Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think the light houses are all automated now. I was however stationed at an aton unit that would service the light house from time to time.
I did serve with a BM1 that had been stationed at a light house and was responsible for its upkeep. I don't know where this was anymore as time seems to erase stuff if you don'r revisit it every now and again.
I believe that Boston Light is the last lightstation with a keeper. It may have to do with the historical aspect (national landmark ?) than operational requirements.
MK1 Rich Bennett was one of the last OinCs of a First District lightstation , Isle of Shoals, in NH. I think there was one more on the Kennebec River that kept a keeper later.
Saw a video clip today about CG selling lighthouses. A guy in Va bought one for $65,000. I believe they said it was Thimble Shoal light. Apparently a bunch have been sold and about a dozen go on the block this year. Qualifying to buy one is a bit of work and you also have to agree to maintain the structure to "historic" standards.
Actually, to a degree yes. They have been evaluated for potential uses very similar to range boards and/or danger sectors of a light. Where you would see one color light only if you were 'on range,' and see another color(s) if you right/left of range and maybe even another if you were outside of the safe channel. Haven't seen anything on the subject in a while, but been out of ATON for a while.
I though Hawaii still had a maned lighthouse, I remember my old EM1 telling me about that as the legendary cake job an EM.
There still is light house duty, but we aren't tenants; usually. During times when troubleshooting may take more than a day, I have the option of staying to do the trouble shooting.
Duty usually consists of being on call 24/7. I just recently completed the ATON class. The most recent research for lighthouse illumination involves a LED. It looks like a flying saucer and is completely plug-and-play. Definately don't want to get caught staring into that light.
Actually all of the light houses are automated now with the exception of Boston Light house. However the CG Auxilary is manning it now, there are now active duty coasties attached there. Sector Boston helps maintain the buildings and ANT Boston works the light still.
Boston Light is indeed automated, and has been for a while. However, it is the only light station in the country that is stilled "manned," though others around the country may still be in use as CG housing and such.
Used to fly out to Cape Decision and Five Fingers light out of Sitka.. Very cool landing on the helo pad perched over the cliffs and a very hairy tail rotor inspection while the tail hung over the helo pad and the cliffs and water below.
In that case Boston Light is not automated, the Coast Guard aux mans it for the majority of the year, we installed an alarm system there back in 2000. I also monitors the temps in the building and if the power is dropped.
I am currently stationed at ANT South Portland and we maintain Portland Head Light as well as most of the lighthouses between Portsmouth, NH and Rockland, ME. CG does not man any lgithouse in our area. I have heard that Boston Harbor does have a caretaker that stays out there. That being said, that caretaker does not maintain the signals. CG personnel do, usually from and ANT team or a buoy tender/65'. All lights are automated, and that means that when it gets dark, the light comes on automatically. There's no need for someone to turn the light on, because they do it themselves. We are putting solar panels at the lights we can to reduce cost and reliance on commercial power. This is usually done on the offshore lights, not the ones on land. I hope this clears up some of the confusion in this thread. If you have any more questions, just post them and I'll do my best to answer them,
The Rawley Point Lighthouse just north of Two Rivers, WI, has an interesting history.
It was located near where the Chicago Museum of Science & Industry is now located, up through 1893.
It was disassembled and reassembled near Chicago's Navy Pier in 1894 for the Columbia Exposition.
Afterwards it was disassembled again and reassembled at its current located at Rawley Point.
In 1906, the Rouse Simmons (Chicago's Christmas Tree Ship) sunk about six miles off Rawley Point. Divers on the wreck can see the Christmas trees still lashed to the ship.
There are three cottages at Rawley Point; one caretaker cottage (for a member at STA Two Rivers), and two cottages for rent through Sector Lake Michigan.
Contact Linda Varia in the Global for the two rental cottages.
My family spent about a week at one of the cottages two years ago and had a BLAST! Being the token Coastie during that time, I had the key to the Lighthouse and took folks up to the top of the 180-foot lighthouse.
AWESOME view of the surrounding area! GREAT vacation! Short walk from the cottage to the beach on Lake Michigan. Pets are allowed; our Suzie (Shepherd mix, American Mutt) had a blast chasing waves on the beach.
Originally posted by damage909: I am currently stationed at ANT South Portland and we maintain Portland Head Light as well as most of the lighthouses between Portsmouth, NH and Rockland, ME. CG does not man any lgithouse in our area. I have heard that Boston Harbor does have a caretaker that stays out there. That being said, that caretaker does not maintain the signals. CG personnel do, usually from and ANT team or a buoy tender/65'. All lights are automated, and that means that when it gets dark, the light comes on automatically. There's no need for someone to turn the light on, because they do it themselves. We are putting solar panels at the lights we can to reduce cost and reliance on commercial power. This is usually done on the offshore lights, not the ones on land. I hope this clears up some of the confusion in this thread. If you have any more questions, just post them and I'll do my best to answer them,
