Lessons Learned While Researching

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for December 5, 2022

You would ‘assume’ if you are coming into contact with a hundred year old postcard that is showing the most beautiful image or real photograph of a lighthouse, especially one you are looking for, and the name is listed on the card, that you are home free, right? WRONG!

Or you are looking at an image a lighthouse, with no name listed and now you have to hope that, one, the lighthouse still looks the same, which is doubtful, or two, when you do find the light information there is, not only a new image of the lighthouse in todays light, or hopefully have an image of what it used to look like that might match the image you now have!

An example, this image is from 1913 as listed: the Bug Light Breakwater in Portland Harbor. New name Portland Harbor Breakwater Light.

Having had the opportunity to be in Portland, Maine but a few months ago, I was very interested in how I managed to miss this great building and an opportunity to capture some images of it myself!

Apparently I hadn’t missed it, just the realization that this light had changed quit drastically since 1913, and having a tour guide that happened not to know the name of this light, didn’t help. Somewhere along the course of time, those in charge of this light at the time, realized the outer buildings were no longer needed, in the course of running this light. And the man from the 1913 image above, might still be the same man who keep many waiting for him to remove himself from the view (by walking behind the light) in order to get a photograph of this light without him in it.

Another example:

You would think that because the card is listed as the ‘Plum Island Lighthouse’, you might be correct. But you would be wrong. This is the ‘Newburyport Lighthouse’, at some point over the years the caretakers decided to change the lights name, and many images were printed using the original name. It is still on Plum Island, but it is now not apart of the name.

The Burnt Coat Harbor Light is really the Hockamock Head Light, one of many with name changes over the years. I have learned not to take any of what is written at face value, always double check your research.

With its getting darker now, much earlier and the Christmas lights are glowing to make the darkness a little more joyful, I wish everyone a very Safe and Happy Holiday’s and the best the New Year has coming.

On that ‘wee note’ till Monday January 2, 2023.

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