Linda Osborne Cynowa

‘Lighthouses of the Pacific Coast’

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for November 6, 2023

With the summer launch of ‘Lighthouses of the North Atlantic Coast’, it was time to move on with my next venture on the Pacific Coast. This will be the third of what I hope to be four books on the Great Lakes and Coastal lights in the United States. The states within this edition will cover Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii. With the research needed to learn about the different lighthouses, I have found the styles change depending on what area they are in the country. In Alaska, most are of an Art Deco style often constructed from concrete, in Hawaii you are more likely to see what is called ‘minor’ lights, like a navigational lights, not the large towers most often seen else where. On the Pacific coast, the Fresnel lens are larger and brighter than those used on our Great Lakes lights. This book will be expected at the publisher in March, with a summer 2024 publication date.

Above, Yaquina Lighthouse or also called Cape Foulweather by many mariners over the years.

Above, Point Hueneme Light Station, in California, flying a flag with only 48 stars.

Above, Sentinel Island Lighthouse, Juneau. In August 5, 1910, the Princess May departed Skagway, Alaska, with 80 passengers and 68 crew and a shipment of gold. The ship was steaming down the Lynn Canal at 12 knots under heavy fog in the command of Captain John McLeo, when it stuck the rocks near the north end of Sentinel Island early in the morning. It was high tide and the momentum of the ship forced it well up onto the rocks, with the bow jutting upward at an angle of 23 degrees. No lives were lost, thanks to the Sentinel Island lighthouse keepers help.

Above, the Aloha Tower in Honolulu Hawaii. Most often used as a Customs House for all visitors coming to the islands.

The research and writing continues. On that ‘wee note’ till Monday December 4th, 2023.

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‘Sanibel Island Lighthouse’

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for October 2, 2023

The “big ones” that hit near Southwest Florida were Donna 1960, Charley 2004, Wilma 2005, Irma 2017, and Ian 2022, not even counting the hurricanes that happened before they started giving them names, which puts in doubt the “every ten years” myth.

Created in a metal factory in New Jersey in 1883. Loaded on a ship which ultimately sunk two miles from Sanibel. Salvaged from the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico by a crew of hard hat divers from Key West it would be lit for the first time on August 20th, 1884, the historic Sanibel Lighthouse became one of the first lighthouses on the Gulf Coast. Image below circa 1941.

The Sanibel Lighthouse is located on the eastern end of the 12-mile long island. The idea to build the Lighthouse was first proposed by some of the settlers of the island in 1833, when they petitioned for one to be built. Along the way there were other recommendations for a lighthouse to be built. After the Civil War, there was a request made with the idea that it would cause an increase in trade, and travelers would be able to find the Island more easily. However, no real action was taken until 1883 when Sanibel finally received that $50,000 they needed to fund construction. The building of the Lighthouse finally started in February of 1884. Although they faced complications along the way, in only a few short months the Lighthouse was finally completed. It was first lit on August 20th, 1884 with kerosene oil. In order to get to the top of the Lighthouse, the lighthouse keeper had to walk up an external spiral staircase.

The original keeper was Dudley Richardson, who was the keeper from 1884-1892. In 1888, Henry Shanahan moved to the Island and became the assistant to the keeper. After Richardson retired, Shanahan applied for the role as keeper, and eventually was given that position. Along the way there were other people who lived on the island who took over the job. In 1946, a Coast Guardsman by the name of Bob England took over the job. A hurricane had hit the Island while he was keeper and it caused a lot of erosion to the Lighthouse. Due to the fact that there was so much erosion it was decided that the Lighthouse would become automated. England’s job as keeper was discontinued when the Lighthouse became officially automated in 1949.

Sanibel Island Lighthouse after the 1947 hurricane (postcard)

In 1972, the Coast Guard had proposed to discontinue the running of the Lighthouse, however mariners and people that lived on the Island had opposing ideas. They ended up convincing them not to move forward. In 1982, people were able to live in the development by the Lighthouse for free in exchange for helping to maintain the area around it. After being owned by the Coast Guard, the Lighthouse was finally given to the City of Sanibel in 2004. The City had raised money to fix up the Lighthouse, and in 2013 they finally raised enough money to restore the building. Hurricane Ian in 2022, would finally finish the job of removing the keepers and out buildings supporting the light. A supporting leg on the light was blown away, but a repair was enabled and the light tower itself, saved once again. Images below, circa 2023.

Many thanks to the United States Coast Guard for their images, Sanibel Island Holliday info, Florida Memory info, 1947 vintage Sanibel Island Light postcard part of the authors collection.

On that ‘wee note’ till next time, Monday November 6, 2023.

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‘Collecting Your Passions’

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Mornings for September 4, 2023

What is your collecting passions?

We all know someone who loves collecting, something. Whether it’s pottery, books (me), stamps, coins or even comic books. I have always loved anything to do with photography, new images or old vintage images, which lead me to having a look at vintage postcards and narrowing that down to a love of lighthouses and then you have a lighthouse postcard addict! When it comes to collecting postcards, there is something for every taste, from vintage or modern images, cartoons, graphics, and just fun stuff, etc. I have learned in the past few years, while working on my last two books for Arcadia Publishing in their Postcard History Series the many ups and downs of collecting and bidding in auctions.

A bit about the origin of postcards in general:

The Postal Act of May 19, 1898: This act provided for the extensive private product of postcards to measure 3.25 by 5.5 inches. Messages could only be written on the front. The back was reserved “exclusively for the address”. After March 1, 1907, the law specified that messages could be written on the backs of cards. Cards of this new style were call ‘divided back’ because of the vertical line, to the left of which a message could be written, with the address on the right. “Undivided back” cards remained in the inventories of shops for many years, now they are very collectable.

Ebay is a wonderful place to find additions to your collections. I use eBay when searching for my lighthouses that I will need for my books, even as I more forward. As is usual there are things you must look out for when looking for the ‘vintage’ postcards, I am not so sure on other collections as they might be harder to ‘copy’ than postcards are. When I first started, I would get so excited to ‘find’ that rare hard to find card, and hit purchase immediately! Only to find I had purchased a copy of an original, which holds next to no value. Not that is the only reason for the purchase, but copies when scanned as I do to use in a book, are not very good when they are 2nd and 3rd generation prints, no matter how good the scanner. Bottom line, on eBay as with a lot of situations there may not be all honest people you will be dealing with, in the world of commerce. ALWAYS read carefully so you don’t come up short on what you are bidding on or purchasing. Then you will get what you want and not the frustration when you don’t.

I have found that in the case of postcard collection, and I am sure this can also be used in collecting pretty much any other item, you will find that one special super piece, the best you could ever find! When only a short time later to have an even better special super piece come available and this will do even better for what you want. This has happened many times. So when you tell yourself you only need two, and even up with four, it’s because there will always be a better one out there that you have to have! I believe that might be where the ‘addict’ part comes in? Good luck on what ever is your passion, but be aware of what you are honing in on.

On that ‘wee note’, till next month Monday October 2, 2023.

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Thorington School – Part Two

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for August 7th 2023

Today, is the National Lighthouse Day, so it is a day to give some thought to these giants of maritime navigation that are still trying to survive. While not technically needed to do the jobs their were first intended to do, their historical significance in teaching what life was like, is of such importance especially to the young.

Instead today we are going to go back to some Washington Township history from approximately 5 years ago.

James M. Thorington was born on 26 January of 1837 in Washington Township the son of James and Sally Brown Thorington. His father would work the farm for 30 years being involved with agriculture and buying land. When he retired, he owned 700 acres in Washington. When James M married Mary Starkweather in 1857 and they raised 5 children on their 320 acre farm on Mound Road between 30 and 31 Mile Roads. James Thorington Sr. owned the 1/8 acre on which the school stands, with it being a part of his 158 acre farm. When the elder James Thorington died, his son James M. took over his farm and would continue to lease the school property.

Five years ago I wrote about the school in relationship to the Arcadia Publishing book ‘Washington Township’, I was hoping to bring to the necessary people the sad state of affairs for this important historical Washington Township school building. Over these years the Township Supervisor that is in place now has seen the value in saving this old relic of early education and has been working to make this happen.

With the school building being very near the corner of 31 Mile on Mound Road, the Township Supervisor, has found on 31 Mile, that the Township owns property that will eventually consist of a fire station and park area for use by the residences. The school building could be moved a very short distance and find a new home, with restoration in its future, to use as a teaching program for students. So what’s the holdup?

This is what the school building looked like roughy 5 years ago:

Todays look at the Thornington School:

As has always been said, when neglect is there, nature will surely take over and sadly, neglect is what has happened to this piece of history. So again I mention, ‘What is the hold up’? While the owners, have left this piece of history to rot away, for reasons unknown to myself, for the sixteen years I have been watching this building. They have been approached about selling from many avenues over the years. For the rotting boards being held together, by basically, nobody knows just what. The hole in the roof continues to enlarge, and each winter, we feel will be its last.

The only hope is what the Township can make this happen, and the owners will see the long term value to the Township. Basically they need restore this historic school themselves or sell for a nominal fee to the Township and let them save this school house for future generations to see what life was like in the 1800-1900 educational system. So once again what are you waiting for?

On that ‘wee note’, till Monday September 4th, 2023, Labor Day!

The two vintage images courtesy of the Greater Washington Township Historical Society, Thorington School today from the authors collection.

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‘Lighthouses of the North Atlantic Coast’

Linda’s Monthly Monday Mornings Moaning’s for July 3, 20023

The postcards have been secured, the research and writing has been finished, the editing has been done and on Monday July 24, 2023, the latest Arcadia Publishing, Postcard History Series Book, the ‘Lighthouses of the North Atlantic Coast’ will see the light of day. This will be a second of four books on the lighthouses through out the United States in vintage postcards. Using vintage cards, the book will show the lighthouses how they looked when they were maritime’s greatest saviors at their most important time.

During the time frame when the United States Coast Guard took over the care and supervision of the lighthouses, and the light keepers were found to be an unnecessary feature, the stations did start to changed. Many of the buildings and keepers dwellings, were found to be unnecessary, and a costly part of the lights that would be much better demolished as cost saving was needed.

But thankfully, many of the light stations were take in task by societies, historical commissions, and many of the towns were the lights resided, in order to save these historical treasures from being dismantled any more than was needed. These postcards captured these lights at their best.

As much as I have always loved to visit the lights and photograph them, I soon found that the vintage postcards with their original vision of the lights became more important to save. Most taken as early as 1900-1910. So now the task to get the books into the museums, historical societies, and bookstores where these lighthouses reside. And I always have Amazon to thank for their support.

On that ‘wee note’ till next month, Monday August 7, 2023, also National Lighthouse Day!