The present Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse has been helping guide countless thousands of mariners into the protective confines of the Piscataqua River since 1878. Still today, large commercial ships deliver petroleum products, gypsum, fish products, and salt to various ports along the river, while local fishermen work the surrounding waters and a plethora of recreational craft […]
Keeper Tasked with Marking Shipwreck
Lighthouse enthusiasts are quite familiar with the responsibilities of bygone lightkeepers. First and foremost, keepers were expected to maintain a good light each and every night, and during periods of poor visibility, ensure the fog signal was sounding its audible warning. Of course, maintaining the light station buildings in good condition was also a big […]
Keeper Joshua Card – A True Lighthouse Legend
During his illustrious career as a lighthouse keeper, Joshua Card was universally respected for his dedicated service and longevity – a total of forty-two years spent serving at Maine’s Boon Island (1867 to 1874) and New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Harbor (1874 to 1909). In 1908, the following account was published in the Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, […]
Making a Great Thing even Better at Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse
A visit to Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse is not only a memorable experience, but also a diversely educational one as well. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of ALF’s Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, the general public is presented with a unique opportunity to learn about lighthouse history, the natural environment that coexists at the site, a […]
J.B. Leslie Company is Presented with ALF’s 2012 President’s Award
The American Lighthouse Foundation held its annual lighthouse gala at the Four Points by Sheraton in Eastham, MA, on April 28, 2012. The organization’s signature event featured some wonderful lighthouse camaraderie, fundraising, a great meal and some Cape Cod lighthouses open for climbing (Nauset, The Three Sisters and Highland), but the highlight of the evening […]
Renewing the Luster of Our Lighthouse Heritage at Portsmouth Harbor
With the calendar flipping from the month of April to May, and spring gaining a firmer grip on the weather with each passing day, the time to spruce up our lighthouses and get them ready to welcome visitors in 2011, has arrived. On May 2, 2011, volunteers for the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses (FPHL) […]
