Book research under way
Auto truck for Portsmouth L.H. Depot, VA. Ford Smith Form A Truck taken at Baltimore, MD Oct. 10, 1916. Photo by the Hughes Co. (Photo of a photo as I begin my research for a pictorial history of Maryland lighthouses)
Did I mention I’m writing a book? 
I was contacted by Arcadia Publishing to write a pictorial history on Maryland lighthouses, which is basically a giant research project. I recently did a “half way through the season report card” on the Washington Nationals baseball team and I was the only blogger who replied to the spam request and actually did it, so it was published by default. I kinda feel I’m doing the book under the same premise because I know other folks were asked and turned it down before me. My time constraints are rather restrictive, but I’m plugging along and am rather excited about the project. Call me an aspiring amateur writer and photographer who is quite thrilled at the prospect of being “published” with both text and photos, but it also allows me to dedicate time to one of my passions. Spending a day at Archives II in College Park, MD helped bring back all the love and passion for lighthouses that I had somewhat forgotten getting immersed in the day-to-day angst over boat issues and scheduling. Sifting through box after box of historic photos and lingering over each one (even Virginia ones, which is where I found this one - the coolest historic auto photo ever) was quite enjoyable. My only disappointment was being disallowed from taking photos out of their plastic protective sleeves or turning on the lights in the photo stand, so many photos are probably not useable for the book despite my digital developing prowess.
As I sorted through the photos at the end of my last box, I stared puzzled. There was a lighthouse missing. Mine. In fact, I never ran across a single photo of any of the Craighill range lights. Then I realized I had also not seen any of the Baltimore Light. Or Seven Foot Knoll. I know historic photos exist for those lights as I’ve seen them on the USCG Historian’s list of Maryland lighthouses. I checked with the desk and asked if there were any more boxes that they didn’t bring out. Nope. They rechecked their list for the 5th District, and even skimmed others. Nothing.
So I have an appointment with the Coast Guard historian’s office o-dark-thirty Tuesday morning to go through the photos they have. This time I need to bring matte glass and remember an extra card for my camera. Hopefully I can run through all of them and still get home in time to see my daughter off to her first day of kindergarten! (a scheduling conflict I realized after I made the appointment - eek!)
Reminder! September 22nd is the first annual Craighill Cup sailing race! Email or post a comment for more information.
Today we were accompanied by 
The coolest part was that Dr. Forsley got my kids involved. He had them assemble the pods before we began and disassemble them at the end. He also instructed them on setting them up and leveling them and then let the kids do that on their own. They really had a blast. These little pods measure movement and vibration. He wanted to see how much the lighthouse vibrates or moves based on tides, ships passing by, etc. I’m curious to know that as well as it feels pretty solid with all that concrete sunk so far down. The database is somewhat intelligent as it can pinpoint if vibrations are a person walking, an animal, a car, etc. Although, it incorrectly tabbed one of us walking as a car driving by. Umm, 2 miles off shore? Don’t think so! I don’t think they were programmed for lighthouse motion datapoints! I can’t wait to see his results - should be interesting.
Although, not quite as smoothly as I had hoped, but still, the roof is patched for winter and the outhouse roof is covered as well. At a meeting for local lighthouse owners/managers (my first attending one of these) Saturday, us newbies were introduced and asked what our biggest current challenges are. Naturally, I replied transportation! I’m seriously beginning to think I’m cursed when it comes to boats. The new boat died right around the exact same place the old boat died on one of its first attempts out. Try as we might, we couldn’t get it to start again. That’s what I get for being optimistic! (j/k - I don’t intend to change that aspect of my personality) Luckily, we still managed to accomplish our goals for the day despite it all. Now I’m on the hunt for a good reasonably priced outboard mechanic to check stuff out.
Ahh, the new year is starting off on the right foot for once. Merry Christmas to the lighthouse as I just personally purchased this boat for it off eBay. Looks like I’ll be making a road trip to Florida this weekend to pick it up! I’ve been monitoring inflatables on eBay after determining one would be the perfect solution to the boating/docking problems and also took a trip out to MSI in Eastport, Annapolis. I had nearly given up thinking the boat we have will just have to do (despite the fact that every time I try to take it out with usually accurate expectations that something will break gives me nervous shakes). I couldn’t find one ready to go in the right size for the longest time - a dinghy just didn’t quite seem to fit the bill. Since we haven’t raised the money to cover the cost of the boat, looks like I’ll be selling the old one (after fixing the railing and alternator belt, which is the latest casualty) and my classic ‘68 Mustang convertible (sigh). Ah, the perils of a young non-profit. I’m very excited, though! I think this will be the perfect work-boat and we can finally start to make some progress with reliable transportation large enough to transport supplies, and soft enough to not get beat to heck against the side of the lighthouse. Now I just have to solve the shortness problem - maybe a fire escape ladder extension for the platform/ladder? I can’t wait to test this baby out and finally get the lantern deck/roof patched before snow arrives (if it even does at the rate this winter is going!). Woohoo! I think I have FINALLY solved the transportation problems! My kids are going to be SO disappointed to not be able to go sleep in the boat on weekends anymore, but that’s ok - we can sleep in the lighthouse, right?! Plus, we’re seriously considering moving out to the water (Severna Park? Arnold? Cape St. Claire?) once school gets out in June and we sell our house, so that will solve logistical issues and no longer necessitate a sleep-aboard boat. Whew. Busy busy!
Yay! Finally, the tube of plans I ordered from the National Archives in Philly arrived. Some of them are a little confusing - it looks like the original orientation of the interior was going to be the opposite of what it is now (one set of plans shows “south” with the trap door behind the doorway and stairs entrance when in fact, those are on the north side). They at least confirm the investigation we did in the “basement” to figure out the cistern water collection system. I had read something that stated the cisterns were in the watch room, which seems impossible, so the plans confirm the placement in the basement (although only show one when two are in the history). I’ve noticed some misinformation on the written history and need to go through the website and correct things. Also, it’s hard to determine exactly where the kitchen was as it appears to have been the room to the left of the entrance, but the plans show it to the right in one set and even further toward the back in another. There are more plans up there for both lights in the Lower Range, so I plan on taking a trip to Philly and going through each and every one to see what else I need to complete the set. The database shows one specifically titled as “floor arrangements”, which should be highly interesting. Photos (not the best quality) of the plans after the continue reading link (includes two of the Millers Island Lighthouse).