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2001
Collectors
Family Reunion:
Saturday,
October 6, 2001
Breakfast This
day our breakfast 'Mess Hall' moved down one floor to the 'Grand Ballroom'
on the Marriott's level two. Breakfast was served from 7:30 AM to 9:30
AM and again was served buffet style.
Seminars No
cruises, no bus trips today. Today it was the day to hear from those with
special knowledge of lighthouses and to try our hands at sculpting or
painting a lighthouse. 'I Brake for Lighthouses' with
Elinor DeWire Author Elinor DeWire has been
researching, photographing and writing about lighthouses for almost 30
years. She has visited more than 450 lighthouses and lightships in the US,
Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Australia and is the author of six books
and more than 100 articles on lighthouses. Elinor made two
presentations of "I Brake for Lighthouses." One each for the Red
Company and for the Blue Battalion.
Lighthouse
Preservation with Cullen Chambers
 Cullen Chambers
(left) is
the Director of the Tybee Historical Society and is a true hero to
lighthouses! Cullen has been a leader in the renovation and restoration of
Key West Lighthouse, St. Augustine Lighthouse and Tybee Island Lighthouse.
In addition to his major contributions to these three 'Southern Belle'
lighthouses, he is often involved in assisting other lighthouses by
preparing evaluations of the potential for preservation and assisting
local groups to create action plans. Lighthouse Photography with Paul Brady Paul
Brady also gave his presentation on Lighthouse Photography for both the
Blue Battalion and the Red Company.
Paul
Brady advises photographers to 'Move Your Feet' to seek better angles and
locations when photographing lighthouses. Paul is a
professional photographer and videographer with more than 30 years'
experience. He is also the photographer whose work is seen
extensively on the Harbour Lights web site.
Display of Lighthouse Art and
Collector Club Information Each of the individuals and
clubs below staffed tables for Reunion attendees to visit and learn more
about them and their projects on behalf of lighthouses.
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Beacons of the Bay - Chesapeake Bay area Collectors
Club
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Harbour Lights Collectors Club - Great Lakes District
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New England Lighthouse Lovers Club
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North Georgia Beacon Brigade
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Southern California Harbour Lights Collectors Club
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Tampa Bay Harbour Lights Collectors Club
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US Lighthouse Society, Chesapeake Chapter
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US Lighthouse Society, Long Island Chapter
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Eastern Great Lakes Harbour Lights
Collectors Club
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Steve Ervin - lighthouse artist (right)
Lighthouse Sculpting and Painting
With Harbour Lights Art Director Harry Hine looking over
your shoulder, one might naturally get a bit nervous in attempting to
match the high standards for Harbour Lights sculptures and their painting.
But our Reunion attendees tried hard and most showed admirable talent
considering this was the first such experience for most. Many collectors
commented on just how long it took to paint a single small lighthouse.
Collector Rod Watson of Ohio called
his effort the 'McDonald's Lighthouse' for obvious reasons.
Inner
Harbor Landmarks Baltimore's Inner Harbor was once
the launching place of wooden clipper ships and early warships of the
Colonial Navy. Today, the
harbor is a gathering place for families to enjoy the history, food and
friendships. Among the permanent exhibits at the Inner
Harbor is the Seven Foot Knoll lighthouse, moved from the mouth of the
Patapsco River in the late 1980's and completely restored over the
following years. This afternoon we enjoyed a box lunch in
the Inner Harbor area and had time today to explore some of the
interesting places.
Seven
Foot Knoll Lighthouse - centerpiece of the Inner Harbor at
Baltimore MD. It was built in 1855 and originally housed a 4th
order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was automated in 1948 after
which a keeper was no longer housed there. |
The Lightship Chesapeake is easy to spot from almost any
where in the Inner Harbor with her bright red hull and conspicuous name emblazoned
on the side. Providing a backdrop to the view is the National Aquarium and
Baltimore's Hard Rock Cafe.
The Lightship Chesapeake is one
of three ships on permanent exhibit in the Inner Harbor. |
The USCG Cutter Eagle was available for tours at the Inner Harbor:
Mark Wagner Photograph
The Marriott Waterfront Hotel
provides the backdrop for the swooping roof of an entertainment pavilion.
This photo was taken from the area of the Seven Foot Knoll
lighthouse. |
Dinner at the Lighthouse A
steady stream of Harbour Lights collectors made the walk once more from
the Marriott hotel to near the Seven Foot Knoll lighthouse -- this time to
the McCormick & Schmick's Fresh Seafood Restaurant. Some collectors
dined inside the restaurant and others took their places closer
to the lighthouse in special tents erected for our visit.
Left
to right: Becky and Rod Watson, Ohio and Jan Diaczyszyn with Ken Reese,
Maryland at the Saturday Dinner at the Lighthouse.
 After
enjoying several rounds of appetizers, our salmon and steak dinner was served
The third of four
thumbnail lighthouses -- Sandy Point MD -- was handed out as we
entered the restaurant. We
surprised the Reunion attendees once again with
a special version of Seven Foot Knoll. This piece was crafted from our
'Little Light of Mine' Seven Foot Knoll, but has some special painting and
labeling to make it different enough for our knowledgeable and dedicated Harbour Lights
Collectors. Many collectors took the time to stroll the
Inner Harbour area after the dinner. Meanwhile
over at Camden Yards across the harbor,, Cal Ripken Jr. was playing
the last game of his baseball career. Mark Wagner caught this photo
of the fireworks over the stadium. Note the number '8' in the windows of
the Legg Mason building on the right.
Mark Wagner Photo
On To Sunday
Photographs by Paul L. Brady &
John Chidester except as noted.
Copyright 2001 Harbour Lights
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