Why lighthouses?
It all started as a Christmas gift. My stepmother had a great nautical decor,
but no lighthouses. I got out the graph paper and drew designs of Cape Hatteras
and Montauk.
From there on, the designs took on a life of their own, soon numbering over 100.
Having lived most of my life as part of the U.S. Navy, maritime history and the
stories of the lighthouses
were fascinating.
The history of North American lighthouses is closely tied to the history of
the United States. One of the first lighthouses standing at the time of the
American Revolution was Sandy Hook Light (right) in New Jersey. Still standing,
it is the earliest
of the aids to navigation in America. Another early light was
Boston Harbor Light (lower right), built in 1716. During the war, a tug-of-war
was waged over who would control the lighthouse--the Colonials or the British.
When the British left the colonies for the last time, they left a burning
powder keg in the tower! Although the light had to be rebuilt after the war,
it is still considered a Colonial light, and is the remaining manned lighthouse
in the United States.
One of the first acts of the new U.S. Congress was the establishment of the
Lighthouse Service. Introduced on April 6, 1789 by Representative Elbridge Gerry of
Massachusetts, the act called for the establishment and support of
navigational aids. It was signed into law by President George Washington
on August 7, 1789.
There are many amusing and interesting stories concerning the
lighthouses, their keepers and the land around them. There are stories of
bravery, heroism, romance, and tragedy, as well as stories of hauntings. If it weren't for the lighthouses
and the keepers who tended the lights night after night, the shores of America
would be far more treacherous.
"I am the light of the world; he who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have
the light of life."
--John 8:12