POST 131 COURIER
HONORING THOSE WHO HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH Volume 2 Number 1 F e b u ra ry 2 0 1 2
B E ST O F T H E B E ST 足 US L IG H T H O USE S AND T H E IR K E E P E RS
About the Cover . . . Image Source:
http://www.megmims.com/blog/lighthouses/portlandheadlighthousemaineandhistory One of the prettiest lighthouses in New England, Portland Head lighthouse of Maine dates back to 1791. It’s part of a park now in Cape Elizabeth, a town on the coast, although it was named for the headland.
Merchants petitioned Massachusetts (since they were not a separate state at the time) for a lighthouse to allow safe passage to Portland harbor. Construction began on a 72foot tower with the $750 appropriated, but it took another $1500 to finish the
lighthouse. America’s first President, George Washington, appointed a Revolutionary War veteran, Captain Joseph Greenleaf, to serve as the first keeper. Whale oil lamps provided a fixed light. Greenleaf wasn’t paid at first but due to expenses, he was given
$160/year until he died of a stroke several years later. A blacksmith was serving as keeper, at a salary of $300, by 1810 when the lighthouse’s woodwork proved in poor condition.
Repairs were made over the years, the tower raised several times and lined with brick, a castiron spiral stairway installed and the keeper’s house rebuilt several times. The whale oil lamps and reflectors were replaced by a fourthorder Fresnel lens in 1855, and a fog signal bell tower installed. One family served a total of 59 years as keeper, a former ship’s captain, Joshua Strout, his wife Mary and son Joseph served from 1871 until 1928.
The Coast Guard took over operation in 1946 and kept the light burning until 1977. The Portland Head lighthouse is now a
museum, and celebrated the Lighthouse Service’s 200th anniversary in 1989. For more information about keepers quirky habits, such as a fogwarning parrot, storms of hurricane strength and shipwrecks. For more information go to the following link: http://www.lighthouse.cc/portlandhead/history.html
http://lighthousenews.com/2009/10/14/threelighthousesgodarkforrepairs/
Post 131 Courier is a monthly publication edited and produced entirely by American Legion ShirleyHolloway Post 131 located in Columbiana, Alabama. For information on how to subscribe or how to advertise, please contact the Post: American Legion ShirleyHolloway Post 131 Post Office Box 357 Columbiana, Alabama 35051 http://post131.alaaldist23.org All articles must be submitted by the 15th of every month in order to be printed the the current newsletter
FEBURARY 2012
Submitted by Eldon Erickson It’s a new year and a lot of us have made New Year’s Resolutions. Hopefully, you are still working on them and have not given up yet. One of your resolutions might have been a ‘bucket list’ or an item on your ‘bucket list.’ What are some things on a bucket list? 1. A road trip to an Alabama city (i.e. Huntsville, Montgomery, or Mobile). 2. Eat a good Alabama BBQ dinner. 3. See a country western concert. 4. Visit the Alabama State Fair. 5. Explore one of Alabama’s caverns. 6. Buy a pair of custom made Cowboy boots. 7. Float down a river on a raft. 8. Visit a brewery or a winery. 9. Go Alabama bass fishing. 10. Learn to ride a horse. Of course, this is just a small sample of items that can be included on a ‘bucket list.’ They can be simple or elaborate. But, if you made one, keep working on the list. Time goes by fast and seems to get faster as we age. I know the above has nothing to do with The American Legion or veterans, but you can add some of those things to your ‘bucket list’ too. 1. Show your support for our Post Baseball team. 2. Talk to the local high school and find a young man for Boys State. 3. Come out and watch the District Oratorical contest. We should have 3 young individuals participating that represent our Post. 4. Attend the monthly meeting each month. 5. Run for a Post officer position; let the nominating committee know of your interest. I hope everyone has a great 2012 and completes all of their resolutions.
POST 131 COURIER
Quotes from Ronald Reagan Submitted by the Ericksons
1. The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help. 2. The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they’re ignorant; it’s just that they know so much that isn’t so. 3. Of the four wars in my lifetime, none came about because the U.S. was too strong. 4. I have wondered at times about what the Ten Commandments would have looked like if M had run them through the U.S. Congress.
5. The taxpayer: That’s someone who works for the federal government but doesn’t have to ta the civil service examination. 6. The nearest thing to eternal life we will ever see on this earth is a government program. 7. Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. 8. If we ever forget that we’re one nation under GOD, then we will be a nation gone under.
FEBURARY 2012
Newsletter and Websites Submitted by Eldon Erickson
I am a firm believer that web sites and newsletters should be a valuable part of every Post. I am extremely thankful that Post 131 has dedicated individuals that are willing to donate their time and efforts to keep our web site and newsletter going. I hope we can encourage others to participate. The newsletter and the web site is the front line of information. This is where the American Legion member should get a steady diet of information. For those with computers, the newsletter and web site are viable avenues to place information in every member’s hand. They do not have to search for information. With a click of a few keys, the information appears. If you have information that another veteran could use, send it to our Editor Mike Welborn. We need your input and support to make our newsletter and website a strong resource. If you have read something and would like more information, contact the Editor or bring the question to the Post meeting. It is our job to find answers to your questions.
POST 131 COURIER
Life as a Lighthouse Keeper
http://www.cheslights.org/cheskids/html/keeperslife.htm
What was life like for a lighthouse keeper? Busy? Boring? Dangerous? Lonely? Yes to all. Let’s take busy first. Keepers were required to keep a daily logbook of daily events, accomplishments, shipping traffic, and weather conditions. We know these things because logbooks have been saved over the years. The government required detailed record keeping. There are entries about dusting, scrubbing and painting. The daily routine included trimming wicks, cleaning the lens and keeping the windows free from soot. Before electricity, many of the lighthouses had manual fog bells. When fog would roll in the keeper had to ring the bell in the designated pattern. Ships used this pattern to know where they were. So a keeper may have to ring a bell two gongs every 15 seconds until the fog lifted! So life was busy but could get boring do to the constant routine. But the keeper had to keep everything in a constant state of good repair, as there were unannounced routine inspections. Now on to danger. Remember, keepers had to haul heavy oilcans up to the lantern room for the light. This may mean trips up the stairs every couple of hours. If the lighthouse had a pulley system for rotating the lens, that has to be reset every so many hours. Gears presented a danger to fingers especially. Hanging outside a lighthouse tower painting was extremely dangerous. When you see a lighthouse, you know it's because there are dangerous waters around and that location put keepers in danger. Violent storms, ice flows and floods presented life threatening danger. Ships in heavy fog have been recorded as running into lighthouses sitting offshore. Lighthouse keepers risked their lives trying to rescue crew and passengers from sinking ships. Lighthouses were also under threat during times of war. Unknown Keeper
By far the biggest danger to keepers besides falling was fire. http://http://lighthousenews.com/ Until the use of electricity, all lamps where wicked and burned some form of oil or kerosene. Fire was a daily threat. Loneliness. Remember, most of the Chesapeake Bay lighthouses sat offshore or on remote islands. Keepers at these lights were not able to have their families with them at the lighthouse. Their companions were the assistant keepers and books. Yes! Books were an important part of the keeper’s little free time. Lighthouse tenders on their scheduled stops would drop off a new “library”. The library was a wooden box that would be filled with books. The men stationed at the lighthouse would have these books to read until the next visit from the tender. Lighthouse keepers found a day trip to shore or their time off a major event. Most offshore keepers worked two weeks at the lighthouse and then had one week on shore. But remember, getting to shore was always weather dependent. Visitors to the remote lighthouses were treated royally. Read how much a simple visit meant to the keeper as assistants at Delaware Breakwater one Christmas holiday.
FEBURARY 2012
Legslative Committee
Submitted by Patricia Erickson Veterans of the Persian Gulf War with undiagnosed illnesses have an additional five (5) years to qualify for benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs. “Not all the wounds of war are fully understood,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “When there is uncertainty about the connection between a medical problem and military service, veterans are entitled to the benefit of the doubt.” A recent change in VA regulations affects veterans of the conflict in Southwest Asia. Many have attributed a range of undiagnosed or poorly understood medical problems to their military services. Chemical weapons, environmental hazards, and vaccinations are among the possible causes. At issue is the eligibility of veterans to claim VA disability compensation based upon those undiagnosed illnesses, and the ability of survivors to qualify for VA’s Dependency and Indemnity Compensation. Under longstanding VA rules, any undiagnosed illnesses used to establish eligibility for VA benefits must become apparent by December 31, 2011. The new change pushes the date back to December 31, 2016. Veterans or survivors who believe they qualify for these benefits should contact VA at 1800827 1000. Further information about undiagnosed illnesses is available online at http://www.publichealth.va.gov.
Life as a Lighthouse Keeper (cont) http://www.cheslights.org/cheskids/html/keeperslife.htm
Keepers who were fortunate to be stationed on landbased lighthouses like Cove Point were able to have their families with them. Every family member helped with the responsibilities of keeping the lights burning and daily chores around the house. Most had vegetable gardens and raised some domesticated animals. For children who lived on islands close in to shore, they rowed to shore daily to attend school. In more remote islands, children were home schooled or sent to the mainland during the school year. The conditions were poor, keepers got no holidays, and their job was to maintain the lighthouse and living quarters. The lighthouse keepers would often work for years at a time without a change in location. Keeper duties were pasted down from father to son and in some cases from father to daughter or husband to wife. Supplies were delivered once every two weeks or so, weather permitting. But most lighthouse keepers would not have traded jobs with anyone else. The men and women who tended the light were people of unparalleled dedication and courage. For some keepers the boredom and loneliness was like a slow death. But for most the lighthouses provided a life of learning, discovering and investigating nature.
POST 131 COURIER
Where Can I Be a Light Keeper? United States Lighthouse Society
Where can I stay at a lighthouse? Are there any lighthouses where I can be a volunteer keeper? Are there lighthouses where you can rent the keeper's quarters for a vacation? Many lighthouse enthusiasts often wish to know where they can experience the life of a lighthouse keeper, even if just for a short time. Fortunately, there are a variety of opportunities in 15 different states. The following list is a work in progress, as circumstances and prices change over time. Please contact the organizations directly for current information and available opportunities. This information is provided as a courtesy by the United States Lighthouse Society, who receives no royalties of any kind for the listings. If you are aware of opportunities that are not listed or can provide updated information on any of the listings, please send the details to info@uslhs.org. Opportunities to stay at a lighthouse include: Bed & Breakfast A former lighthouse or keeper's quarters which has been converted into a traditional B&B providing overnight accommodations and breakfast. Some may include dinner (e.g. East Brothers Lighthouse). Vacation Rental Available for short term or longer stays. Normally includes everything except food. No keeper duties or responsibilities. Hostels Inexpensive, shared facilities. Lighthouse Keeper for a Fee Stay for a nightly or weekly rate in a vacation type facility. Commonly requires the performance of some keeper type duties such as guiding tours or light maintenance. Often require membership in the local lighthouse association. Volunteer Host Keeper Perform keeper duties in return for cost free accommodations; usually an RV hookup or small apartment type housing. Duties are normally more extensive than Lighthouse Keeper for a Fee programs. Some require membership is the local lighthouse association.
FEBURARY 2012
• 9 Regular Post Meeting • 11 District 23 Meeting • 18 District Oratorical Contest 9am LeCroy Technical School, Clanton, Alabama
HO NO RI NG T HO S E WHO GAVE SO MUCH