1998 Collectors Reunion Journal

By Barbara Hupp

Thursday/Friday October 1-2

My husband and I arrived late Thursday afternoon at the very upscale Westin Hotel in downtown Providence and were assigned a nicely appointed room on the l7th floor with a good view of the downtown area. We appreciated the evening pre-reunion check-in at the Harbour Lights registration area for early arriving collectors. It gave others and us a chance to mingle and chat while in line and again afterwards; and we hope this will be a regular practice for future reunions.

Stan Wakefield (FL), Debbie & Kim Fuller (MO) and Barbara Hupp (NH)

The off-lobby registration area was a welcoming oasis with thoughtfully provided light refreshments and several tables filled with Harbour Lights products to browse through and purchase. These included handsome black suede jackets with the HL logo, striking sweatshirts, carry-all bags, beautiful books -- so much to look at which helped us get in the mood to look at -- what else but LIGHTHOUSES!

The assembly line registration was well organized and thought out. An attractive lighthouse pin was personally pinned on us by Harry Hines.

Next came a joyful hug by Kim Andrews, welcoming us to the reunion --a real personal touch that made you feel "one of the family". You knew that HL was really glad you were here! Nancy Younger was also on hand to greet people and Bill was installed at the end of the room to sign various HL products. On to the next person in the line, some of the great HL staff from CA, who presented a passport of tickets for all the various tours and meals. There were mysterious tickets in there that said to present them at various times and sites to receive a thumbnail.

Now my curiosity was really aroused -- what was a thumbnail? And finally the goody bag -- and what goodies! A l998 HL reunion T-shirt with Rhode Island lighthouses on the back; a Harbour Lights mug, patch, and key chain; a pretty lighthouse drink coasters; a lightkeepers logbook for recording all the wonderful lighthouses we we’re sure to see on Saturday; the l999 HL calendar; and a lighthouse magnet. But best of all, was a signed and numbered miniature sculpture of Rose Island. Unfortunately production problems prevented delivery of the full-sized sculpture, but Kim Andrews assured us we'd receive it in the near future.

So many smiling faces, chatting away about the lighthouses they'd already seen either on their own or on the pre-convention tours. Everyone is wondering which ones we'll see on Saturday via boat and bus, but it will be a surprise as no one at HL is leaking the details. Kim would only say, "Bring plenty of film o get the good shots."

The weekend's program looks exciting --tours, chances to meet Bill Younger in person, good meals --that clambake sounds like something special, as does Bill's barbecue lunch between the AM and PM tours on Saturday.

Thursday night was topped off with a very enjoyable time in the suite of Jim and Julie Rutherford, authors of the Lighthouse Survival Guide. Good food, good friendship, good lighthouse discussions -- what a way to start out a fantastic weekend.

The Ship's Store & Gallery

While some early registered attendees were out and about chasing down lighthouses in MA, CT, and RI, others were taking it a bit more easy, saving their strength for the marathon coming up on Saturday - boy what a schedule! This quiet Friday gave us a chance to browse through the HL Company Store. Talk about kids in a candy store! Can you imagine looking with longing at every lighthouse that HL ever produced! Yep, they were all there, and displayed in such artistic settings and also in some specific groupings, like all the Society redemption pieces, or all the Christmas pieces. HL spared no expense in creating attractive wall units in the shape of a boat with shelves filled with lighthouses. Of course, none of these were for sale; but a l80 degree turn pointed one towards the store. There we found counters filled with colorful and informative books on lighthouses across the US; a vast selection of HL logo shirts; the new cigarette cards featuring lighthouses; drink coasters, magnets, key chains -- all sporting a lighthouse.

John Chidester, the Webmaster for Harbour Lights, was an equally popular drawing card for this room, as he had set up his computer and monitor and was instructing members on how to access the striking HL website. Not everyone is computer literate yet, and he patiently explained to us neophytes just how to go about getting the most out of the website.

Meanwhile downstairs off the lobby, the registration line was getting longer as more attendees arrived via plane or car, or returned from sightseeing. The Younger family was kept busy hugging, and welcoming, and signing -- such a wonderful warm "family" atmosphere. The blue passports were being opened and sampled. What's that card mean that says, "option"? Well, for a $20 donation you could submit a guess as to what next year's redemption piece would be. The lucky winner would win a nice prize at the Sunday morning brunch

The HL registration lobby was always so festive looking and stocked with light refreshments. Before the big Friday night dinner, a cash bar was set up and 700 attendees crowded in to get in line to enter the ballroom, all the while being entertained by a colonial musical group. Imagine the size of a room needed to accommodate 700 people, at l2 to around table. You needed binoculars to find your spouse who slipped in ahead to claim seats. Such festive tables with a beautiful centerpiece on each one, white boxes trimmed with red, white, and blue ribbons, each supporting a lighthouse, or spyglass sets, and even a limited Huron lightship. Think those goodies might be for some of us? An envelope was passed around each table and we all took out a slip of paper with a number from 1 to l2.

Bill Younger and daughter Kim Andrews had a good old time up on the platform, sparring with each other, as they drew 6 lucky numbers. That meant 6 of the people at each table walked away with a beautiful lighthouse, or a spyglass set, or that distinctive lightship. Thank you Harbour Lights, you sure made our evening.

The dinner of prime rib was delicious -- no rubber chicken banquet food in this hotel. And then things took a serious turn as Kim introduced the speaker for the evening who told us how and why Staten Island was chosen as the site for the new National Lighthouse Museum. But come on now, some of those criteria sound a bit off the wall. It took some of us longer than others to know that his lantern room was missing a bulb! Well, turns out Mr. Serious was in actuality a stand-up comic from Boston and then the fun really began. He was funnier than anyone I've heard on TV for years and years, and boy had he done his homework on lighthouses and collecting. His jokes and lampooning of Bill Y. got us all in a jolly mood.

Well, you'd think that would have been it, but HL showered us with yet more entertainment -- a drum and fife corps with singers, giving us the old sea chanteys and patriotic music of the early l800's. Of course, we could have gone on enjoying ourselves until the wee hours of the morning, but wise Kim reminded us all that breakfast started at 6 AM and the buses were indeed leaving at7:30, with or without you. Yes, sadly a few didn't believe it and missed the bus or literally missed the boat!

Saturday - By Boat & By Bus October 3

Up at 5 AM. Hey, there's no sun out there yet! The higher floors may get you the view, but it takes forever to get 600 plus people down from a24 floor hotel in only 4 elevators. The breakfast buffet added yet a few more pounds -- what diet?

While eating, we were educationally entertained by Bill's cousin, who is a genealogist and had researched some of the more interesting lighthouse keepers. Then on to the long lines, queued up to get onto buses bound for land or water. Those who chose the AM boat trip made the wiser choice, as the weather was better, especially for photography.

Kim welcomed us aboard the boat, handing out tickets for free beverages of choice, and we were off, cruising down Narragansett Bay on a trip custom designed to show us as many lighthouses as possible and as close up as possible. Those with more sophisticated cameras and telephotos lenses would get better shots. And of course amongst all the many, we did see Rose Island Light.

Landing at Newport a few hours later we disembarked and headed for a huge tent as a long snaking line of HL attendees who had been on the bus tour and had already eaten, headed towards the boat to take the same cruise back up to Providence.

After a barbecue lunch, which Bill later emphasized was NOT BILL'S BARBECUE, we boarded the buses and were off for the land tour to "see and touch" Castle Hill, Beavertail, and Port Judith. Ida Lewis posed a problem being inside a private yacht club, so we had to be content with seeing it from a distance. The curator at Beavertail was dressed in the old uniform of the lightkeeper and willingly posed for photos, while others manned tables to sell various souvenirs like those cute red blinking lighthouse pins, with all proceeds going to help in the preservation of the light. Quiz question: what Harbour Lights rep was seen walking away with a purchased HL sculpture of Beavertail?

Thumbnails -- no, not on your hand, but tiny little lighthouses that look exactly like the big ones. Pick a card out of your blue passport at the appropriate time, and a HL staff member presented you with a thumbnail nestled in a purple velvet bag. They were given out at various stops along the tours, right before the lighthouse they represented, and before some of the meals. Another little extra that we thank HL for. Yet more goodies to come -- unbelievable, it's better than Christmas!

Saturday Evening October 3

Remember, we've all been up since at least 5 AM and it's now 5 PM and the day isn't finished yet. Of course, everyone wanted to freshen up and so the line stretched the length of the lobby -- all 600 plus people trying to get up in the elevators at the same time.

You no more than got up and you had to come right back down and walk across the river to this huge circus sized white and blue striped tent set up on a grassy area overlooking downtown Providence and the river. It was a tight fidgeting 700 of us inside, but we made it. (Word of explanation, some of the attendees stayed at a different hotel, but all of us from both added up to the 700).

We had been greeted at the tent flap by this strange looking red creature --a 6-foot tall red lobster to set the mood. Inside each table had again some nice take-home gift, this time a photo album with a lighthouse design. Nobody was shy here - we all charged forward into the food line.

That all-day trip had developed big appetites, and they were challenged with the amount of delicious food: a lobster, the real thing; clams, chicken, potatoes, salad, great desserts. What more could happen. Well, tune up the band, a fabulous dance band playing our kind of music, something recognizable with a melody and dance beat. It was too bad that so many of us were just plumb worn out after such along day of exciting touring and events, and we just headed back to the hotel after eating and really didn't do justice to that great music.

I guess this weekend was picked specifically, because on the walk back, we were treated to a view of a local phenomenon: flaming containers placed along the river and lagoon, with circling boats, and wonderful music. It was an inspirational ending to a perfect day.

Sunday - October 4

You'd think HL would have figured they’d given us about all we were due, but no, there's still Sunday brunch with Bill.

Here go a few more pounds added on, but who can resist all that delicious food in the buffet line. Bill and Kim again took the platform to entertain and dazzle us with more lighthouse prizes, raffles, an auction to raise funds for Michigan lighthouse preservation projects. The lucky winner was announced and another original Mark Sherman painting was awarded. Those who came with lots of cash participated in the auction. Accepting credit cards for the auction would have resulted in higher bids and more money raised for the project.

It was the closet thing to a tearful goodbye one will see at a convention. After all, we're all "FAMILY" as Kim says, and so it is sad to know it was all over, so fast, but with such good memories to take back home, along with all the wonderful gifts and prizes and new friendships made.

But there is hope, there is a definite rumor going round of the next HL reunion coming up . After all, family needs to see family from time to time, right?

To all the Younger family members and all the Harbour Lights staff who worked so hard that weekend, we all, every one of us, thank you from the top of our lantern rooms. We WILL keep the flame burning until next time.

Barbara & Henry Hupp

Copyright 1998, Barbara Hupp.

This information reflects the experiences and view of the author who is not an employee B.C. Younger & Associates, or Harbour Lights.

Posted 11/15/1998

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Thanks to Barbara for keeping and sharing her journal of the 1998 Reunion! You can see some of the great photos she and husband Henry took in a special