"So You Want To Own A Lighthouse" Report on Day 1

I arrived in Florida Monday about 3:45 PM and hooked up with my sister, brother-in-law and their soon to be 7 year old at their place in St. Petersburg.

This morning, I stopped in Ruskin to see my folks who had driven down from Michigan two weeks before and then fought the traffic on I-75 and I-4 across the state to Ponce Inlet Lighthouse where I met up with Dave Hannum by plan.

What a beautiful lighthouse and light station this is! Got to be one of the best restorations and preservations of the whole light station anywhere in the country!









A new addition since I was there last in 1996 was the first order lens that was originally installed in the light tower. This was 'found' at Mystic Seaport and was restored and installed in the lens display (the same area where the first order lens from Port Canaveral Lighthouse has been on display for a number of years.)

We drove over to the beach to get some photos of Ponce from that area and then convoyed up to St. Augustine.


The "So You Want To Own A Lighthouse" program began Monday evening with a reception at the St. Augustine Lighthouse. This was a program honoring vets on Veterans Day.





Following the formal program, the light tower was open to climb and it was SPECTACULAR! The three flash panels on the rotating Fresnel sweep the horizon like a knife blade of focused white light. I'm sure my photos won't do it justice, but it was a magical moment.






Stayed tuned...

Great photos John...looks like the beginning of a great trip...look forward to more.
Ruthie

Great pics and narration, JC. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Bob

Thanks for the pictures John. Florida is on our list for travel to visit the lighthouses. Hope to make it next year, and after seeing Ponce, I want to go more than ever now.

Joyce

John, I am definitely staying tuned! This is one that I would have loved to attend, but thanks to you...and Cheryl...I can enjoy it through your eyes.

Judy

The photos are beautiful! Ponce Inlet is one I haven't had the chance to visit.

Thank you!

Judy

Ponce looks great! I was there during the restoration so my photos look very different!

Thanks for the story and photos John. It looks like a beautiful time to be in Florida.

I'll be watching for more updates.

Thanks for sharing those wonderful photos John. Looking forward to seeing whatever else you're going to dig up for us. Have a great trip. I'm jealous!

Holy moly! It seems that they've painted Ponce "Jupiter Red"???!!!

It sure wasn't that color when I.O. was there a few years back.

That's good, otherwise it could have been quite a scary experience....

Your photos are great John, I especially like the after dark shots. Makes you really feel like you were there!

I had a chance to talk with Ann ... the head person at Ponce Inlet this evening on a cruise. She said the tower was painted with a special kind of paint made in Germany. The work was done by Expert House Movers and the paint has a 15 year warranty! It was VERY expensive, and a representative from the paint company was flown in to get the color just right.

It looks almost like a stucco coating.

I've not seen Jupiter in person, Sue, but it does have that same color that I've seen in pictures of Jupiter.


More in my next report in a new thread.

Well Germany has lots of red lighthouses but I guess they had some paint left over. Quite a bit actually as Ponce is one big lighthouse!!!

A 50 year warranty on the paint seems like a bargain. But the paint costs $135 a GALLON. Don't know how many gallons it took to repaint the whole tower.

John, I'm guessing that the seminar has kept you really busy, and with long days since we haven't seen a #2 report!

Looking forward to hearing all about it!

Judy

Man-o-man, are you ever right, Judy. The conference just ended and I'm so over-my-head in stuff to do that I'm staying over another night here to work late and get up early tomorrow and TRY to catch up.

I'm passing up a lighthousing trip with Derith tomorrow unfortunately.

Dave H is going to go with Derith to Boca Grande. My flight leaves Tampa at 4:30 PM Saturday.

I'll try to post some more photos and comments from the Seminar -- but Overall, It was REALLY interesting. Lots of discussions on things we as visitors never see or think about.

Looking forward to your report & photos...but do get some rest!

Judy

Lovely photos John. I too have never seen this light and it looks like an "add to the list"!

John, I hope that by now you are home and can sleep in your own bed tonight. Your images above are just GREAT!!!

Thank you for finding the time to share them with us all. Get some rest.

Ron
(CT Keeper)

Just got home. Thanks for your patience everyone. I will write up an overall report on the seminar, but probably will post it over at www.HarbourLights.com since HL was the key underwriter of the event.