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

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.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

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

There is something inherently romantic about lighthouses. Whether it is the folk tales that often accompany the lighthouse or just the majestic beauty of the tower standing watch over the ocean's sailors, the appeal that these silent giants have is widespread and deep. There are many organizations throughout the United States that have taken on the task of preserving and protecting these beautiful monuments so that generations to come may enjoy them.



.45MAN and I decided several years back that we would pick the destination of our yearly vacations based on whether or not a lighthouse was nearby that we could visit. In October of 2000, we embarked on the first of what was to become an annual event by selecting Savannah, GA as our vacation spot. Nearby is the Tybee Island Lighthouse.

Lighthouse at Tybee Island, GA

From The Tybee Lighthouse Website:

"Ordered by General James Oglethorpe, Governor of the 13th colony, in 1732, the Tybee Island Light Station has been guiding mariners safe entrance into the Savannah River for over 270 years. The Tybee Island Light Station is one of America's most intact having all of its historic support buildings on its five-acre site. Rebuilt several times the current lightstation displays its 1916 day mark with 178 stairs and a First Order Fresnel lens (nine feet tall)."



The following year, October 2001, we decided on Beaufort, S.C. as our vacation destination. We stayed in a lovely bed and breakfast called "The Rhett House" in the historic area of Beaufort. Nearby is the home of another wonderful, non-working yet completely preserved lighthouse known as The Hunting Island Lighthouse.

Lighthouse at Hunting Island, SC

From The Hunting Island Lighthouse Website:

"The historic Hunting Island lighthouse was originally constructed in 1859 and rebuilt in 1875 after is was destroyed during the Civil War. This is the only lighthouse in the state of South Carolina open to the public. From the top platform, for those who are adventurous enough to climb the spiral staircase, one can get a birds eye view of the Atlantic Ocean, the park and surrounding marshes from about 132 feet above the ground. The park collects a 50¢ fee to climb the 167 steps in the lighthouse, but the view is definitely worth it. The Hunting Island lighthouse provided safe passage for ships until it was deactivated in June of 1933."



Finally, in October of last year, we were privileged to visit St. Simons Island. It's beauty and serenity was so wonderful that we hope to be able to visit again. The St. Simons Lighthouse proved to be the smallest of those we have visited, but what it lacked in height, it made up in elegance.

Lighthouse at St. Simons Island, GA

dansangel shooting a picture of .45MAN shooting a picture
(via telephoto lens) of dansangel atop the lighthouse!

Front view of Lighthouse at St. Simons Island, GA

From The St. Simons Lighthouse Website:

"The first St. Simons Lighthouse was constructed in 1807 by James Gould on Couper's Point. The present lighthouse was reconstructed in 1872 on the same site to replace the original which was destroyed by retreating Confederate forces in 1862. The U.S. Government ordered the construction of a second lighthouse that was placed west of the first. The 104-foot tower, which has a 129 step cast iron spiral staircase and an adjacent keeper's house, were designed by one of Georgia's most noted architects, Charles Cluskey."



So many lighthouses, so little time! What will this year bring for a lighthouse visit? That decision hasn't been made yet, but there are many possibilities. It's comforting to know that so many of these grand structures still exist, some even still in use, for us and others like us to enjoy.

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 06-09-03 Military Monday 06-10-03 FReeper Pets - Smokie and Sylvie

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

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me an FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

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 Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LadyX....................grandson LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty The Mayor................niece fawn796..................nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........nephew gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover...........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 Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn.............2 sons kneezles...........son MozartLover...........son homeschool mama......nephew

[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.