Light Hearted

Young Seamond in front of the keeper's house at Cuttyhunk Island, Massachusetts. The guests in this episode are Gloria Coder and Lorna Pierce. Gloria and Lorna are the daughters of the late Seamond Ponsart Roberts (1940-2023). Seamond was the daughter of a longtime lighthouse keeper in Massachusetts, and she was the author of the book Everyday Heroes: The True Story of a Lighthouse Family. Seamond's father, Octave Ponsart, began his lighthouse keeping career at Great Point on Nantucket. He spent five years as the keeper at Dumpling Rock in southeastern Massachusetts, and he and his family barely survived the hurricane of 1938. He became the keeper of Cuttyhunk Light off Cape Cod in 1940. He then spent 11 years as keeper at West Chop Light on Martha's Vineyard. Seamond spent just a few years as a child at Cuttyhunk, but she always considered it home because of her mother's family's roots there. This is part one of a two part interview. Seamond Ponsart Roberts at Cuttyhunk in 2001, laying a wreath in memory of her parents. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont.

A light station was established on Maine's 220-acre Great Duck Island in 1890, with a 42-foot-tall brick tower and three keepers' dwellings. Only one of the three houses remain standing today. The light was automated in 1986 and it remains an active aid to navigation. In 1998 Great Duck Island Light Station, along with Mount Desert Rock Light Station, became the property of Bar Harbor's College of the Atlantic. Students and staff from the college now live in the former keeper's dwelling much of the year. The ongoing research projects largely focus on the island's bird populations. Great Duck Island Light Station, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. John Anderson (Courtesy of COA) John Anderson has been a professor at College of the Atlantic for more than 30 years. His field research centers around Great Duck Island. John says that he is interested in the intersection between natural history and human history in relation to long-term ecological processes.

Maine's wave-swept Whaleback Lighthouse. (Photo by Dominic Trapani) In January 2024, two powerful storms -- just three days apart -- struck northern New England, coinciding with the highest tide ever recorded in Portland, Maine, at 14.75 feet. The damage was severe up and down the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, and about a third of Maine's 66 historic lighthouse sites suffered significant damage. Pemaquid Point Light Station's bell tower suffered heavy damage during the January 10, 2024 storm.(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.) The nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation has formed a Storm and Mitigation Response Team that is dedicated to the development of a series of best practices that can help lighthouses become more resilient in the face of future storms. Today's conversation is with three members of the team. Bob Trapani Jr. is the executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Ford Reiche is the president of the Presumscot Foundation, which owns Halfway Rock Lighthouse in Maine's Casco Bay. David Pomerantz has a background that includes climate resilience and emergency management. https://youtu.be/ycD2SO5W41M?feature=shared

Richard Klein A lighthouse was proposed in 1896 to mark Peck (or Pecks) Ledge, at the east end of the Norwalk Islands in Connecticut. It began operation in 1906 and was the last staffed lighthouse to be built at a waveswept site on Long Island Sound. Its life as a staffed light was relatively short, only 27 years. It's a typical offshore light of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century period, with a cylindrical cast-iron foundation  topped by a "sparkplug" type cast-iron lighthouse. Peck Ledge Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. Richard Klein cooking at Peck Ledge Lighthouse The lighthouse was sold via online auction in September 2015, and the owner is now Norwalk Art Space. Today's conversation is with artist, writer, and curator Richard Klein. Richard has utilized found objects in his sculptural work since the late 1990s. In early September of 2024 Richard spent a week at Peck Ledge Lighthouse, a residency that was sponsored by the Norwalk Art Space. Richard is also the curator of a new show at Norwalk Art Space. The show is called “Sight and Sound: Artists Consider Long Island Sound.” It opens on June 12th and continues through August 28th.

Sean Todd This is an edited version of an interview with Sean Todd that was first heard in episode 72 in July 2020. Sean serves on the marine science faculty at College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor, Maine, and he's also the director of Allied Whale, the college's marine mammal research program. Mount Desert Rock, more than 20 miles from the nearest port and home to a historic light station, serves as Allied Whale's research station. The former keeper's house has accommodations for 20 students. Sean also acts as a professional guide, including many seasons in the Antarctic. He created, wrote and starred in the award-winning “Life in the World's Oceans,” a 30-part DVD series available from TheGreatCourses.com. Mount Desert Rock, Maine. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont.

Matthew Cohen is a nautical photographer with more than 20 years of experience. Matthew acquired his love of boating as a child and raced with the successful Roger Williams University Varsity Team. Following that, he became an accomplished sailing instructor for 15 years at the Sail Newport Sailing Center, and he's logged over 30,000 ocean miles as a sailor. Sakonnet Lighthouse, RI. Photo by Matthew Cohen. Matthew Cohen Matthew's work has been printed in more than 30 maritime publications and has been showcased in over a dozen galleries, shows, and retail spaces. He's now in the early stages of a new photography project related to lighthouses, which is described in this interview. This episode is also available in a special video edition - see https://youtu.be/iklkA8JvSsk?feature=shared

This edition of Light Hearted Lite features several edited interviews that were originally heard in two episodes back in the spring of 2020. The subject is the U.S. Lighthouse Society's popular lighthouse passport program. The program provides enthusiasts the opportunity to help preserve lighthouses, and a great way for them to keep a pictorial history of their lighthouse adventures. Small donations are made by passport holders for the stamps. The interviews are with Skip Sherwood, director of the passport program, and several hall of fame stamp collectors: John MacFarland, James Hill, Sharon Mills, Al King, and Scott Walbert. Click here for more information on the passport program. James Hill Al King Sharon Mills Scott and Diane Walbert John MacFarland Mary Lee and Skip Sherwood

Stratford Point Light Station in 2015, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont David Wright Stratford, Connecticut, was an active port in coastal trade, shipbuilding and oystering in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. To mark the entrance to the harbor, the first Stratford Point Lighthouse was built on the west side of the dangerous mouth of the Housatonic River in 1822. The present tower, 35 feet tall, was built along with a new keeper's house in 1881. Theodore of "Theed" Judson was keeper from 1880 to 1921. In his more than 40 years at Stratford Point, Judson frequently made the local newspapers with sightings of sea monsters and mermaids. The light station is still owned by the Coast Guard, but the town of Stratford holds occasional open houses for the public. Our guest in this episode, David Wright, is the Stratford town historian. He gives walking tours and writes articles about local history. When the lighthouse is open, David takes on the identity of Keeper Theodore Judson while his wife portrays the keeper's wife, Kate.

Conimicut Lighthouse in 2007. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. This episode has two segments. First is a new interview with Mayor Frank Picozzi of Warwick, Rhode Island, about the recent exterior restoration of Conimicut Lighthouse, which is owned by the city. The major project at the 1883 cast-iron caisson "sparkplug style" tower was carried out in 2024 by Abcore Restoration. Sakonnet Lighthouse in 2010. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Next is an abridged version of an interview first heard in late 2019 with Scott Brown, president of Friends of Sakonnet Lighthouse. The 1882 "sparkplug" off Little Compton, Rhode Island, was restored in 2012 with funding from the federal Transportation Enhancement Program combined with privately raised funds.

Prudence Island Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Prudence Island, about seven miles long, is the third largest island in Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. It was determined around 1850 that a lighthouse was needed to guide vessels passing between Sandy Point, at the island's easternmost extremity, and Aquidneck Island, about a mile to the east. Instead of building a new lighthouse, a disused one at Goat Island in Newport was moved to Prudence Island. Originally built at Goat Island in 1842, the lighthouse still stands at Sandy Point and is the oldest free-standing lighthouse in the state. The granite stairs inside Prudence Island Lighthouse The Prudence Conservancy, a nonprofit organization, was involved with the upkeep of the lighthouse and its grounds since the late 1980s. The Coast Guard granted a license to the group in 2001, and in 2024, the property was conveyed to the Prudence Conservancy under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Interviewed in this episode are Prudence Island Historian Joe Bains, and Ray Jenness, who is the chairman of the Prudence Conservancy. The interview was recorded at the Prudence Island Historical Museum. The wife and son of Keeper George Gustavus, along with three other people, lost their lives when the keeper's house at Prudence Island was destroyed in the Hurricane of 1938. Courtesy of Joan Kenworthy.

There are three segments in this episode. The first recaps a recent virtual conference that the USLHS held in late March. The conference celebrated the 25th anniversary of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, with presenters and attendees sharing their stories of lighthouse stewardship and preservation. Next is an abridged version of a conversation with John Potvin first heard in November 2019. John is the manager for the Chesapeake Chapter of USLHS of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Chesapeake Bay, the only surviving cottage-style screwpile lighthouse in the country still in its original location. Following that is a chat with Natasha Nash Dixon. Natasha's new children's book, “Drew's Grand Advenure,” is based on a true tale about the beloved mascot of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. The book also includes the photography of Davd Sites, who is an acclaimed Maryland photographer. Photo by David Stites

The strait between Bristol and Portsmouth, Rhode Island, was busy in the early 1800s, with all manner of vessels passing between Narragansett Bay to the west and Mount Hope Bay to the east. A lighthouse was built on the Bristol side in 1855, with a small brick dwelling and a lighthouse tower attached to its southern end. The lighthouse's days as an aid to navigation ended with the construction of the Mount Hope Bridge in 1929, almost directly over the lighthouse. The lantern was removed and the property passed into private ownership. Bristol Ferry Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Simon and Laura Thomas Owners Carol and Bob Lundin restored the building and had a new lantern room fabricated and installed in the 1990s. Today, the lighthouse is owned by Simon and Laura Thomas and managed as an inn, with bookings available through AirbnB and Vrbo. Simon and Laura are interviewed in this episode along with Rhode Island marine photographer Matthew Cohen. Judianne Point co-hosts. Below: inside Bristol Ferry Lighthouse, photos by Jeremy D'Entremont

This is an edited version of the second part of an interview with Dave and Lynn Waller, owners of Graves Lighthouse in outer Boston Harbor, a classic wave-swept granite tower on a barren, rocky ledge. The interview was first heard in May 2020 in episode 61. L to R: Bob Trapani Jr., Dave Waller, and Light Hearted host Jeremy D'Entremont in 2020 Dave Waller built this first-order Fresnel lens in his Malden, MA, home. One of the subjects discussed is the “Franklens” created by Dave Waller and friends — a first-order Fresnel lens made of spare panels from various Chance Brothers lenses. Also discussed are the observation of wildlife near Graves Ledge, the experience of changing weather and storms at such a dramatic location, the conversion of the oil house into living space, the many challenges of restoration in a place that's often inaccessible, and the Wallers' partnership with well-known Boston philanthropist Bobby Sager. Taking part in the interview along with Light Hearted host Jeremy D'Entremont is Bob Trapani, Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Graves Light, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont

Neil Hurley Neil Hurley's interest in Florida lighthouses goes back to the mid-1980s. He was serving as a staff officer for the Seventh Coast Guard s District Aids to Navigation Branch, and he often had to answer questions about lighthouses in Florida. Neil decided to make Florida lighthouse history his off-duty hobby. That led to countless hours of research, and he's been the historian for the Florida Lighthouse Association since it was founded. His books include Florida's Lighthouses in the Civil War, An Illustrated History of Cape Florida Lighthouse, and Lighthouses of the Dry Tortugas: An Illustrated History, and he was co-author of the first edition of The Florida Lighthouse Trail. The articles he's written include several for the U.S. Lighthouse Society's quarterly journal, the Keeper's Log. Neil retired as a commander from the Coast Guard, and today he continues to work in the defense industry. This is episode is co-hosted by Ralph Krugler, historian for Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse and historical archivist for the U.S. Lighthouse Society.

This is an edited version of an interview that was first heard in episode 60 in May 2020. The guest is Dave Waller, the owner of Graves Light in Boston Harbor. This is part one of two parts. Graves Light in June 2001, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Dave Waller The ledges in outer Boston Harbor called the Graves – about 10 acres in all – have been home to a lighthouse since 1905. The 113-foot tower is made of granite, and a first-order Fresnel lens was installed in the lantern. After the light's automation in 1976, weather and vandalism took its toll. Under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, the lighthouse was sold in a government auction in September 2013 to businessman David Waller. Another partner for the preservation of Graves Light is the well-known Boston philanthropist Bobby Sager. Dave Waller owns a video special effects company headquartered on Newbury Street in Boston, and he also collects and restores old neon signs. He and his wife, Lynn, a graphic designer, live in a restored fire station in the Boston suburb of Malden.

Barcelona Light Station, photo by Mike and Carol McKinney In 1828, Congress appropriated five thousand dollars to construct a lighthouse in Barcelona Harbor on Lake Erie in New York. The harbor had just been designated an official port of entry when the lighthouse was built. In the early 1800s, lumber, salt, flour, and fish were shipped to and from the port. The lighthouse is a conical stone tower, 40 feet tall. It's believed to be the very first natural gas-powered lighthouse in the world. Barcelona Lighthouse is undergoing a major restoration (New York State Parks) Marla Bingham-Melcher The light was discontinued as an aid to navigation in 1859, and the property was transferred to New York State Parks in 2007. There's a museum in the keeper's house, and currently there's a major project in progress that includes the rehabilitation of the lighthouse tower. Our guest is Marla Bingham-Melcher, the manager of the five state parks in Chautauqua County, including Barcelona Lighthouse. This episode is co-hosted by Averie Shaughnessy-Comfort, executive director of Lake Erie Lights of Pennsylvania.

Fred Mikkelsen This is an edited version of an interview first heard in episode 43 in January 2020. Conimicut Lighthouse is a cast-iron caisson structure built in 1883 to mark a dangerous shoal at the mouth of the Providence River. 18-year-old Coast Guardsman Frederick Mikkelsen was assigned to the station in 1958. One of his most memorable experiences in his three years at the lighthouse was a 1960 hurricane. Shortly after Fred Mikkelsen left, Conimicut became one of the last lighthouses in the nation to be converted to electricity. The light was automated and the resident keepers were reassigned in 1963. The lighthouse is owned today by the City of Warwick, RI, and it has recently been restored. Conimicut Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont

Desiree Heveroh at East Brother Light Station in Richmond, California Desiree Heveroh describes herself a steward and keeper of the history of the city of Richmond, California, located in the San Francisco Bay Area's East Bay region. She was a longtime board member of the East Brother Light Station, which is situated on an island in the strait that separates San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay. East Brother is open to the public as a B&B inn, and Desiree actually lived in the lighthouse for 14 months during the COVID pandemic. She's also the shipkeeper for the historic SS Red Oak Victory Ship in Richmond. Desiree has a new book out, co-written with Victoria Stuhr. The book is simply titled Richmond. It's one of Arcadia Publishing's “Past and Present” series, which offers a special view of American life by placing historical images side-by-side with contemporary photographs. Jen Lewis, fundraising and outreach manager at the Point Cabrillo Lighthouse in northern California, co-hosts this episode.

Pencarrow Lighthouse (1859) was the first permanent lighthouse in New Zealand. Mary Jane Bennett - the first official lighthouse keeper in New Zealand, and the only woman to ever hold the role - is profiled in "Guiding Lights." This is another episode of Light Hearted Lite, the series where we revisit interviews from the past six years of Light Hearted. First is a chat about an upcoming virtual conference the U.S. Lighthouse Society will be hosting in March. The conference will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 and will feature a broad spectrum of presenters. Joining us for this discussion are Henry Gonzalez, president of the U.S. Lighthouse Society, and Kathy Fleming, vice president. Shona Riddell Author Shona Riddell was interviewed in episode 82 back in September 2020. Shona lives in Wellington, New Zealand, and her 2020 book, Guiding Lights: The Extraordinary Lives of Lighthouse Women, shares the stories of lighthouse women from around the world and through the centuries, including heroic female keepers, isolated families, and dedicated caretakers. This is an edited version of the 2020 conversation.

Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, photo by Gary Point Pomham Rocks Lighthouse is at the northern end of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, offshore from the community of Riverside. Alex Dias joined the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation) in 2012, but his fascination with lighthouses dates back to 2005 when he was in the 5th grade. He's been involved with virtually every aspect of the group, including the development of the museum inside the keeper's quarters, the ongoing restoration of the building inside and out, and helping to facilitate public tours. Alex has a captain's license and brings many guests out to the lighthouse, in addition to serving as a tour guide himself. Alex Dias Alex became the chairman of the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse earlier this year, and he's on the board of directors of the American Lighthouse Foundation. He received a Len Hadley Volunteerism Award from the foundation in 2017. His brother, Adam, is also a volunteer and currently serves as the treasurer of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. Adam received the Len Hadley Volunteerism Award in 2023. Judianne Point co-hosts this episode. Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse volunteers during the installation of Pomham's fourth-order Fresnel lens in the lighthouse museum in September 2021. Alex and Adam Dias are behind the lens. Co-host Judianne Point is second from right. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont.

This is a re-edited version of an interview that was first heard on "Light Hearted" in 2019.  Jim Pope was a keeper at rugged Whaleback Lighthouse in Maine from 1960 to '62, and the light was automated and de-staffed a short time later. Whaleback is a ledge on the northeast side of the entrance to the Piscataqua River, on the approach to the harbor of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The 70-foot granite lighthouse tower was built in 1872. The keepers lived inside the tower itself. Whaleback Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Jim Pope was born in Scarborough, Maine, in 1938. After graduation from Traip Academy in Kittery he began a lifelong career on the water. After his time in the Coast Guard, he worked as a tugboat captain for Moran Towing for more than 25 years. He lived for many years in Eliot, Maine, near Kittery, and was fondly known as the Pope of Elliot.

Peter Halil and his wife, Isla This is part two of a two-part interview. Peter Halil was a lighthouse keeper in the UK from 1974 to 1997, and he was among the last traditional lighthouse keepers there before all the lights were automated. Peter Halil was keeper at South Stack Light Station in Wales 1980-83. USLHS archives. He also shot video at as many lighthouses as possible before they were automated. His videos sometimes include footage of the keepers at work, and, when possible, interviews with keepers. He's posted the videos on his YouTube channel, which you can access at youtube.com/@PeterHalil. The U.S. Lighthouse Society thanks Peter for being a lighthouse for all of us who strive to preserve maritime history. St. Catherines in Wales is one of the places where Peter Halil served as keeper (1976-80).USLHS photo by Joyce Dixon.

NOTE - There is a technical issue with posting this episode. It will be posted as soon as possible. This is part two of a two-part interview. Peter Halil was a lighthouse keeper in the UK from 1974 to 1997, and he was among the last traditional lighthouse keepers there before all the lights were automated. Peter Halil was keeper at South Stack Light Station in Wales 1980-83. USLHS archives. He also shot video at as many lighthouses as possible before they were automated. His videos sometimes include footage of the keepers at work, and, when possible, interviews with keepers. He's posted the videos on his YouTube channel, which you can access at youtube.com/@PeterHalil. The U.S. Lighthouse Society thanks Peter for being a lighthouse for all of us who strive to preserve maritime history. St. Catherines in Wales is one of the places where Peter Halil served as keeper (1976-80).USLHS photo by Joyce Dixon.

Rob Benchley at Sankaty Head Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont This is re-edited version of an interview with Rob Benchley first heard in episode 81 in September 2020. Rob is the volunteer modern day keeper of Sankaty Head Lighthouse in the Sconset village on Nantucket in Massachusetts. He's also an accomplished photojournalist who has been the staff photographer for three island newspapers, and his photography has been featured in the New York Times and the Boston Globe. Rob was one of the first people on the scene when Great Point Lighthouse on Nantucket was toppled by a storm in March 1984. He has written or co-written several books including Keeping the Light, about the historic move of Sankaty Head Lighthouse back from the edge of an eroding bluff in 2007.  Rob and his wife Carol, a retired Nantucket school teacher, live in a house they built together in ‘Sconset.

Peter Halil There are two segments in this episode. The first guest, Peter Halil, was a lighthouse keeper in the UK from 1974 to 1997. He was among the country's final traditional lighthouse keepers before all the lights were automated. He was stationed at some well known light stations in England and Wales, including South Bishop, Dungeness, St. Catherines, Bishop Rock, the Lizard, and others. Peter interviewed Prince Phillip (master of Trinity House, the UK lighthouse service) in 1995 During his final years as a keeper, he visited as many lighthouses as possible before they were automated. He shot video at the lighthouses including walk-throughs, footage of the keepers at work, and, when possible, interviews with keepers. In recent years he's gone back and edited the videos and posted them on his YouTube channel, which you can access at youtube.com/@PeterHalil. This is part one of a two part interview. Candice Simeoni The guest for our special "Be a Lighthouse" segment is Candice Simeoni, who is a police officer in the southern Maine community of Kennebunk. Candice runs the Golden Ornament Project, which benefits local senior citizens in the holiday season. She is also known as the Sugar Angel, for reasons that are explained in the interview.

With the world's longest coastline and more lakes than the rest of the world combined, Canada is also home to more than 750 lighthouses. In spite of automation, there continue to be 49 staffed lighthouses operated by the Government of Canada. Aerial view of Cape Beale, BC (Courtesy of Karen Zacharuk) The light station at Cape Beale is one of the 25 stations that remain staffed on the coast of British Columbia. A resident keeper still maintains the navigation equipment and buildings, monitors the weather and sea conditions, and watches for emergency situations. For more than 15 years, the keeper has been Karen Zacharuk. This is an edited version of an interview first heard on this podcast in July 2020. Karen Zacharuk and companion at Cape Beale (Courtesy of Karen Zacharuk)

In 1836, rumors of gold in a muddy river on the west shore of Lake Michigan near modern day Green Bay, Wisconsin, spurred the creation of what would become the City of Kewaunee. The arrival of a railroad in the late 1800s led to increased shipping in the area, and in 1880-81 two long piers were built at the entrance to the harbor. In the years that followed there were a number of reconfigurations of the piers and lighthouses in the harbor. Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse, Wisonsin. (Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse) Jake Heffernan (Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse) In late 1930, a car ferry collided with the south pier and badly damaged a small lighthouse tower that stood adjacent to a fog signal building. The damaged pier was repaired and a square brick lighthouse tower was added on the roof of the fog signal building, giving the lighthouse the appearance it has now. The City of Kewaunee was granted ownership of the lighthouse in 2011. Thanks to the assistance of the nonprofit Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse, much restoration has been carried out in the past decade. The guest in this episode, Jake Heffernan, is the acting president and historian for the Friends of the Kewaunee Pierhead Lighthouse. 

Edward Rowe Snow, his daughter Dolly, and his wife Anna-Myrle prepare for a Flying Santa flight in 1964. (Friends of Flying Santa) The Flying Santa tradition traces its origins to a pioneering pilot in Maine named Bill Wincapaw. To show his appreciation to lighthouse keepers and their families, on Christmas Day in 1929 he loaded his plane with a dozen packages and dropped gifts for the lighthouse families in the midcoast area. He soon expanded the flights to more of the Maine coast and to the other New England states. Edward Rowe Snow, a teacher and budding historian in Massachusetts, became interested and took part in the 1936 flights. Edward Rowe Snow kept the Flying Santa tradition alive through 1980, flying over the lighthouses of New England and sometimes traveling as far as the West Coast. The Snow family in 1963. (Friends of Flying Santa) Edward Rowe Snow's daughter Dolly flew on her first Flying Santa flight when she was less than one year old, and flew yearly for decades after that. This interview is an edited version of the one that was first heard on the podcast in December 2020. Today, the Flying Santa flights are carried out by helicopter by the nonprofit Friends of Flying Santa as a show of gratitude to Coast Guard personnel and their supportive families.

Fire Island Light Station, New York. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. Fire Island is one of a chain of barrier islands running along the south shore of Long Island, New York. The first lighthouse on Fire Island was a 74-foot-high stone tower built in 1826. It was considered too short, so the much taller brick lighthouse that still stands was built in 1858. The new tower was fitted with a powerful first-order Fresnel lens. For many years, the flash of the Fire Island Lighthouse was the first sight of land for countless European immigrants coming to America. Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned as an aid to navigation on December 31, 1973. The first-order Fresnel lens that was once in service in Fire Island Lighthouse is now displayed in a separate building on the grounds. Jonathon Gaare in 2020, when he interned as a seasonal Park Ranger Interpreter at the Fire Island National Seashore. The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed in 1982. Four years later, on Memorial Day in 1986, the lighthouse returned to duty as an aid to navigation. Today, visitors can tour the museum in the keeper's house, with two floors of exhibits.  Visitors can also view the old first-order Fresnel lens, which is on display in a separate building. The guest in this episode, Jonathan Gaare, became the executive director of the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society earlier this year.

Ernie DeRaps, a native Mainer, spent several years in the 1950s and ‘60s as a Coast Guard lighthouse keeper at four Maine lighthouses – Monhegan, Fort Point, Heron Neck, and Browns Head. A book written by Ernie and his wife Pauline was published by Foghorn publishing in 2006. Ernie's half of the book was called Lighthouse Keeping. If you turn the book over and upside down, the other half of the book, by Pauline, or Polly, Fitzgerald DeRaps, was called Light Housekeeping. "Light Hearted" host Jeremy D'Entremont, Ernie DeRaps, and American Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director Bob Trapani Jr. in February 2019. Ernie took up painting at the age of 80 and completed portraits of all of Maine's lighthouses. He and Pauline were married for 64 years and had six children. Pauline passed away in 2015 and Ernie followed her last year, at the age of 95. Ernie DeRaps at Monhegan Lighthouse in 2007. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. This is an edited version of an interview that was recorded in February 2019. Also taking part in the discussion is Bob Trapani, Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation.

Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, Wisconsin (courtesy photo) Eagle Bluff Lighthouse, established in 1868, is on a 76-foot bluff in Peninsula State Park in Door County, Wisconsin. The square tower, constructed of Cream City brick from Milwaukee, is connected to the keeper's house. The light served to guide shipping through the Strawberry Channel. In its active history (1868-1926), there were only three keepers. William Duclon served an impressive 35 years (1883-1918). He and his wife raised seven sons at the light station. When the lamp was automated with acetylene gas in 1926, the era of resident keepers and their families at Eagle Bluff came to a close. 1905 view from the water (courtesy photo) Keeper William Duclon and his wife Julia lived at Eagle Bluff for 35 years (courtesy photo) The Door County Historical Society in Wisconsin operates two historic sites: Eagle Bluff Lighthouse in Peninsula State Park and Heritage Village at Big Creek in Sturgeon Bay. Restoring and furnishing Eagle Bluff Lighthouse began in 1960 and took three years to complete. Since that time, the society has maintained the site and offered tours during the summer and fall months. Interviewed in this episode is Amy Frank, executive director of the Door County Historical Society.

Joseph Hindley and his daughter Betty. Courtesy of Betty Hindley Hatzikon. Joseph Hindley had a long career as a lighthouse keeper that spanned from the late 1920s to 1972, when he retired as the last civilian keeper in the New England region. He served at offshore stations early in his career: Whale Rock (RI), Butler Flats (MA), and Sakonnet Point (RI). He and his family spent six years at Gay Head Light Station on Martha's Vineyard, and then 16 years at Nobska Point Light Station on Cape Cod. Betty Hindley Hatzikon in front of the first-order Fresnel lens from Gay Head Lighthouse, now at the Martha's Vineyard Museum. Courtesy of Betty Hindley Hatzikon. This is an edited version of an interview that first appeared in Light Hearted episode 99 in January 2021, featuring reminiscences of life at the lights with Betty Hindley Hatzikon, Joseph Hindley's daughter.

Manitowoc North Breakwater Lighthouse, USLHS photo by Tom Tag The city of Manitowoc, Wisconsin, is on the west shore of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Manitowoc River. The Manitowoc North Breakwater Lighthouse, built in 1918, is one of the area's most familiar icons. The lighthouse property was auctioned by the federal government in 2010 under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. The buyer was Philip Carlucci of Melville, New York. Courtesy of the Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club Since he's owned the lighthouse, Phil Carlucci has been responsible for much restoration. He has now partnered with the Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club to offer public tours of the lighthouse. Members of the club keep the building clean and offer tours on a regular basis. Interviewed in this podcast episode are three board members of the Manitowoc Sunrise Rotary Club:  Paul Roekle, Dennis Huckins, and Mike Woznick. Manitowoc North Breakwater Lighthouse soon after it was constructed (National Archives)

Cape Canaveral Lighthouse on Florida's east coast is owned by the United States Space Force and maintained as an active aid to navigation by the Coast Guard. Visits to the lighthouse are made available by the nonprofit Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation. The Foundation completed the construction of a new replica keeper's house in 2019. Funding has now been secured for the building of two additional replica keepers' houses to improve the visitor experience. In this episode, Becky Zingarelli, museum director for the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, discusses the new project. The winner of our recent 2024 Lighthouse Dance Off, as selected by the audience who attended our recent 40th anniversary virtual telethon, was the Encore Dance Academy, and their winning video was shot at the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse. Kristy Hefner, owner and artistic director of Encore Dance Academy, discusses the production of the winning entry. Also taking part in the discussion are John Winkopp and Mike Piana, who shot and edited the dance video. Photos courtesy of the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation. https://youtu.be/vIT3Hl_kWzQ?feature=shared

This is an edited version of an interview first heard in episode 21 in August 2019. Halfway Rock Lighthouse is a 76-foot granite tower built in 1871 on a windswept ledge far out in Maine's Casco Bay. The property was bought at auction in 2017 by entrepreneur Ford Reiche. Ford Reiche in 2017; photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. His amazing restoration has earned him several awards. The Maine Preservation Association recognized the project with its 2016 Preservation Award, and the American Lighthouse Foundation presented Ford Reiche a 2017 “Keeper of the Light” award honoring his “contribution to the preservation of America's lighthouses and their rich tradition.” Most recently, he received this year's National Maritime Historical Society Distinguished Service Award. 

To celebrate the 300th episode of this podcast, host Jeremy D'Entremont spoke with almost every person who's served as a co-host in the past five-plus years. He asked each person a simple question – What has been your most memorable lighthouse experience? The answers are all over the map, which points out that there are an infinite number of ways that people connect with lighthouses. Interviewed are Averie Shaughnessy-Comfort, Ben Ridings, Bob Trapani Jr., Cindy Johnson, Emily Straight, Heather and Guin Porter, Jen Lewis, Judianne Point, Michelle Jewell Shaw, Ralph Krugler, Rob Apse, Sarah MacHugh, Shalana Millard, and U.S. Lighthouse Society Executive Director Jeff Gales.

Nick Korstad Nick Korstad, who is originally from Portland, Oregon, fell in love with lighthouses when he was in middle school. When Borden Flats Light in Fall River, Massachusetts, came up for sale via government auction in 2010, Nick saw a great opportunity. He achieved his dream of public access when he opened the lighthouse for overnight stays in 2013. Big Bay Point Lighthouse on Michigan's Upper Peninsula has been privately owned since the early 1960s and it was has been converted into a bed and breakfast inn. Since 2018, Nick has been the resident owner. Big Bay Point Lighthouse, Michigan. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont. In recent years, Nick has spearheaded the restoration of Browns Head Lighthouse on Vinalhaven Island in Maine. In 2022, a nonprofit group called the Friends of Browns Head Lighthouse was formed, with the goal of opening it to the public for overnight stays next year. Much work has already been completed. At the end of 2023, Nick was elected president of the American Lighthouse Foundation. Browns Head Lighthouse, Maine. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont.

Lightship Overfalls, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont The Lightship Overfalls, more properly known as the LV-118 or the WAL 539, was the last lightship built under the U.S. Lighthouse Service. Built in East Boothbay, Maine, in 1938, the 116-foot-long vessel incorporated the latest features of lightship design at the time. The LV-118 saw duty in several locations in its active career. From 1938 to 1957 it was at Cornfield Point, at the east end of Long Island Sound off Old Saybrook, Connecticut. From 1958 to 1962 it served at the Cross Rip station near Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. And from 1962 to 1972 it marked the approach to Boston Harbor, six miles east of Boston Light. John Bolster and his grandson ringing the ship's bell aboard the Lightship Overfalls From 1938 to 1957, the LV-118 was at Cornfield Point, at the east end of Long Island Sound. (USLHS archives) Today, the Lightship Overfalls is a National Historic Landmark. Thanks to thousands of hours put in by countless volunteers, the vessel is fully restored and is open to the public on the Lewes waterfront. The guest in this episode, John Bolster, is the curator and a board member for the Overfalls Foundation.

Henry and Chris with two of their grandkids This is part two of a two-part interview with Henry Gonzalez, who became the president of the U.S. Lighthouse Society this past spring after 25 years in a vice presidential role. Chris and Henry at Fastnet Lighthouse in Ireland. Henry has lighthouses in his  blood. He's the great-great-grandson of a lighthouse keeper who served on the north coast of Spain from 1863 to 1904, and he  has a third cousin who is currently a lighthouse keeper in Spain. Henry and his wife, Chris, have seen hundreds of lighthouses throughout the United States and Spain, Portugal, France, and Norway. They have three children and six grandchildren, several of whom are being trained to be future lighthouse keepers.

Henry Gonzalez and his wife, Chris, at Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, Maryland. This week's guest, Henry Gonzalez, was the U.S. Lighthouse Society's Vice President for East Coast Operations from 1999 until 2006. He assumed a broader role as the Society's sole Vice President until March 2024, when he began a four-year term as president. Henry also served two terms as President of the Chesapeake Chapter of the Society from 1997 to 2007. He was the project manager of the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse. L TO R: Henry Gonzalez, president of USLHS; Mike Vogel, past president; Wayne Wheeler, founder and president emeritus. Henry performs all of his lighthouse-related duties as a volunteer. In 2015 he retired from the federal government after a 31-year career in civil service as an engineer, project manager and senior executive. In 2021, Henry was the recipient of the F. Ross Holland Award, which is considered one of the lighthouse community's highest honors. Part 2 of this interview will be included in episode 297 next week.

Jeremy D'Entremont and Malcom Rouse at Owls Head Light Station in 1988. Photo by Charlotte Raczkowsi. The three interviews heard in this episode date back to the summer of 1988, when Light Hearted host Jeremy D'Entremont traveled up the Maine coast to visit lighthouses. The first interview is with Maurice Babcock Jr., at his home in Lubec, Maine. His father, Maurice Babcock Sr., was the last civilian keeper at Boston Light. He was the prinicipal keeper there from 1926 to 1941 after about a decade as a keeper at other Massachusetts light stations. Maurice Babcock Sr. inside the lens at Boston Light, circa 1941 The second interview is with Larry Baum, the last Coast Guard keeper at Fort Point Light Station in Stockton Springs, Maine. The last interview is with Malcolm Rouse, the final Coast Guard keeper at Owls Head Light Station in midcoast Maine. The light stations at Fort Point and Owls Head were in the process of being automated when these interviews were conducted. Malcolm Rouse was also the final Coast Guard keeper at West Quoddy Head Light Station before it was automated earlier that year. Fort Point Lighthouse in Stockton Springs, Maine, near the entrance to the Penobscot River. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont.

Christian Taber is a 17-year-old high school student and athlete living in Upstate New York. Christian is a speaker, author, and entrepeneur. A passion for lighthouses has figured heavily in his work. Christian has written for the U.S. Lighthouse Society's journal “The Keeper's Log” and for our news blog. As the founder and CEO of NavigatorTeen, Christian has always embraced a simple yet powerful philosophy: anything is possible. One of his many passions is to empower teenagers to create their own path to success here and now… and ultimately to wherever their road takes them. His new book is called “Be Your Own Navigator: A Success Guide for Teens by a Teen.” Christian says that the book “ is not a lecture from your parents or a cryptic survival manual. It is a compass guiding you through proven skills that can be used to juggle the chaos of daily life, excel in school or sports, and everything in between. Welcome aboard - let's write your success story.”

The badly rusted lantern was lifted off the building for restoration in 2013. (Courtesy of Friends of the Cedar Island Lighthouse) Three-acre Cedar Island is on the South Fork of Long Island, New York, on the approach to Sag Harbor, which was a busy whaling port in the first half of the nineteenth century. A wooden lighthouse was established on Cedar Island in 1839, and it was replaced in 1868 by the granite lighthouse and keeper's dwelling that still stands today. The lighthouse was discontinued in 1934 and was in private ownership until 1967, when it was purchased by Suffolk County and incorporated into a park.  In 1974 the interior of the building was gutted by a fire. In 2002, Friends of the Cedar Island Lighthouse began working with Suffolk County Parks to restore the lighthouse. There are two guests in today's episode. Joe Livolsi is a board member of the Friends of Cedar Island Lighthouse, and Michael Leahy is the chairman of the organization. The great hurricane of September 1938 created a sandbar that connected Cedar Island to the mainland, and it remains attached today. (Courtesy of Friends of the Cedar Island Lighthouse)

The town of Scituate, Massachusetts, on Boston's South Shore, developed a significant fishing industry by the late 1800s. A stone lighthouse tower was built at Cedar Point, and it began service in April 1812. A major restoration of the lighthouse has taken place over the past two years. Bob Gallagher spoke at the event on August 7 Much work on the lighthouse has been completed, including the fabrication of a new lantern. The restoration was celebrated at the lighthouse on August 7, National Lighthouse Day. Interviewed in this episode are Bob Chessia, chairman of the board of trustees of the Scituate Historical Society, and Bob Gallagher, who has lived in the keeper's house for 16 years and has played an active role in the management of the lighthouse. Bob Chessia at the August 7 event with his wife and daughter Judianne Point, award winning volunteer for Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse in Rhode Island, co-hosts. Also discussed is the restoration of Neds Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts.

Rose Island Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Located a mile offshore from Newport, Rhode Island, is Rose Island Lighthouse, which began service in 1870. It consists of an octagonal lighthouse tower rising from the west side of a mansard roof on top of a one-and-one-half-story wooden keeper's dwelling. The light lost its importance as a navigational aid with the construction of the Newport Bridge in 1969. In the 1980s, a group of dedicated local preservationists founded the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation, and the building was fully restored. You can stay overnight at Rose Island for a taste of Lighthouse Service life. Sean O'Connor The organization is now known as the Rose Island Lighthouse and Fort Hamilton Trust to reflect the fact that the organization is also the steward of the island's fort buildings. The guest in this episode, Sean O'Connor, is the executive director of the Trust. There is also a video version of this podcast episode, which you can see on the USLHS YouTube channel. Judianne Point, a volunteer for Pomham Rocks Lighthouse in Rhode Island, also takes part in the discussion. The guest room inside the old fog signal house The replica sixth order Fresnel lens in the lantern room

Suellen Wedmore and a first-order Fresnel lens on display at the Cape Ann Museum in Gloucester, Massachuetts. Melanie Correia Suellan Wedmore‘s poetry has appeared in many publications and she has won numerous awards, including first place in both the Writer's Digest Rhyming and the Non-Rhyming Poem contests. The poems in Suellen's book A Fixed White Light enter the lives of six of courageous and mostly forgotten female lighthouse keepers, giving readers the opportunity to experience their heroism as well as their trials in a time when they were often met with skepticism and discrimination. Inside the New Bedford Whaling Museum The second guest in this podcast episode is Melanie Correia, associate curator of exhibitions and collections at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in southeastern Massachusetts. The city of New Bedford was a whaling capital and the richest city in the world in the mid-1800s. Today the museum plays a critical role as champions for whale preservation and guardians of the area's heritage and culture.

The fog bell house at Pemaquid Point after the storms of January 2024 The lighthouse tower at Pemaquid Point in the town of Bristol, Maine, was built in 1835, which makes it one of the oldest on the New England coast. The historic fog bell building at Pemaquid Point was badly damaged by storms in January – the same storms that damaged more than 20 light stations in Maine and New Hampshire. Repair work on the bell house and other parts of the light station are almost finished. Shelley Gallagher, director of Parks and Recreation for the town of Bristol, is interviewed about the damage and repairs in today's first segment. Buddy Grover Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, which began service in 1857, is New Jersey's tallest lighthouse and the nation's third tallest masonry lighthouse at 171 feet. There are three guests in today's episode: Milt Glenn, manager of operations and education; Dan Heneghan, a volunteer docent; and Jean Muchanic, executive director. Most of the conversation focuses on Buddy Grover, a very popular volunteer tour guide. Buddy was a docent who passed away this past January at the age of 96. https://youtu.be/k4e1L9ZunPE?feature=shared

Key West Lighthouse, courtesy of KWAHS Key West Lighthouse has stood as a well-loved landmark in one of America's most colorful cities since 1848, when it replaced an earlier lighthouse that began service in early 1826. The original tower was destroyed by a hurricane in 1846. The tower that stands today is constructed of brick and stands 73 feet tall. Dr. Cori Convertito, courtesy of KWAHS After the navigational light was discontinued in 1969, the property was turned over to Monroe County. It was then leased to the Key West Arts and Historical Society. The Society opens the lighthouse to the public and also manages a museum in the former keeper's house. A centerpiece of the museum is a first-order Fresnel lens from the Sombrero Key Lighthouse. Dr. Cori Convertito is the curator and historian for the Key West Arts and Historical Society, which manages three sites in addition to the lighthouse. Ralph Krugler co-hosts. Courtesy of KWAHS

Larry Wright is a national gold medal award winning photographer who has been involved with lighthouse preservation since 1991. He was on the Board of Directors for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association based in Mackinac, Michigan, for 20 years. Larry has co-written four books about lighthouses on the Great Lakes along with his wife Pat. They are The Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia; Bonfires and Beacons; Bright Lights, Dark Nights; and Lightships of the Great Lakes. Larry is currently working on a project called Chronicles of Lighthouses on the Great Lakes. The chronicles have now exceeded 9,000 pages and when finished, Larry says it will be about 12,000 pages. The Chronicles will be housed at a number of universities and non-profit museums and lighthouse organizations.

Piney Point Lighthouse and keepers house, Maryland. Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont This episode has three segments. In the first, photographer Pete Lerro describes a photo workshop he will be leading in Maine in October. In the third segment, Judianne Point discusses some exciting happenings at Chatham Light in Massachusetts and Beavertail Light in Rhode Island. Sandwiched in the middle is a conversation about the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park in Maryland. Ken Burke In 1836, a 35-foot-tall, conical lighthouse was built at Piney Point on the north side of the entrance to the Potomac River. It was the first of 11 lighthouses built on the river, and one of only three that survive today. The property was transferred to St. Mary's County in 1983. The buildings were restored in the years that followed, and the grounds were transformed into a public park. Today, the park, museum, and the lighthouse are open all year. Our guest today is Ken Burke, museum supervisor for the Piney Point Lighthouse Museum and Historic Park. Ben Ridings, curator for Cape May MAC in New Jersey, is the guest co-host. A replica Fresnel lens is on display in the museum at Piney Point The beach at Piney Point Inside the lighthouse

Concord Point Lighthouse, photo by Jeremy D'Entremont Concord Point Lighthouse in Havre de Grace, Maryland, was built in 1827. That makes it the second oldest standing lighthouse in the state. The conical, 36-foot tower was built of stone that was barged down the Susquehannah River from Port Deposit. In 1918, the light was automated. After that, the property changed hands at least 10 times and for a while served as a rooming house, restaurant, and bar. The light was decommissioned in 1975, and ownership went to the City of Havre de Grace two years later. By 1979, a citizens group called the Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse was formed. Today, the lighthouse and keeper's house are open to the public on weekends from April through October. Our guests today are Bill McIntyre, who is on the board of directors for the lighthouse and is also a local historian, and Carie Palmer, who is coordinator for volunteers, events, visitor services, and customer success. Early postcard of Concord Point from the USLHS archives