Posted By: ladylightkeeper
Connie Small's 100th Birthday - 05/14/01 08:05 AM
Connie Small will be celebrating her 100th birthday on June 4. I have occasion to talk to her from time to time, ever since I first met her in 1998 and arranged to take the New England Lighthouse Lovers group to attend a special slide lecture which she put on for us at her retirement home. I made her an honorary member of NELL, and she proudly wears our pin. In talking to her again the other day, she was all excited about being honored at the American Lighthouse Foundation dinner on June 2 in Portsmouth, NH.
She recently produced a second edition of her book, filled with new photos, which chronicles her experiences as a lighthouse keeper's wife. She and her husband were the keepers at several New England lights, including Seguin (recently produced by Harbour Lights); Avery Rock and St. Croix River Lights also in Maine; and retired from active duty at their last assignment which was Portsmouth Harbor, NH, aka New Castle or Fort Point Light; and then filling in at Cape Neddick or the "Nubble" Light off York, ME.
For those who might not be familiar with her, Connie worked very hard to spread the word that lighthouses needed to be saved as pieces of important American maritime history. The Maine Lights Program, whereby the Coast Guard has turned over many lights to non-profit groups to insure their preservation and continued access by the public, can be attributed in good part to her efforts. She has appeared on many national tv talk shows; been to see several Presidents; and has been written about extensively in book and magazine format as well as appearing in the video series "Legendary Lighthouses."
Please extend your birthday wishes and gratitude to Connie for her efforts to save our lighthouses by posting your congratulatory messages here on this Forum. I will be seeing Connie in person to help her celebrate her birthday and will print this Forum and your messages to take along to present to her. I know she will be thrilled to hear from you.
Barbara Hupp aka Ladylightkeeper
Founder of the New England Lighthouse Lovers
She recently produced a second edition of her book, filled with new photos, which chronicles her experiences as a lighthouse keeper's wife. She and her husband were the keepers at several New England lights, including Seguin (recently produced by Harbour Lights); Avery Rock and St. Croix River Lights also in Maine; and retired from active duty at their last assignment which was Portsmouth Harbor, NH, aka New Castle or Fort Point Light; and then filling in at Cape Neddick or the "Nubble" Light off York, ME.
For those who might not be familiar with her, Connie worked very hard to spread the word that lighthouses needed to be saved as pieces of important American maritime history. The Maine Lights Program, whereby the Coast Guard has turned over many lights to non-profit groups to insure their preservation and continued access by the public, can be attributed in good part to her efforts. She has appeared on many national tv talk shows; been to see several Presidents; and has been written about extensively in book and magazine format as well as appearing in the video series "Legendary Lighthouses."
Please extend your birthday wishes and gratitude to Connie for her efforts to save our lighthouses by posting your congratulatory messages here on this Forum. I will be seeing Connie in person to help her celebrate her birthday and will print this Forum and your messages to take along to present to her. I know she will be thrilled to hear from you.
Barbara Hupp aka Ladylightkeeper
Founder of the New England Lighthouse Lovers
Bob 