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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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Timothy Harrison Helps Keep Lighthouse
History Burning Bright
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Amidst the Museum of Lighthouse History’s exhibits of
sparkling brass artifacts, vintage images, spiffy uniforms and array of
lights that wink & blink is a story within a story of how one person’s
dream to save and share our nation’s rich lighthouse heritage with the
general public has become an evolving reality.
A search of the nation’s lighthouse and history museums
scattered throughout the country will reveal many fantastic lighthouse
artifacts on display. That said, historians and lighthouse enthusiasts
alike would be hard pressed to admire such an extensive collection at
just one location that attempts to interpret and preserve the
human-interest side |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Tim Harrison,
president of the American Lighthouse
Foundation
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of our lighthouse heritage quite like the Museum of Lighthouse History. A
place where the stories associated with the heroes and heroines of the
United States Lighthouse Service and the United States Coast Guard never
fades away.
As you can imagine, such a treasure-trove of time-honored history with its
gripping accounts of storms and inspiring examples of selflessness does not
just come together by itself. Without the vision and leadership necessary to
create a collection of artifacts and memories capable of transporting our
imaginations through time back to the bygone golden era of lighthouses, the
legacy of America’s lighthouse heritage would be further fragmented and not
as enriching as it could and should be.
Thanks to the steadfast commitment and generosity of the “keeper’s keeper” –
Timothy Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Tim Harrison helps maintain and
conserve many of the artifacts in the
Museum of Lighthouse History
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Foundation, the state of Maine and the
United States has the beginnings of an exciting and invaluable
educational platform that pays tribute to our nation’s lighthouse
heritage and its dedicated keepers on display under one roof at the
Museum of Lighthouse History in Wells, Maine, which |
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is owned and
operated by the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation.
We often hear of many inspiring dreams by people who wish to better the
world around them or make it a more enriching place to live. The difference
between dreams that remain a noble concept and those that become transformed
into admirable reality is the ability to combine passionate action,
unwavering commitment and personal sacrifice, with a vision to bring about
that dream. In the case of Timothy Harrison, his dream and journey have
culminated in the creation of the Museum of Lighthouse History.
“Almost from the time I got interested in lighthouses, I realized that
writing about them was not enough,” said Harrison. “As interest in
lighthouses started to grow I met a number of people that were collecting
lighthouse artifacts for their own personal collections. While I had no real
objection to this, I soon realized that the artifacts in these private
collections would never be shared with the general public, and most, if not
all, would remain in private collections forever.”
Harrison went on to say, “Learning from what Ken Black had started with the
Shore Village Museum, which is now the Maine Lighthouse Museum in |
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| Rockland, Maine, I started to make a
concentrated effort to locate historical artifacts that pertained to
lighthouses. First I would try to get them donated, and if that didn’t
work, I would try to purchase them with my own personal funds. In the
early years, I did acquire some artifacts that I donated to Ken’s
museum; however, it soon became apparent that the Shore Village Museum
did not have the space at the time for additional artifacts. So over the
years as I continued to purchase artifacts, I simply placed them in
storage |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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with the goal of
eventually creating a museum.”
Harrison’s dogged ability to amass a collection of artifacts for the Museum
of Lighthouse History was not simply relegated to the rare finds and
historic gems gleaned from the private sector. He also pursued tributes to
the heritage of our nation’s lighthouses through the United States Coast
Guard – the keeper of many priceless artifacts and mementoes of a proud era
in American history. Through hard work and persistence, Harrison was able to
demonstrate to the Coast Guard that the American Lighthouse Foundation and
its Museum were not only fine stewards of such treasures, but also an
organization committed to making sure as many people as possible would
admire and learn from the Coast Guard-loaned artifacts.
Today the Museum of Lighthouse History proudly cares for several U.S. Coast
Guard artifacts, including a large fog bell that serves as one of the
centerpieces for the museum. As the collection of lighthouse artifacts came
together over the past few years and people in the lighthouse community
watched Harrison’s dream of a public museum coming to life, others were
inspired to become involved. The family of long-time lighthouse aficionado
Marlyse Milburn donated a plethora of artifacts and items that she had
collected prior to her untimely passing to the American Lighthouse
Foundation – many of which help comprise some of the present day exhibits in
the Museum.
In addition, the Museum received a priceless Fresnel lens courtesy of an
admirer who watched with confidence the growth of the project. |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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According to Harrison, “An individual who wishes to
remain anonymous, was so impressed by what had been done to create the
Museum and its exhibits, donated to ALF our prized possession – a Fifth
Order Fresnel lens, which is the first thing visitors see when they
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enter the Museum of Lighthouse History.”
Amassing a collection of artifacts and history for the Museum of Lighthouse
History is one thing, but just as important is the philosophy that serves as
the guiding force behind the effort. Such projects require sustainability,
which is why it is so vital that the passion and goals for maintaining the
Museum for future generations is deeply rooted in a love and respect for the
legacy of our nation’s lighthouse heritage. “A museum such as ALF’s can
share and interpret the history of all lighthouses, the reasons why they
were built, the story behind the people that designed the structures and the
keepers and families who actually lived, grew up and survived the elements
at lighthouses while doing their job of tending the lights,” says Harrison.
“It is vital to preserve the stories behind the lighthouses, otherwise
lighthouses themselves are simply empty structures without a soul.”
Harrison went on to say, “If we are to understand who we are today, we must
first learn from our past so that we can better prepare for the future. I
believe the Museum of Lighthouse History is the perfect place to start. It
is my dream that this Museum will remain in tact and grow well into the
future. As time goes on our exhibits will always need to improve and we must
continue to strive to acquire additional artifacts through purchase or
donation. We also need to establish an educational program that can be taken
home with people after they have visited the Museum, as well as being
mindful of teaching the next generation of the importance of our lighthouse
heritage.”
Whether viewing time-stained photos of the keepers that speak of honor,
pride and duty or observing your reflection moving along the curves of
polished artifacts that bridge our nation’s lighthouse past with the 21st
century, it is worth remembering that one person like Timothy Harrison can
make a lasting difference in helping save America’s lighthouse heritage. As
Harrison notes, “Through this museum I have given people the tools to
continue a legacy that can be sustained and expanded upon by others for many
years into the future.”
Posted 5/31/06 |
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