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Lighthouse Santa Spreads Joy of Christmas on Narragansett Bay
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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As children we have all dreamed whimsically about a
much-anticipated visit from Santa Claus each December on Christmas Eve.
Visions of the North Pole’s jolly old fellow in a red
suit, with reindeer pulling his sleigh and elves helping along the way,
are as much a part of our lives as anything.
But did you know that a stately lighthouse on |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouse Santa in front of his
beloved Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
on December 6, 2009
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Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay has a growing Santa Claus tradition of
its own?
This Lighthouse Santa doesn’t reside in the North Pole, but instead serves
as a jolly ambassador for the historic 1871 Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
Another noteworthy difference is that he doesn’t use Santa’s traditional
reindeer-driven sleigh as transportation. Lighthouse Santa takes to the
water aboard a decorated lobster boat, though like Mr. C., he doesn’t leave
shore without his helpers.
Lighthouse Santa also has the assistance of “elves” who endure frigid
seascapes to help the man in the red suit spread the joy of Christmas to
young and old alike the shoreline of Narragansett Bay – all be it lighthouse
style!
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“In this third
year, Pomham Rocks’ Lighthouse Santa is becoming a tradition for the
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse,” said Don Doucette, chairman of the
group. “The effort is rewarding in a good-natured way and brings our
lighthouse preservation movement to light in the greater Rhode
Island community through Lighthouse Santa.”
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Don Doucette gives of his time and
efforts as "Lighthouse Santa" each year
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Doucette added, “We are more than lightkeepers responsible for the
maintenance of the lighthouse property, which exists primarily for
maritime safety purposes. The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse are also
ever mindful of the well being of our supporters through their
generosity. We wish in turn to express appreciation to the community through
Lighthouse Santa’s gift of good cheer during his yearly visit to
Narragansett Bay.”
Speaking of good cheer, one doesn’t have to be a child to experience the fun
that Lighthouse Santa brings to hundreds of people as his journey
demonstrated on December 6, 2009.
Lighthouse Santa and his “elves” left Bullocks Cove on this day heading in
their favorite direction – north, as a blustery wind blew 20 to 30 knots
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Photo by Ron Sanda
The Melora, carrying Lighthouse
Santa and his crew, heads toward Pomham Rocks Light
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across the water, causing white caps to dance atop the
choppy seas and wind chill temperatures to dip starkly downward.
Despite the weather, the chilling conditions were no
match for the resolve of Lighthouse Santa and his “elves” when it came
to carrying out their mission to spread Christmas joy.
Lighthouse Santa rode aboard the lobster boat
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Melora, which is owned by
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse volunteer Rob Charbonneau. In addition to
the Melora being decorated for the trip, the vessel took in-tow a
dingy adorned with a festive Christmas tree and wrapped packages piled high
inside.
Accompanying Lighthouse Santa was trusty “elf” David Kelleher, and Nate
Wroblinski, who served as Melora’s coxswain.
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Two more
“elves” – Rob Charbonneau and Chris Allen, took to the Pomham Rocks’
lighthouse boat and led the way for Lighthouse Santa’s ride on the
river, while fellow “elves” Nancy Doucette and Laura McNamara helped
with Lighthouse Santa’s departure at the pier.
“Pomham Rocks’
Lighthouse Santa is the |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouse Santa waves to young & old
alike along the shorelines of Narragansett Bay |
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brain child of
Riverside’s Rob Charbonneau, a former resident of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse,”
said Doucette. “There are several volunteers who, along with Rob, have
provided their technical abilities to ‘put the boats on the water,’ which is
necessary to accomplish the Lighthouse Santa project. All this and more is
accomplished with the help and support of a number of other volunteers (all
Santa’s ‘elves’). The operation can be trying at times, especially during
more challenging weather conditions, but it is well worth the effort.”
One need only hear the cheers and greetings from those ashore to know that
Lighthouse Santa uniquely adds to the joy of the Christmas season for the
surrounding Riverside community.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
"Elf" David Kelleher and Lighthouse
Santa greet passing vehicles on the
I-195 Bridge in Providence, RI
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People greeted Lighthouse Santa in a variety of ways.
Many waited inside their homes to keep warm until his boat came in
sight, at which time family members came out on their decks, porches and
yards to wave and say hello to the jolly, red-suited fellow.
Hardy youth gathered at seawalls and along the shoreline
to get a closer look at Lighthouse Santa |
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and return his
merry greetings, while at public parks, people of all ages lined water’s
edge to express their appreciation for the efforts of Lighthouse Santa and
his loyal “elves.”
One heartwarming encounter captured the very essence of Lighthouse Santa’s
efforts, which occurred at Fox Point near Providence’s downtown marina.
As Lighthouse Santa and his “elves” passed under the Fox Point Hurricane
Barrier and approached the downtown marina, a father carrying his daughter
hurried to the walkway overlooking the river.
The little girl
waved, and in a gentle voice that carried across the water, greeted the
festive crew by repeating, “Santa, Santa.” No amount of cold |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
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weather could douse the warmth of this touching moment
for Lighthouse Santa and his “elves.”
After three successful years of Lighthouse Santa taking
to the water and spreading Christmas joy, the operation is poised for
greater growth and impact in the future.
“Our Pomham Rocks’ Lighthouse Santa |
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volunteers have
discussed the hope to see even more people participating along the
local East Providence (Riverside) shoreline,” said Don Doucette. “We realize
this has the potential to become an increasingly more popular Christmas
season lighthouse event.”
Doucette went on
to state, “We also wish to revisit our Cranston shoreline neighborhood
friends next season - it's up to Santa to make this decision. Time will
tell. Also, there is a possibility that Lighthouse Santa may actually visit
Pomham Rocks next year to help display a large Christmas wreath on the east
wall of the light station’s oil house. This ceremony would be visible to
pedestrians and photographers along the East Bay Bike Path.”
As Lighthouse Santa considers expanding his merry itinerary, one thing
remains certain. The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, a chapter of |
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the American Lighthouse Foundation, has successfully
raised greater awareness for the preservation of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
amidst groups of people who might otherwise have never heard of the
historic sentinel or its preservation project.
Just as importantly, Lighthouse Santa is connecting with
families and individuals in a |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouse Santa promises to return to
Narragansett Bay in 2010!
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meaningful and lasting manner. In doing so, the Yuletide operation
demonstrates that like the lighthouse itself, the Friends of Pomham Rocks
Lighthouse shine bright whether sharing the importance of their lighthouse –
or Christmas joy, with the general public.
Incidentally, there are whispers on the wind that Pomham Rocks’ Lighthouse
Santa will return for his annual visit to Narragansett Bay again next
season, so remember to be good and keep the lights shining – and best wishes
for a Happy New Year!
Lighthouse Santa's Helpers...
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr
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Don Doucette, aka
Lighthouse Santa, and "elf" David Kelleher aboard the Melora
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Photo by Ron Sanda
FPRL volunteers Laura McNamara and Nancy
Doucette
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
"Elf" Chris Allen aboard the lighthouse
boat
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Laura McNamara and Rob Charbonneau load
wrapped packages
aboard a dingy
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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(L to R) Rob Charbonneau and Nate
Wroblinski
decorate a the Christmas tree aboard a
dingy that was towed by the Melora
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(L to R) Chris
Allen and Rob Charbonneau aboard the lighthouse boat that led Lighthouse
Santa up the Narragansett Bay
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Nate Wroblinski served as the coxswain
aboard the Melora
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
"Elf" David Kelleher rings a bell to
acknowledge those on shore
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Lighthouse Santa and
his "elves" rode in the lighthouse boat up on the Providence River
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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A replica lighthouse
pennant flies proudly from the stern of the Melora with the
Christmas tree-laden dingy in tow
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Posted:
12/21/2009
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