Linda’s Monday Morning Moaning’
If you are researching lighthouses, the place to go is the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, also known as ‘GLLKA’ in Mackinaw City, Michigan. For those that might not be familiar to this part of Michigan, it’s were the very tip of the mitten, connects to a five mile long bridge that open’s the door to Michigan’s Upper Peninsular. It’s just one of many beautiful places in the State of Michigan.
‘GLLKA’ is a great group of people who work very hard at keeping anything to do with the lighthouses a part of their important work. I was visiting the Association’s headquarters this past weekend for a much needed introduction to let them know of the contract to do the book for Arcadia Publishing on the Great Lakes Lights, with the hope they might be able to help with my research and quest for some vintage postcards, I am having a difficult time a acquiring.
Some years ago on a road trip to Mackinaw City with the intent of taking one of the Shepplers boat tours, we found that ‘GLLKA’ organizes these trips with Shepplers to see the different lighthouses in the Straits of Mackinac. The gentleman that was the host and speaker was Terry Pepper. His knowledge was complete when it came to these lights through out the Great Lakes.
We were offered this weekend to see his research room at ‘GLLKA’ offices and look through his files and collection. His research where he had gathered huge amount of information, pictures, article, and lots of books on all the lighthouse of the Great Lakes was to say the least overwhelming. Getting to search through his life time of work was a special treat for us to be allowed to see. With the files I am compiling, for my research, I can only hope these files can be, but small addition to his work at some point in the future.
The reason I mentioned ‘he had’ is because Mr. Pepper sadly passed away in 2019. Much to the loss of his family and friends, and a great loss to the lighthouses, shipping and navigation in general, not to speak of what he brought with his knowledge to the Association its self. His research done over many years, will be a wonderful source for the many researchers and lovers of the lighthouse lore, well into the future.
And I did manage to find a few vintage postcards, and with ‘GLLKA’s help, may be able to use them for the book. The Star Ferry Line, located right next to our hotel, had a beautiful huge fireworks display the same night, not sure what the occasion was, but could they heard about a new ‘lighthouse book’ in the works?? Ummmm, Arcadia would be pleased, building the excitement.
On that ‘wee note’ till next week.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 