High Seas Force Regent of Boon Island to
“Commandeer” White Island
On April 1, 2006 the Regent of Boon
Island announced that a casino would be developed alongside the Boon
Island Lighthouse off the coast of Maine. With members of Boon Island
Security by his side, the Regent boldly set out aboard the Isles of
Shoals Steamship Company’s flagship Thomas V. Laighton with over
130 Republic of Boon Island supporters down
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
The Isles of Shoals Steamship Company's
flagship Thomas V. Laighton
the Piscataqua
River that borders the states of Maine and New Hampshire.
The cruise
departed Portsmouth, New Hampshire in the face of stiff winds blowing 20 to
25 knots and seas running 5 to 7 feet in the vicinity of Boon
Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont
Timothy Harrison masquerading
as the Regent of Boon Island
Island. As
expected, the Regent’s plans for a casino at Boon Island were quite
elaborate in keeping with the Republic of Boon Island’s renegade nature
since declaring its independence from the United States in 2003.
According to the Regent of Boon Island, “The Consortium’s unveiling
calls for a 21-story
complex that will
house a full casino, high-end retail stores, and quality restaurant dining
with an amazing 240 hotel rooms.”
The Regent went on to say, “In order to indulge guests, a new pier will be
built that will accommodate ferry boats such as those of the Portsmouth
based Isles of Shoals Steamship Company. Our extravagant plans also call for
a number of smaller docking facilities for yachts and pleasure boats to be
built, as well as two helicopter pads on top of the casino.” Radical plans
for such a massive complex on Boon Island were sure to alter both history
and the seascape off Kittery and York Maine, but the Regent was undaunted.
Ever since the present Boon Island Lighthouse was first lit on January 1,
1855, the 133-foot granite tower was the lone “skyscraper’ to rise up from
the bleak rocky ledge.
As the Thomas V. Laighton plied past the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
at the entrance to the Piscataqua River, the force of the winds became
more evident.
Though the afternoon sun was dancing in and out of the clouds, the
agitated seas were intent on ensuring an adventure for the Boon
Islanders. Once past Whaleback Lighthouse, a little further beyond the
mouth of the river, long rolling swells caused cruise patrons to become
more mindful of their footing. Decision time had arrived.
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Boon Island Security -
Ron Foster, Tim Harrison, Jim Streeter,
Ed Beaulieu and Bob Trapani
The captain of the
Thomas V. Laighton first consulted with the Regent of Boon Island,
informing him that a voyage to the Boon Island Lighthouse would be an iffy
proposition that risked a few folks possibly getting seasick out in the
rougher Atlantic waters given the marine conditions. After further
consultation with Boon Island Security and the American Lighthouse
Foundation board of directors aboard the vessel, the Regent – with the
powers vested unto him by the corrupt Republic of Boon Island, gave an order
to abort plans to visit the barren, sea-swept ledge and instead sail for the
Isles of Shoals some six miles away where he would authorize the
“commandeering” of White Island and its lighthouse.
Despite the sudden change of plans on the high seas for safety’s sake, the
Regent and supporters of the Republic of Boon Island made the most
Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont
White Island Lighthouse
on the Isles of Shoals
of a fun
day by getting a close up view of the recently restored White Island
Lighthouse, which was made possible by the incredible efforts of The
Lighthouse Kids, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
When asked the timetable for the casino to be built, the
Regent of
Boon Island responded, saying, “I expect it to open by April 1, 2007 or even
as late as April 1, 2008.” He continued by saying, “Isn’t
April Fools Day great!”
The Republic of Boon Island might be a lot of fun but there is a very
serious side to the concept. Tim Harrison, who masquerades as the Regent of
Boon Island, touches on this, saying, “Although the casino idea is meant to
be in good clean fun, it was done to help create an interest in the serious
nature for the fundraising needs of the American Lighthouse Foundation’s
preservation and education efforts to help save lighthouses and the history
and artifacts associated with them for future generations.”
To learn more
about the American Lighthouse Foundation’s Republic of Boon Island
fundraising initiative...Click
Here!
