A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-11-03....Lighthouses

dansangel

[Pippin]

Good Morning Y'all!

[Aquamarine]

When I was a young girl my mom's family in Florida had a family reunion in the park that was at the base of this Lighthouse just south of Daytona. My hubby and I returned to visit the park about 7 years ago. The picnic tables are gone now and they have added some buildings.
This is the only Lighthouse I have ever visited.

Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse
According to the association, the lighthouse began with the federal purchase of 10 acres of land in 1883. It was designed by writer and engineer Francis Hopkinson Smith and completed in 1887.

A lighthouse keeper cleaned the lens and checked the oil supply in the kerosene lamp that lighted the fixed Fresnel (pronounced Freh-nel) lens. It could be seen as far out as 20 miles at sea.

The kerosene lamp was replaced by an oil vapor lamp in 1909, and by a 500-watt electric lamp in 1933, when the lens, too, was replaced.

Several auxiliary buildings on the property once housed the lighthouse keeper and his assistants, but when the lighthouse was automated in 1953, the keepers were no longer needed. Today those houses are museums.

In 1970, the Coast Guard abandoned the lighthouse and established a new station on the south side of the inlet. "So the lighthouse was 'excessed' by the government, the town applied for it, and the government gave it to us," said Caneer.

Soon after, an association was formed to preserve the site.

"In 1982, the federal government asked permission to put the light back in, and we agreed," said Caneer. "They take care of the light. If it goes out, that's their problem."

The lighthouse is the nation's second-tallest brick tower, after Cape Hatteras, N.C. It is supported by a brick foundation 12 feet deep and 45 feet wide. At the base, the tower is 32 feet in diameter, tapering to 12 1/2 feet at the top. A total of 1.25 million bricks were used in its construction. Walls are 8 feet thick at the bottom and 2 feet thick at the top.

[ladtx]

I couldn't tell you. I've only been to the Port Arthur/Beaumont area a couple of times, none recently.

[FreeTheHostages]

Good morning! Kinda a beach thread here.

[Aquamarine]

Good mornin.

Sorry I messed up the bottom of that post. It didn't show up that way in Preview.

[iceskater]

What a great topic! I have done a few watercolors of some lighthouses in Maine. I've given them all away to friends and family. Maybe one of these days I'll do one for my own house.

[Jonah Hex]

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse live cam

[deadhead]

Good Morning Pippin :-)

[FreeTheHostages]

Ah, who cares. This is all about lighthouses and beaches -- a very informal, fun thread. Casual Tuesday!

Great to see a North Carolina lighthouse in the mix. The lighthouses on the outerbanks are to be treasured.

[dansangel]

(((((((Aqua)))))))

Thank you for sharing your memories and the wonderful information and photos with us. I guess being isolated from the ocean gave me my appreciation for lighthouses. One place that I lived in FL wasn't far from the Jupiter Inlet lighthouse and I would just take it for granted. Never again.

When I return, I'm going to visit all of the lighthouses that FL has to offer!

[dutchess]

Dansy...what a great thread today and beautiful presentation. You outdid yourself girl!

I hate to say I've never really paid much attention to lighthouses...now you have my interest piqued. We're heading up to Lake Erie next week...guess I have some research to do!

Give Sylvie and Smokie a "rubbin" from me!

[dutchess]

Hi lovely sistahs and FRFriends...What a beautiful thread our sistah Dansy came up with today.

Have to get back to work but wanted to wish you all a good Wednesday. Back later!

[dansangel]

You must be familiar with the Portland Head lighthouse, then. We have a print of it hanging in our bedroom as a reminder of where .45MAN was born.

He also has some great photographs of it that he took several years ago on a visit there.

How wonderful that you have done watercolors of the various lighthouses...I'll bet they are beautiful!

(((((((iceskater)))))))

[Dubya]

Good morning, nice pictures.

[MeekOneGOP]

There you are! You varmit! Were's ma shootin' irons!? Howdy cowboy!

Howdy ! Have you signed up for the gun safety class yet ??? :O)

[iceskater]

Oh yes. I have photos of the watercolor I did of that lighthouse. I should scan it. The photo really doesn't do the painting justice, though. I did scan one painting that I did of a lighthouse near Boothbay Harbor. If someone will help me, maybe it could be posted?

I think the Portland Head Light must be one of the most photographed lighthouses there is. Maine is one of my favorite places to visit. I must really be a New Englander in my soul. I just totally enjoyed my visits there. I did get a picture of President Bush, the elder, in his speedboat when we were in Kennebunkport in 1998. He looked like he was having fun. Didn't get to meet him in person though.

[dansangel]

Thank you for the nice words, ((((((dutchess)))))!

I'll be sure to give Smokie and Sylvie a rubbin' from their "Aunt Dutchess!" :-)

[dansangel]

Good morning, nice pictures.

Thank you (((((((Dubya))))))))

Have a happy and blessed Wednesday! :-)

[The Thin Man]

Who's Billy? Does this mean we are finally rid of Billie? If so......Yippee!!! I win!!!

:-)

[Dubya]

Thanks. I'm off to work.