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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Pomham Rocks’ “Lighthouse Santa” Makes
First-Ever Trip on the
Waters of Narragansett Bay
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Everyone is well acquainted with the image of Santa Claus
at Christmastime. The jolly fellow in his distinctive red outfit can be
seen on bustling street corners, inside shopping malls and all over
television during the holidays, but up until this year the sight of
Santa riding the gleaming waters of the |
Photo courtesy of FPRL
"Lighthouse Santa" stops in front of his
favorite lighthouse - Pomham Rocks
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Narragansett Bay
was not a place one would expect to find him.
On December 8,
2007 “Lighthouse Santa” made his first-ever historic trip on the waters of
the bay to raise community awareness for the preservation and appreciation
of the iconic 1871 Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse
Foundation, sponsored this exciting event with “Lighthouse Santa,” which
took place along the shorelines of East Providence, Riverside, Providence
and Cranston, Rhode Island.
Along his merry
way, “Lighthouse Santa” and his loyal “elves” alerted the public to their
arrival by ringing a large bell and waving to onlookers young |
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Photo courtesy of FPRL
"Lighthouse Santa" and his "elves" plied
the waters of upper Narragansett Bay spreading Christmas cheer
lighthouse-style
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and old as
Santa passed by not on a reindeer-driven sleigh but rather a sleek boat
decorated for Christmas and bearing the name of “Lighthouse Santa’s”
favorite lighthouse – Pomham Rocks.
“The Pomham
Santa boat trip was a way to bring awareness of the Pomham Rocks
Lighthouse to adults and children,” |
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said Laura McNamara,
vice-president of the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse and executive
director for the East Providence Chamber of Commerce. “The weather on
December 8th was a real "chamber of commerce" kind of day. The day was mild,
the water was calm and the sun was shining. It was quite a sight to see
Santa and his elves out on the water waving to onlookers as they passed the
East Providence coastline.”
McNamara went on to say, “Pomham Rocks Lighthouse is the last remaining
lighthouse in East Providence (and upper Narragansett Bay.) Due |
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residents of East Providence are not aware of a lighthouse in the City.
There is a great vantage point of the lighthouse on the East Bay Bike
Path in the Riverside section of town. This 14-mile bike path is located
in Rhode Island's East Bay Tourism Region and is quite popular with
residents and visitors. Having a "Santa |
Photo courtesy of FPRL
"Lighthouse Santa" and his "elves"
(L to R)
Nate Wroblinski; Don Doucette,
chairperson
of FPRL; Nancy Doucette; Rob
Charbonneau
and Chris Allen.
(not pictured David Kelleher)
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sighting" near the Bike Path enables folks to see the lighthouse, share an
event with the community, and also generate awareness for the Friends of
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.”
The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (FPRL) have been working hard the
past few years raising funds to restore the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. The
group completed Phase One of the preservation project in late 2005, which
encompassed a complex $283,000 exterior restoration of the wooden sentinel
by Abcore Restoration Company. The FPRL later relit the historic beacon with
a grand relighting ceremony that occurred on July 30, 2006.
Don Doucette, president of the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (also
known as “Lighthouse Santa”) reflected on Christmastime, saying, “Not all of
us have been brought up with the same Christmas traditions, and for many,
Christmas lacks relevance. But for those of us who experienced Santa Claus
as part of our childhood memories, how can we forget as a child the
expectation and wonder of Christmas morning, for some, a cornucopia of gifts
while for others, a simpler and thrifty approach by parents and guardians
struggling to make ends meet?”
Doucette went on to note, “So, as an adult, about this time last year, I had
a question put to me by Rob Charbonneau, a member of the Friends of Pomham
Rocks Lighthouse and former resident of the historic lighthouse, and once
again I experienced that long ago child's Christmas excitement and
anticipation, a quickened Christmas pulse too long forgotten. Would I help
Rob bring Santa to our part of Narragansett Bay on a boat? Without
hesitation, my answer was ‘yes!’”
“We waited for a year like children wishing away the hours of Christmas Eve.
Finally, last Saturday morning Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Santa made his debut
on upper Narragansett Bay. It all came together – Santa along with some very
helpful elves, two boats provided by Rob and his uncle, Chris Allen, a
perfect sunshiny December day, calm waters, no wind and plenty of Christmas
spirit. There was also many appreciative folks in the same Christmas spirit
listening to Christmas music broadcast across the Bay amid the clangs of
Santa's bell - celebrators in houses, on porches and wharfs, on tugs, on
roadways, in restaurants on bicycles, joggers, neighbors all in the true
spirit of Christmas as Pomham Santa traveled the shoreline of the upper
bay.”
In addition to Don Doucette serving as Pomham Rocks’ “Lighthouse Santa,”
FPRL volunteers David Kelleher, Rob Charbonneau, Nate Wroblinski, Nancy
Doucette and Chris Allen served as Santa’s “elves.”
Doucette concluded, “If you missed this year’s Pomham Santa celebration, you
can keep an eye open for next year's Pomham Lighthouse Santa event – stay on
guard. And by all means, wish away hours and find yourself actually caught
in the spirit of the future event, the return of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
Santa. He’s watching, so try to be good!”
Posted: 12/20/2007 |
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