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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the preservation of America's historic lighthouses.
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‘Lighthouse Weather’ Serves as Backdrop for New Hampshire Lighthouse Week
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Traditionally,
during times of less than ideal weather conditions, the importance of a
lighthouse rose for the seafarer as the elements grew more adverse on
the water.
So it was only
fitting that on June 22, 2009, overcast skies, occasional drizzle and a
stiff wind were present at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse during the sixth
annual |
Photo by William Marshall
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, June 22,
2009
(L to R) Jeremy D'Entremont, Bob
Trapani, Jr.,
Joel Shelburne, Senator Jackie Cilley &
William O. Thomson
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observance of New
Hampshire Lighthouse Week.
The damp, gray
conditions were deemed good old “lighthouse weather,” and served as an
effective reminder as to why lighthouses have been helpful guardians of our
coastlines for over two centuries.
The observance of
this important event took place inside the base of the 1878 light tower in
New Castle, NH, as Joel Shelburne, New Hampshire Lighthouse Week Director,
presented certificates to Jeremy D’Entremont, operations manager for the
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, noted lighthouse historian and
author William O. Thomson and Bob Trapani, Jr., American Lighthouse
Foundation executive director.
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Photo by William Marshall
Noted lighthouse author & historian
William O. Thomson spoke about
lighthouses being "patriots of the sea"
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Mr. Shelburne
also presented Trapani with the second annual Beacon Award for his
preservation work with the American Lighthouse Foundation.
New Hampshire
State Senator Jackie Cilley was the event’s guest of honor, and as part
of her participation, the Senator read a proclamation on behalf of
Governor John Lynch.
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The Friends of
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse
Foundation, also opened Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse to the general public
for tours in conjunction with the event.
Standing on the
steps of the tower’s spiral staircase, William O. Thomson said, “When I look
at a lighthouse, I think of America. I like to call lighthouses patriots of
the sea.”
“These structures
show what we call the human spirit. They don’t flinch when they get a
challenge. That light is going to be there all the time. It’s a beautiful
history.”
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Thomson
concluded, “When people come in from all over the world, whoever they
are, that light says one thing – you are coming to a land of freedom. So
our beacons not only symbolize the human spirit, but the land of
freedom.”
The state of
New Hampshire may have only two seacoast lighthouses – Portsmouth Harbor
and the offshore White Island in the Isles of Shoals, but the two light
stations are some of the most historic in New England and offer up a
wealth of history and lore.
Jeremy
D’Entremont, a renowned lighthouse historian and author himself in
addition to serving as |
Photo by William Marshall
Jeremy D'Entremont, FPHL operations
manager, talked about long-time lightkeeper Joshua Card
at Portsmouth Harbor
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operations manager for the
Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and 1st Vice-President
for the American Lighthouse Foundation, took a moment to address attendees
on a bit of history associated with long-time lightkeeper Joshua Card at
Portsmouth Harbor Light. Card, a native of New Castle, was keeper for 35
years and retired in 1909 at the age of 86.
D’Entremont read
the following excerpt from the June 10, 1911 edition of the Portsmouth
Daily Herald:
“The captain’s
fidelity to duty cannot to highly be praised. Punctual to the minute, he
literally stayed at his post year after year without a break. At least
during this extraordinarily long term, he was absent, I am told, but once,
and that for only a few days. Such a record stands alone in the annals of
the lighthouse establishment.
Moreover, at the
date when old age had admonished him that he should retire from active duty,
Captain Card was, I believe, in point of continuous |
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Photo courtesy of FPHL
Long-time lighthouse keeper
Joshua Card, Portsmouth
Harbor Lighthouse
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service, the
oldest lighthouse keeper on the coast. Each inspector in turn, as he
concluded his rigid examination of the lighthouse at Fort Point, would
commend in the highest terms the service of this model keeper.
No man stood
high in the estimation of the Lighthouse Board at Washington, than the
keeper of ‘Portsmouth Light.’”
In addition to
history and preservation, this year’s observance of New Hampshire
Lighthouse Week included a “touch of Maine, as a focus was placed on the
American Lighthouse Foundation |
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assuming ownership
of the wave-swept Whaleback Ledge Light from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Though Whaleback
Ledge Lighthouse is situated in Maine waters at the mouth of the Piscataqua
River, its proximity to the New Hampshire coastline has inspired countless
Granite State residents to become quite fond of the rugged beacon.
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The American
Lighthouse Foundation (ALF), headquartered in Rockland, Maine, has
designated its local chapter in New Hampshire – Friends of Portsmouth Harbor
Lighthouse, as the new day-to-day “keepers” of Whaleback Ledge Light.
“The Friends of
Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse have demonstrated their
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Photo by William Marshall
New Hampshire State Senator Jackie
Cilley reads a proclamation from
Governor John Lynch
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dedication and commitment to
lighthouse preservation over the years right here at Portsmouth Harbor, and
there is no doubt that they will bring this same level of enthusiasm and
effectiveness to the restoration of Whaleback Ledge Lighthouse,” said Bob
Trapani, Jr., ALF executive director.
Trapani further
stated, “Bygone lightkeepers like Joshua Card would beam with pride at the
efforts of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. These community
volunteers are the modern day ‘keepers of the light’ and are cut from the
same mold as Keeper Card, all of which means that Whaleback Ledge Light is
in the best of hands.”
Though New
Hampshire Lighthouse Week Director Joel Shelburne noted that if it wasn’t
for preservationists like those in attendance, there might be no lighthouse
week, Shelburne’s peers understand and appreciate his invaluable
contribution to lighthouses.
“Joel Shelburne’s
efforts with New Hampshire Lighthouse Week has given us a great deal of
publicity,” said Jeremy D’Entremont. “Anything that
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Photo by William Marshall
(Left) New Hampshire Lighthouse Week
Director Joel Shelburne presents ALF
executive director Bob Trapani, Jr.
with a Beacon Award
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brings attention
to our mission and to our hard working volunteers is a great thing.”
D’Entremont went
on to note, “We’re very appreciative of Joel’s effort, and we thank Senator
Jackie Cilley, Bill Thomson, Bob Trapani, and all who took part in the
event. We do work hard at this, and a little recognition is always nice.”
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Trapani echoed
D’Entremont’s sentiments, saying, “We are constantly busy working to restore
lighthouses and share them with people through educational programming and
public access, but its Joel Shelburne’s passion and appreciation for New
Hampshire’s lighthouse heritage that is ‘shining light’ for this important
event.”
“He’s a ‘keeper’
too!”
Posted: July 2009
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