Some Lighthouse History and Perspectives
Since lighthouses first dotted the shorelines, they have been both literally and
symbolically a beacon for safety and hope. This symbolism makes itself apparent
in the popularity lighthouses have gained as collectable figurines and art prints
given as the perfect present
for lovers of the structures and seen in the décor of coastal bed and breakfasts.
As lighthouses have changed from being the public face of safety, they have become
more tourist attractions, and even some unusual getaways. With all the landmarks
and pieces of history being removed or destroyed to make room for the new, there
is a bit of cultural philosophical counseling
at work here in the hearts and minds of those thinking in terms of our cultural
identity. Clearly, this has resulted in great efforts to preserve these pieces of
our collective past and an indication of the collective
personal development when we
can see beyond the short term advantages of blind modernization to the richness
that having pieces of where we came from left intact..
These lights once burned bright along the coast of the Great Lakes of Michigan,
and although many have given away to the modern technology of computer run beacons.
While the job has been taken over, it saves the operators the
repetitive strain injury problems or
the changes some would undergo when they were there for long periods of time alone during unexpected storms.
Several have been renovated into museums or shore side hotels, which make for a
great weekend getaway. The of these pieces of history have been a great Safety beacons
for ships have, over time, become a great place for anyone wanting a long weekend
"away from it all".
One such light house along the Great Lakes reborn as a museum is the Seul Choix.
During the mid-1800's Seul Choix Point was the center of a thriving fishing community,
but today, only the lighthouse complex is still active. The light still operates,
but with an automated replacement for its original lens. The light was placed into
service in 1892, but the tower had to be rebuilt and the station was not entirely
completed until September, 1895. Visitors and workers at the lighthouse complex
have reported strange happenings, including moved silverware and other items, footsteps,
the strong smell of cigars and the sound of someone climbing the lighthouse steps.
Many believe that a lighthouse keeper is still at work. Visitors who have brought their
trained dogs have noticed that they will not enter
the doorway to the lighthouse itself regardless of how much coersion they get from their owners; it seems as if ghosts are telling them to stay out!
Big Bay Point lighthouse is now a bed and breakfast, with beautiful four poster
beds and a stunning view of the nearby waterfall. This weekend getaway and spa serves
as a wonderful diversion, safe from the hustle and bustle of city life, and just
enjoy the setting sun here. Just as the lighthouses provide safety for the ships
away from their homeports, Home security can provide safety for your belongings
while you are on your voyage.
The Partridge Island Lighthouse which sits on a small island at the entrance
to St. John Harbour, was first turned on in 1791. It has gone through four incarnations
since it's original construction. Its history has been rich- going through a period
of time where it wasn't used, then being destroyed by a fire in 1832, then rebuilt.
The first steam-powered fog whistle in North America was installed in 1859 there.
In 1880 it was replaced again where it stood for 79 years. In 1959 it was replaced
again by the tower that stands today. The first
Canada immigration center was
established there. Considered by many to be the the Canadian equivalent to Ellis
Island in New York- it was a quarantine station for 3 million immigrants between
1785 and 1947.
If you love lighthouses and are in a position to travel to Scotland, you have a
chance to see the oldest lighthouse in the world. Robert Stevenson's Bell Rock Lighthouse
was created off the east coast of Scotland between 1807 and 1811. Stevenson, the
grandfather of Robert Louis Stevenson, brought light and safety to the treacherous
Scottish coast. He aimed to take on the most dangerous place of all, the Bell Rock,
a large reef 11 miles out to sea, dangerously positioned in the approach to the
Firth of Forth. To this day it shines out across the North Sea, the oldest offshore
lighthouse still standing anywhere in the world.
