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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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A Stand for the Ages –
Both for the City of Biloxi and American
Lighthouse Annals
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Dire
predications of an unprecedented fury preceded the arrival of the
fearsome Hurricane Katrina. As storm clouds appeared on the distant
horizon, a deep sense of unknown and anxiety silently gripped countless
residents of the Gulf region. Many people chose not to
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NOAA Photo
Hurricane Katrina
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test the hand of fate
looming ominously over the Gulf of Mexico, while others decided to hunker
down and “ride out” what is now widely being called America’s worst natural
disaster in history.
As
residents contemplated whether to stay or leave prior to the storm, one
thing was for sure – there was no hiding from Hurricane Katrina for the
warrior-like sentinels of the Gulf coast. For better or for worse, the
lighthouses of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama were going to have to
stand defiantly in the face of this unspeakable maelstrom and simply “take
it.” In the end, some would win, some would emerge badly battered and others
would relinquish their watch forever.
The fate
of many Gulf coast lights still remains unknown. What we do know is that New
Canal Lighthouse incurred a staggering “right hand” |
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Times-Picayune photo by James O'Byrne; copyright 2005
New Canal Light, New Orleans,
August 30, 2005
USCG Photo
Chandeleur Light was destroyed
by Hurricane Katrina
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from Hurricane Katrina – one that lifted the 1901 wooden beacon off its
foundation and left it precariously off kilter. The 1896 Chandeleur
Lighthouse was not so lucky. No human being witnessed what appears to be
the demise of this 100-foot skeletal beacon but its not difficult to
conjure up a horrifying imagine of the light’s final stand. The
combination of the ravaging power of 30-foot storm surge pressing
against its weakened spindly frame and the fury of 145-mph winds
apparently proved too much for this battle-worn sentinel. The roaring
din of a storm gone mad no doubt drowned out the final iron-creaking
cries of Chandeleur Light as it |
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gave up the ghost and
disappeared forever beneath Hurricane Katrina’s immense walls of crushing
water.
Yet the
fate of the Gulf’s historic lighthouses becomes a non-issue in comparison to
the horrendous human tragedy that befell the residents and towns along
coastal Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Indescribable horror was
revealed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina as thousands of lives appear to be
lost to the storm, while cities and towns like New Orleans, Gulfport and
Biloxi suffered numbing devastation that rattles our nation’s soul and
deepest emotions. In many cases, entire communities simply disappeared and
the lives of its residents were forever scarred from this life-altering
experience.
During
such dire and desperate times, people cling to any ray of hope they can find
to see them through the emotional and physical recovery – |
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something that
happens one day at time. Like the Hand of Providence that is an
unfailing light amidst a sea of darkness, the symbolic strength and hope
associated with lighthouses is an inspiration to many people.
In Biloxi,
Mississippi, where destruction and |
Biloxi Sun Herald photo by David Purdy; copyright 2005
Biloxi
Light stands tall in the wake
of
Hurricane Katrina
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desolation go hand in
hand
in the aftermath of the storm, it is much too soon for its
residents to celebrate the amazing physical and symbolic victory of Biloxi
Lighthouse – but one day they will in grand style. In the meantime, deep
wounds must heal first with the passage of time and compassionate recovery
before Biloxi Light’s incredible stand in the face of Hurricane Katrina
reverberates in time-honored fashion throughout this historical seaside
town.
The fact
that Biloxi’s beloved 1848 lighthouse remains standing tall amidst utter
devastation is something that the city will eventually rally around as it
rebuilds its future. The 53-foot sentinel managed to withstand Hurricane
Katrina’s terrifying worst. Despite unprecedented storm surge that pressed
alarmingly up against its base and harrowing winds that ripped apart or
toppled lesser structures, Biloxi Lighthouse stood defiantly in the face of
a raging tempest and thus remains the anchor for the city’s rebuilding
process.
In the
book Legendary Lighthouses, Volume II by John Grant and
Ray Jones, Lolly Barnes, Historical Administrator for the City of Biloxi,
was |
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Courtesy Lighthouse Digest
Vintage postcard view of Biloxi
Lighthouse
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quoted as saying,
“The lighthouse is one of our premier landmarks. Everyone here in Biloxi
and along the coast is very proud of it.” Barnes went on to say, “It’s
very visible. When you think of lighthouses, you think of them out on a
windswept island. But |
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our lighthouse is
right here in the community (in the middle of Highway 90). It’s seen every
day by people who live here and by visitors. So it’s really at the center of
things in Biloxi. It’s also the historical heart of the city.”
Lolly
Barnes insightful comments reveal the deep love and appreciation Biloxian’s
have for their lighthouse and why eventually this majestic sentinel’s legend
will only grow in stature and appreciation within the community as the pain
of Hurricane Katrina is slowly erased. Biloxi Lighthouse is the City’s most
profound symbol – one that will now shine a guiding light on its efforts to
restore the seaside community’s splendor and pride.
A 1994
newspaper feature by Kat Bergeron in The Sun Herald further
reinforces the unshakeable bond between Biloxi and its lighthouse. In her
feature entitled, “Biloxi Lighthouse Shines through Change,” |
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Bergeron
comments, “As the casino whirlwind buffets the shoreline, forever
altering its appearance, the Biloxi Lighthouse remains a rare constant.
Its sturdy tower and steadfast light remind us that South Mississippi
has a past far different from the flash of neon lights, construction
crews and giant concrete parking lots overstuffed with gamblers’ cars.”
Bergeron goes on to say, “The 146-year-old (in 1994) lighthouse has
witnessed Biloxi’s change from a sleepy fishing village to
turn-of-the-century seafood mecca, from a town that thumbed its nose at
prohibition to one that openly |
Courtesy Lighthouse Digest
Biloxi Lighthouse stands as a guiding
light for the future of
the City of Biloxi
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wooed Uncle Sam’s air
base. About 600 lived in the village when the tower went up; today, about
50,000.”
For now
the residents of the City of Biloxi will rightfully grieve for their fellow
neighbors and pick up the shattered pieces of their own lives, but rest
assure this historic community will recover and rebuild in grand fashion. At
the heart of this unwavering resolve will be the Biloxi Lighthouse – a true
tribute to our nation’s lighthouse heritage, the unshakeable American spirit
and the City of Biloxi’s resiliency, which will no doubt be on proud display
and shining brightly in the not so distant future throughout the City.
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