Keeper’s Son Inspires Volunteer Dedication to
Shine Brighter at
Long Point Lighthouse
By Bob Trapani,
Jr.
On occasion, there are those volunteer opportunities at
lighthouses that seem to have that extra-something -a day when
dedication and passion meets added inspiration to create a special
memory.
These memorable moments are the type that endures in the
hearts of volunteers and in the history of the lighthouse for years to
come.
Photo by Dominic Trapani
Cape Cod Chapter volunteers worked to
give Long Point Lighthouse a fresh coat
of paint on April 10, 2010
Such was the case when the Cape Cod Chapter of the American Lighthouse
Foundation embarked on a volunteer repainting project at Long Point Light on
April 10, 2010.
For on this day, despite the challenging work detail, an early morning start
time necessary to remain one step ahead of high tide and gusting winds
sweeping across Provincetown Harbor, the hardy volunteers were buoyed by the
presence of a special guest – the son of a former Long Point lightkeeper.
Norman Poindexter, whose father Joseph Richard Poindexter finished his
United States Coast Guard service as keeper of Long Point Lighthouse in
1949, lived at the lighthouse with his parents as a four month-old infant.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Norman Poindexter lived at the lighthouse
in 1949
Though he was too young to recall his time spent at Long
Point, his mother Pearl Ann would years later share her lighthouse
memories with her son, which allowed Norman to gain a permanent fondness
and pride for his family’s lightkeeping service and the beacon itself at
Long Point.
The Cape Cod Chapter’s April 10th project at
the lighthouse proved too alluring of an opportunity for Norman to pass
up, for on this day he would return “home” accompanied by a group of
modern “keepers” who quickly became new friends.
Norman’s participation in the volunteer event could hardly be called an easy
task though, as he now resides in Florida.
By working closely with James Walker, Cape Cod Chapter chairman, the
challenging logistics of meeting up in Provincetown, MA, were overcame so
that Norman could enjoy the honor of performing some of the same repainting
work that his parents carried out at the lighthouse over 60 years ago.
According to Norman Poindexter, “At the time there was a large keeper’s
house at the station, which was connected to the lighthouse tower by an
enclosed walkway. Mother and Dad worked as a team to paint the lighthouse,
as well as the tower. General maintenance was needed to keep everything in
good shape, especially in this area, which is exposed to all the harsh
elements of wind, sand and salt air.”
Given his family’s lightkeeping service at Long Point, it
was fitting that Norman could join his fellow volunteers to give Long
Point Lighthouse a fresh coat of paint.
The other volunteers, a list that included Gary Childs,
Bill Falconer, Diane Gingras, Georgianna & Jeff Leonard, Nancy & Mark
Lewandowski, Trish Rosa, Bob Trapani, Jr.,
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Cape Cod Chapter in action at
Long Point Light
Dominic Trapani,
Pat & Wayne VanBuren and James Walker, rounded out the hardworking team that
helped repaint the lighthouse on this historic day.
The Cape Cod Chapter volunteers will return to Long Point in the fall to
complete the project, which was all but carried out except for a couple top
sections. “If it had not been for the wind, we would have finished,” said
James Walker. “The wind was blowing steady at about 30-knots the entire time
we were at the lighthouse.”
In addition to doing a good job with the
repainting work at Long Point Lighthouse, one of the other aspects of the
project that the volunteers enjoyed was…food!
To this end, Pat VanBuren served up a hot
lunch at Long Point, while Diane Gringas and Trish Rosa provided a
delicious dinner to everyone on Saturday night and a hot breakfast on
Sunday morning.
When volunteers can participate in a hands-on work
project that makes a real difference, and enjoy great friends, food and
fun while doing it – well,
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Volunteers enjoyed the camaraderie with
each other and the hot lunch prepared by Pat VanBuren (far right)
that makes for a
grand lighthouse day.
Add on the opportunity to meet and work with someone like Norman Poindexter
who once lived at a lighthouse like Long Point and had the chance to come
“home” again, that’s when an event like April 10, 2010 goes from rewarding
to a special memory that will last a lifetime.
James Walker summed up the occasion, saying, “What a great weekend with a
trip to Long Point Lighthouse, a chance to meet Norman Poindexter, good
food, whale sightings, you name it. The lighthouse looks great! The best
part of the weekend was sitting around the kitchen table at Race Point
swapping stories.”
“To me, that’s the reward for doing these things. Lighthouse preservation is
worth the effort and the camaraderie is worth even more.”
Photo by Gary Childs
Long Point Lighthouse gleaming
thanks to a new coat of paint and the volunteer efforts of the Cape Cod
Chapter of ALF
Photo by Dominic Trapani
(L to R) Norman Poindexter and Bob
Trapani, Jr., with help from Gary Childs topside, work on the upper part
of the light
Photo by Pat VanBuren
(L to R) Wayne VanBuren and Mark
Lewandowski repaint the north side of the lighthouse
(L to R) Georgianna Leonard and Bill
Falconer repaint the base on the south side of the lighthouse
Photo by Pat VanBuren
Photo by Wayne VanBuren
(L to R) Nancy Lewandowski, Georgianna
Leonard,
Jeff Leonard and Pat VanBuren take a
break from their repainting efforts at Long Point Light
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Jeff Leonard repaints the
mid-section of the lighthouse
on the south side
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Dominic Trapani helped record
the lighthouse repainting
efforts photographically
(L to R) Nancy Lewandowski and Georgianna
Leonard work on repainting the oil house at Long Point
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Dominic Trapani
(L to R) Gary Childs and Bob
Trapani, Jr. teamed up to repaint the upper sections of the lighthouse
Norman Poindexter works on repainting
the west side of the lighthouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Pat VanBuren
Trish Rosa and Diane Gingras prepared
delicious meals for the volunteers back at Race Point Lighthouse
(Front...L to R) Georgianna Leonard, Jeff
Leonard & Gary Childs (Back...L to R) Norman Poindexter, Trish Rosa &
Diane Gingras at Race
Point Lighthouse
Photo by Pat VanBuren
Photo by Pat VanBuren
(Front...L to R) Wayne VanBuren, Bill
Falconer, Nancy Lewandowski & Mark Lewandowski (Back...L to R) Norman
Poindexter & Trish Rosa
