In the tower room is the light which the Thacher Island Association was finally able to replace last April, after more than a half a century of darkness. Modern and newly painted, the light emphasized the corrosion of the railings and walkways.
At the old keeper's house we signed the guest book, and the caretaker showed us an antique kerosene lamp, whose brass glowed with loving polish. There are two couples that live there, and they alternate from winter to summer. "It's a wonderful place to live, but you are ready to get off at the end of winter," she told us. They'd just arrived for the season, and she said the island had already welcomed them back with a good storm. She was optimistic about rebuilding the tower. "We'll just keep going 'til the money runs out," she said.
Out here on the island, the story I'd heard about the New Yorker looking for his donation to LPS had blown up into a rumour that LPS was actually under investigation. I asked the society about this, and they told me that with two staff members and infrequent volunteers, they are notoriously slow at response to members, but that they certainly weren't being investigated.
Next year is the bicentennial for American lighthouses, and the Senate has declared August 7 "National Lighthouse Day." LPS will be sponsoring, in conjunction with the Coast Guard, a kick-off celebration at Maine's Portland Head Light. After that, it will be up to local groups to apply and spend the funds. If all goes well, the work of the Lighthouse Preservation Society and the Thacher Island Association, and other local groups, will come together so that, in the words of Senate Resolution 306, "these impressive structures, standing at land's end through two centuries, symbolizing safety, security, heroism, duty and faithfulness" will be preserved. S.J. RES. 306
100TH CONGRESS 2ND SESSION
Desiguating the day of August 7, 1969, as "National Lighthouse Day".
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
APRIL 28, 1086
Mr. CHAFEE (for himself, Mr. MITCHELL, Mr. PELL, and Mr. REIGLEL introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and returned to the Committee on the Judiciary JOINT RESOLUTION
Designating the day of August 7, 1989, as "National Lighthouse Day".
Whereas August, 7, 1989, marks the 200th anniversary of the signing by President Washington of the Lighthouse Act; and Whereas that Act, established a Federal role in the support, maintenance, and repair of al lighthouse, beacon buoys, and public piers necessary for safe navigation; commissioned the Federal lighthouse, and represents the first public work fast Federal lighthouse, and represents the first public works Act in the young country; and Whereas lighthouses played an integral role in the rich maritime history of the United States as that history spread from the Atlantic coast, through the Great Lakes and Gulf coast, to the Pacific states; and