A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....08-06-03....The Lighthouse at Old Presque Isle, MI

dansangel ^

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

The Lighthouse at
Old Presque Isle, MI

A year or so ago, .45MAN and I happened to catch a series on PBS highlighting various lighthouses around the United States. The most fascinating, to me, was the vignette about the lighthouse at Old Presque Isle, MI. The following story tells why.



From: "Haunted? You Decide!":

Keeper George Parris and his wife, Lorraine, moved into the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse and Museum in 1977. The lighthouse had been built in 1840. In 1870 the lighthouse was decommissioned when the taller New Presque Isle Lighthouse was built. The old lighthouse suffered from neglect until the Stebbins family bought it from the U.S. government in the early 1900s. The family rebuilt the keeper's dwelling and used it as a summer home. They opened the restored keeper's dwelling and lighthouse to tourists. After their children were grown, the Stebbins family decided to give the property to the tourists. George and Lorraine became the caretakers, moving into the keeper's dwelling in mid-May.

George enjoyed the visitors to the lighthouse, especially the children. He enjoyed taking the visitors to the lighthouse on a tour of the buildings and grounds and telling them about the hard life and heroic deeds of the Keepers and their families. He also enjoyed playing harmless pranks on the light station visitors - the grownups as well as the children - by giving them a "muscle test" with the foghorn. The blast of the foghorn invariably knocked the visitors off their feet! In spite of his tricks, the visitors loved George and would return year after year to visit the lighthouse and to see what new tricks he had decided to play on them.



On January 2, 1992, George died of a massive heart attack. The following May, Lorraine didn't want to go back to the cottage alone, but her kids talked her into it. One evening when Lorraine was driving along Grand Lake Road on her way back to the light station, she felt her eyes drawn to the tower - and to her utter amazement she saw a light shining in the lantern room! Lorraine knew that this was impossible as George had disconnected the electricity to the tower so the light wouldn't accidentally be turned on. The Coast Guard said it was illegal to display a light in the tower as mariners might confuse it with the New Presque Lighthouse. To be doubly certain that no accidental lighting would occur, the Coast Guard had removed the gears so the lens could no longer rotate.

4th Order Fresnel Lens

As Lorraine approached the house, she could no longer see the light. The next day she climbed to the tower to reassure herself that someone had not reconnected the power lines and restored the gears. The lantern room was empty.

Lorraine didn't say anything to anybody about what she had seen as she didn't want to be ridiculed ... but she continued to see the light whenever she drove along the stretch of Grand Lake Road that looks out over Presque Isle Harbor.



Soon people began reporting the light in the old tower. The light appeared to have a yellowish cast, as if from an old oil lamp. National Guard pilots reported seeing it when they flew night missions over the peninsula. The Coast Guard being taking notice of it too!

On July 4, 1992, a little girl reported seeing a man at the top of the stairs leading to the lantern room. The little girl described a tall man with snow-white hair and a beard, and wearing glasses. When shown a picture of George, she said it was the man in the tower but he had been "brighter white" when she saw him than he was in the pictures. This child had never met George when he was alive.

These are but a few of the strange happenings at Old Presque Isle Lighthouse. People have reported that George's light had guided them safely to shore on dark, stormy, foggy nights. People have reported playful pranks by unseen hands while visiting the lighthouse. To this day, the light still comes on at dusk and goes off at daylight. The U.S. Coast Guard has classified it as an "unidentified" light.

There isn't much more I can add to that touching story other than to say it is truly a legend that speaks of love and devotion. The light still mysteriously shines to this day as George sends his undying love to his beloved wife Lorraine and the lighthouse that brightened up his life.

If you wish to learn more about lighthouses, the following Website is a gateway to the many sites available on the Internet offering photos and descriptions:

The Lighthouse Depot Explorer

Enjoy!

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 08-04-03 Military Monday 08-05-03 Texas, MY Texas

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

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God Bless Our Military

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son

[lonestar]

Good night and thank you.

the real lonestar

[ST.LOUIE1]

Weinie can SING!!!

But of course. Go to #59 to hear my latest recording. Thanks to my PR person, Calpernia.

: ) Heck, Cal beat me to it. : (

Get in line. How about ticket agent? I have a big tent.

No thanks, not much action in a ticket line. : )

[Dubya]

Thank you. I am not in the VA system yet. I'm working on it. I don't know why I never got on it. I go the Dr about once a year, but I guess I should get on it just in case.

[LadyX]

Wolfie said: "No worry about Zot Woman....she can't see to strike anyone. LOL"

Do not be overconfident, Dear Der Wolfen..:))

ZOT WOMAN has extrasensory radar and can hone in on anybuddy and everybuddy!

On the other hand, her LadyX Self adores woofie toofums, and would never allow ZOTsie to hurt him..:))

[Calpernia]

Louie! You trying to hone in on my gig? I discovered Weinie! Now away with you!

(Don't forget, you left me at the dance floor yesterday. At least Weinie has manners!)

[ST.LOUIE1]

Wolfie said: "No worry about Zot Woman....she can't see to strike anyone. LOL"

Do not be overconfident, Dear Der Wolfen..:))
ZOT WOMAN has extrasensory radar and can hone in on anybuddy and everybuddy!

But she doesn't have a silver bullet! And wolfie can run faster than she Zot! : )

On the other hand, her LadyX Self adores woofie toofums, and would never allow ZOTsie to hurt him..:))

Awwwww....I know that, that's exactly why wolfie is 'confident'. ((((((((((((((Exie))))))))) : )

[LadyX]

Good idea to start the wheels rolling, Dubya.
Although you don't have any chronic conditions now, you never know if something can arise requiring having your benefits in play to handle them with less strain.

We each have Medicare (both legally disabled before 60) and now good supplemental Medicare coverage, since the time we enrolled in VA; but the prescription benefit is and will always be a huge and quite vital help.

[ST.LOUIE1]

Louie! You trying to hone in on my gig? I discovered Weinie! Now away with you!

: (

(Don't forget, you left me at the dance floor yesterday. At least Weinie has manners!)

I did?????? Well, c'mere you, let's get to boot scootin'! : )

[Calpernia]

Woo hoo!

Weinie is off to bed...so you come on out and boot scoot with me!

Click Me!

[LadyX]

"Woo hoo! Weinie is off to bed...so you come on out and boot scoot with me!"

LOL - I can just see it now . . .

Wolfie reaches out to take Calpernia's hand to lead her to the dance floor to boot scoot . . .Cal has already tucked her 3 little ones in bed - hubby working on his prize car in garage - -

She is just slightly frazzled from the long day - checks to see if any of her several computer screens has activity - is attired in old sweats with tuna casserole from feeding the baby dotted on them - hurridly exchanges the bunny slippers for real boots, and calmly bats those baby blues at Louie.

Bounds to floor, showing she is The Ultimate Versatile Woman..:))

[ST.LOUIE1]

Woo hoo!
Weinie is off to bed...so you come on out and boot scoot with me!

LOL Doggone it, I'll have to ask we put off our dancing til tomorrow....going to watch the Dodgers at nine. : (

Click Me!

Yep! Your little light shines alright. : )

You're lots of fun, Ms.Perni. : )

[LadyX]

Can ZOT WOMAN 'see' well, or not ??!!

LOL

[ST.LOUIE1]

Bounds to floor, showing she is The Ultimate Versatile Woman..:))

She's MARRIED????

Ok, fine with wolfie.....as long as her husband stays in the garage. LOL

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

030802-N-9769P-104 Pacific Ocean (Aug. 2, 2003) -- Gunner's Mate 3rd Class Russell Crow fires a 40mm gun during a training exercise aboard USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). Stennis is at sea in the Southern California operating area conducting carrier qualifications in preparation for a scheduled deployment. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Jayme Pastoric. (RELEASED)

[shaggy eel]

,,, Mama Bear! Great to know your trip south of the equator went so well. When you're planning a trip to New Zealand, be sure to let me know and I'll give you all the help I can - that goes for any FReepers. Great to hear from you too!

[shaggy eel]

Don't be such a stranger, y'hear?

,,, I promise I won't be - many thanx Dansy!

[Calpernia]

ROFL!!!!!

That is soooo perceptive!!!!

Normally, hubby would be in the garage! However, he is fast asleep due to call scheduling.

As for frazzeled? I'm always frazzeled. I wouldn't know what to do if I wasn't!

>>>attired in old sweats with tuna casserole

Did I leave my webcam on again????

>>>calmly bats those baby blues at Louie.

I get the impression (totally assuming...knows nothing for fact) that Louie is single. He would run screaming if he encountered the aftermath of mom exchanging formal single self for married with children.

BUT there is nothing wrong with a virtual dance!

So let's hit the dance floor Louie!!!!

[Calpernia]

Drat! Stood up for a virtual dance for sports.

I know that well. I just didn't expect it from land virtual!

[Calpernia]

Ok...Who is Zot Woman? I have missed something here. I saw it mentioned before in this thread. I just don't know the background.

[Calpernia]

Yes. I'm married. But I'm here for a virtual dance. So that means I'm back with Weinie than? Fine! Oh Weinie!!! Come dance with me!