Boston Light, the authors have gathered a large number of historic photos, some from their own collection, to provide you with a comprehensive photographic journey through time with informative text that will provide you with the pride that the oldest light station in America offers to our people as a whole. Loaded with historic and modern photos, this hard cover book is one that should be in every home and school library in the United States. It would also make a great gift that would be enjoyed for years. You will not be disappointed. Boston Light is available as item #2185 from Lighthouse Digest for $24.99 plus shipping. It can be ordered online at www.LighthouseDigest.com or by mail at P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630.

To buy this book click here.

Brilliant Beacons

The History of the American Lighthouse

Brilliant Beacons by Eric Jay Dolan is probably the most complete and well-researched story in one book of how the lighthouses in the United States evolved from the founding of the country into the best system of aids to navigation in the world.

While most long-time readers of Lighthouse Digest may already know, or should know, about most of what is written in the 560 pages of the well-footnoted Brilliant Beacons hard cover book, it is still a “must read,” if nothing else, but to refresh your memory. Or, if you are new to lighthouses, this book will open up a whole new world of history to you, including the political intrigue in the early years of lighthouses, their role in war and peace, and the vital role of the people who lived at the lights. Perhaps most importantly, this is the perfect book to give as a gift to any young person to start their interest in lighthouses and learn many facets of early American history that are not found in any of the history books found in our schools, colleges, or universities. In fact, this book should be required reading by every high school student, and it should be in the library of every college and university around the nation. Highly recommend, Brilliant Beacons is available from Lighthouse Digest as Item #2178 for $29.95 plus shipping by mail at P.O. Box 250, East Machias, ME 04630 or on-line at www.LighthouseDigest.com.

To buy this book click here.

This story appeared in the Sep/Oct 2016 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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