Lighthouse Newsletter

Doris I. Walker - Background

Doris Walker, award-winning author and Orange County Historian, will be our Guest Speaker at the Dana Hills Tennis Center on Thursday, October 22nd at 6:00pm.  She will discuss her October released book “Orange County, A Natural History” as part of the Images of America book series. 

“Orange County, A Natural History” captures the natural environment and diverse biosystems of Orange County.  Doris’ presentation will highlight these natural elements with vintage photos of its Alluring Coast & Waterways, Mountains & Rustic Canyons, and Natural Forest, Rock and Wild Parks.

Doris Walker has explored the terrain of Orange County as a resident since 1963. She taught California History for the South Coast Community College District for seven years, and is widely acknowledged as the official historian for Dana Point and as an appointed Orange County Historical Commissioner.   Doris is the author of twelve books.  Her Images of America: Dana Point earned “First Place” as the Best Historical Book from The National Federation of Press Women.

Doris is a Founding Member and Director of the Dana Point Historical Society.  She is also one of the Dana Point Lighthouse Society’s first Honorary Members.

EAST BROTHER ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE by Ed Guy

East Brother Island in Point Richmond, CA separates the San Francisco and San Pablo Bays.  This island has a jagged shoreline and suffers from heavy storms and pounding surf.  Since many ships traveling to and from Sacramento sank in this area, it was selected in 1871 as a site for a light station.  In 1874, a gorgeous 2-story Victorian Lighthouse with an attached tower and a fog signal building was built with a revolving 4^th Order Fresnel Lens.

 In 1906, during the great earthquake, the lenses were broken and everything made of glass was destroyed.  A fixed, 5^th Order Fresnel Lens then replaced the first lens.

 During 1939, the Coast Guard took over the responsibility for all of the Lighthouses in the United States.  In 1969, this station was automated and unmanned.  In order to save maintenance costs, the Coast Guard was planning to tear down the Lighthouse and replace it with a light on the top of a skeletal tower.  However, strong protests by local residents prevented the destruction..

 The East Brother Light Station, Inc., (a 501 (c) 3 charitable non-profit organization) aided by the Contra Coast Shoreline Parks Committee, saved this wonderful Lighthouse.  In 1971 it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  After several years of neglect, the East Brother Light Station, Inc., with the aid of government grants, private donations, and volunteer work, completely renovated and restored this landmark in 1979.

 Since 1980, East Brother Island Lighthouse has flourished as a Bed & Breakfast.  Five rooms are available and features include a gourmet multi-course dinner as well as a special full breakfast.  Funds from guests pay for on-going restoration and maintenance costs of the buildings and equipment.   Visitors and guests are transported to the island by boat from the Point San Pablo Yacht Harbor. For visitor information and lodging reservations, call (510) 233-2385, or visit their website: http://www.ebls.org

             For further information visit http://lighthousefriends.com

                 Drawing of East Brother Light by our Life Member Lynn Newell,
                   who has also created the rendering of the future Dana Point
                     Lighthouse (used on our DPLS Newsletter masthead).
                       Visit Lynn’s website to see her special “Lighthouse Series” as
                           well as her other superb drawings (http://members.cox.net/drawingsbylnewell/Album%202/index.htm) 

ALCATRAZ ISLAND LIGHT by Ed Guy

On June 1, 1854, the Alcatraz Island Light was the first lighthouse in operation on the Pacific Coast of the United States. The name of this island comes from “alcatraces”, the Spanish word for pelican. The Gold Rush increased the ship traffic to San Francisco and the rough waters of the California Coast resulted in the demand for lighthouses to serve as aids to navigation. The island itself was a significant obstacle to boats in the San Francisco Harbor.

In 1850, Congress voted to fund the building of eight lighthouses along the Pacific Coast. These lighthouses were one and a half story Cape Cod Style cottages with a short tower in the center of the roof. The high bluffs along the Pacific made these lighthouses practical. They greatly contrasted with the huge towers of the Atlantic Coast lighthouses which were built at sea level.

All of these proposed lighthouses were to be equipped with the expensive but extremely effective Fresnel Lenses, which had recently become declared as standard equipment by the U.S. Lighthouse Board. The selection for the Alcatraz Light was a fixed, 3rd-Order Fresnel Lens. It was in use for almost fifty years and then replaced with a revolving 4th Order Fresnel with a white flash every five seconds.

When the lighthouse was completed, military fortifications became part of this island. During the Civil War, Alcatraz Island was used as a military prison. In 1906, the Lighthouse suffered considerable damage in the San Francisco Earthquake.

In 1909, the prison quarters were destroyed and replaced with a 600 unit cell house. It was reported as the world’s largest building constructed of reinforced concrete. Since the structure interfered with the beam of the lighthouse, a new 84-foot tower (also made of reinforced concrete) and dwelling quarters were then constructed to replace the original building. This tower, combined with the elevation of the island reached a focal plane of 214 feet and the beam of light was projected for 20 miles.

In 1933, the island ceased to operate as a military prison. It was taken over by the US Justice Department to be a federal maximum security prison for civilians. It became well-known as the home of Al Capone and other notorious criminals. Incarceration here was considered to be “hard time”. The high concrete walls and the shark-infested waters of the SF Bay made this an escape-proof prison.

The lighthouse and the fog horns were automated on Friday, November 22, 1963 by the US Coast Guard. The tragic assassination of President John F. Kennedy also took place on this date. A revolving beacon replaced the Fresnel Lens. Also in 1963, the penitentiary closed and the site was declared to be surplus property.

During November, 1969, a group of Native Americans landed there and claimed the island as “Indian Land”. For over a year and a half, the Native Americans controlled the island. Fire destroyed the buildings; only the tower remained. On June 11, 1971, an early morning raid by the military effectively removed the few occupants who were still left on the island.

The Lighthouse is now a museum and can be toured along with the prison and island. Ferries travel daily to Alcatraz from the Fisherman’s Wharf Area in San Francisco. We suggest that you make reservations well in advance for this interesting historic tour.

LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY EXHIBITS

The Dana Point Lighthouse Society has participated in two education exhibits promoting the history of lighthouses during the month of May. The Exhibit at the Library has been extended through June.

One of the DPLS Exhibits sponsored by Carolyn Hopkins, Children’s Librarian, is located in display cases at the Dana Point Library. The display focuses on California Lighthouses and Fresnel Lenses. It also includes a new segment displaying nine US Coast Guard Ships, including three lightships, several support and logistic ships, and the Cutter Eagle.

The other Exhibit was sponsored by Bob Beaulieu and Karen Jensen of Pacific Western Bank providing an opportunity for non-profit organizations to promote their local organizations. This occurred during the week of May 11th with an Open House on Friday, May 15th.

The DPLS Exhibit featured a variety of US Lighthouses, Fresnel Lenses, and the Lightship Relief. Educational information was provided about various items in the exhibit as well as background information on the Dana Point Lighthouse Society.

Wild Dolphins and Whales of Southern California

Captain Dave Anderson is an experienced marine naturalist, filmmaker, photographer, speaker and weekly columnist.

It all started in 1995 when he was living aboard his sailboat in Dana Point and started taking people out to see whales & dolphins for his business ‘Capt. Dave’s Dolphin Safari’. Capt. Dave mounted an underwater camera and hydrophone on the bow of his boat and began taking his camera on every trip to record what his passengers experienced first-hand. It took him five years to create the documentary, “Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California”. He learned how to film, edit and narrate as he went along, gaining experience that has forever changed his life.

In 2004 Capt. Dave Anderson was awarded second place in the People’s Award from the prestigious International Wildlife Film Festival (IWFF) in Missoula, Montana. IWFF is a nonprofit organization recognized as the “Sundance” of wild films.

“Wild Dolphins & Whales of Southern California” also won ‘Best Amateur Film’, as well as two merit awards for ‘unique footage’ and ‘use of music’ and two honorable mentions for ‘conservation message’ and ‘educational value’.

Capt. Dave has appeared on ABC, CBS, NBC Nightly News, as well as Animal Planet and the Travel Channel. He is frequently called upon as an authority on wild dolphins and whales in this area. Capt. Dave remains committed to promoting awareness of Southern California’s ocean. Several years ago Capt. Dave introduced & organized the first Ocean Awareness Day, which is now an annual event during the Dana Point Festival of Whales.

Pharos of Alexandria by Ed Guy

Alexander the Great established some seventeen cities named Alexandria throughout his empire. He chose the site of Alexandria in Egypt very carefully and designed the port with a double harbor separated by a small island named Pharos. After Alexander died, the city and its port were completed by Ptolemy Soter, Egypt’s ruler. He designed the building of the Pharos as the port’s landmark and the world’s first lighthouse. Construction was started in 290 BC.

The designer/architect of the lighthouse was Sostrates of Greece, and his efforts produced the first recorded lighthouse in the world and one of the tallest buildings at that time. Pharos would later become one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and it was one of the last Seven Wonders to disappear. Pharos was completed by Ptolemy II in 270 BC using a massive labor force of slaves, and its height was estimated at over 400 feet (about as high as a 40-story building).

The building was encased in white marble and the top had a magnificent statute – most likely of Poseidon, the Lord of the Seas. The marble blocks were joined with molten lead to reinforce the structure against the heavy pounding of the sea. The mirrors are believed to have been made of polished bronze and they reflected light over 35 miles offshore to serve mariners at sea.

The Pharos Lighthouse attracted ships from all over the Mediterranean Sea. Alexandria had become a center of commerce and wealth and the biggest and most prosperous port of the Roman Empire. Fuel for the flame was believed to have been oil since this desert area had few sources of timber. Ramps provided a means to carry the fuel up to the top area using strong laborers or animals. A dumbwaiter transported the oil up the last section or two to the fire.

Pharos stood for some 1500 years but eventually collapsed in 1326 following a series of earthquakes and eventually fell into the harbor. It is significant that “Pharos” has become the word for “lighthouse” in many languages due to its fame throughout the world.

During 1994, divers reportedly found large stone blocks weighing up to 75 tons and several statues from the Pharos sunken in the harbor. Some columns and inscribed blocks have been retrieved and are on exhibit near the Roman Amphitheatre in Alexandria.

Some plans are being made to establish a lighthouse museum at the Alexandria Harbor along with an archaeological park. It may also become an active dive site. A modern version of Pharos has been approved by Egyptian authorities at the original site. It will stand about 475 feet high and will cost about $70 million. Glass walls will reflect the sun during the day and a beacon will shine out to the sea at night.

(Graphic of Pharos from Harbour Lights, who has issued a collectible replica of this historic lighthouse in Jan 2003 - HL # 659 Edition of 4000. (www.harbourlights.com)

BEACON BITS
By Ed Guy

Roman Lights

The Roman Empire erected 30 or more lighthouses to support their navigation and commerce from the shores of the Black Sea to the Atlantic Ocean shores.  Two of these lighthouses were constructed on the cliffs of Dover (England) and Boulogne (France)

Early Oil Lamps

Oil lamps lanterns for lighthouses date back to 1449 in Genoa, Italy in the Lanterna Lighthouse where Christopher Columbus’ uncle was her keeper.

CAPTAIN JIM

James Douglas, the designer and builder of the 4^th Eddystone Lighthouses  in 1882 was honored by Knighthood conferred upon him by Queen Victoria recognizing his masterful work for England and Mankind.  His men still called him “Captain Jim”.

SECOND BEST

Victory Lighthouse (aka: Il Faro della Vittoria) in Trieste, Italy is the second largest lighthouse in the world, behind only the Statue of Liberty.  It is covered with ornate carvings including a statue of Victory on the top. 

LICENSE PLATES

Seen recently at Dana Point Harbor parking areas were Lighthouse License Plates from Mississippi and New Jersey.  We know that Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Georgia have similar issues.  Many times the funds raised are donated to maintain these historic sites.  Anyone have information on how many other states have Lighthouse plates?

DOHENY BLUES

The popular Dana Point Times reports that between 15,000 and 16,000 people attended the Doheny Blues Festival in May -- about 10 percent fewer than the previous year. But, organizers say, 2008 was a record year so 2009 wasn't so bad.

RECOMMENDED  BOOKS 

New book is available, HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSES….GHOSTLY TALES COOKBOOK, by Marianne L. Kelly.  This book with 162 pages of easy to prepare recipes is not available in book stores. The price is $19.95.  Order from Safe Harbour Press, (877) 260-4489 or E-mail: kelly@safeharbourpress.com

S O S  FROM LIGHTHOUSE MUSEUM

The Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, ME, America’s largest such museum, is in financial trouble and may have to close its doors unless immediate financial help is received.

The Lighthouse Digest is donating part of their paid subscriptions and certain book sales. (See www.lighthousedigest.com for more details)

FUND RAISER BY SURFERS

The Surfing Museum which is housed at the Santa Cruz (CA) Lighthouse has been threatened with closure due to city budget cuts.  Surfing buddies formed the Santa Cruz Surf Club Preservation Society and is raising money to save the museum.

DPLS MERCHANDISE AVAILABLE

The following Dana Point Lighthouse merchandise is available for members and lighthouse lovers:

 *Display New DPLS Logo

To order, call (949) 218-2589 or E-mail: danaptlighthouse@cox.net