WOW, WOW, WOW!!! What great prizes and gifts were presented to the attendees at the reunion! The surprises just kept coming. How about the charity auction with so many "one-of-a-kind" HL items. Items were bringing bids in excess of $6000. Our collectors were ready to reach deep into their pockets to support lighthouse restoration and the American Red Cross!

One thing did surprise me though and this is one of the reasons I started this thread. Did anyone expect that there might be a set of PHAROS in with the prize offerings? I was also surprised there were no AB products among the selection.

I do hope that those folks who visit the forums and won a door prize, a prize from the Opportunity Drawing, or a very special prize from the Charity Auction, will share their thoughts and feelings on their new treasured possession.

Bob

There were many items that were very interesting and unique in the auction and the raffle! There were two that really caught my eye though! (Digger's excellent paintings also!) The two on my best list were - The very rare Macquarie Light with out building. (Not on regular issue piece) My second favorite was The Stonington Harbor set which consisted of one piece being silver-plated and the other a counter sample. Fred wasn't going to let anyone out bid him on the Macquarie piece, so I had to hope for winning the Stonington set. There were also two gold Cape St. George pieces that were in the raffle. (How could I forget them!) Well, I didn't win the Stonington set, but the next best thing happened! My wonderful wife's name was pulled out of the box and now this beautiful set resides in the Kremer household! She told me that they were hers, but I could display them in our display case. YOU GOT TO LOVE IT! THANK YOU HARBOUR LIGHTS!

P.S. Dave, just call us silver and gold!!!

[This message has been edited by Randy Kremer (edited 10-08-2001).]

Well, I was also one of the lucky ones. The whole weekend I kept gazing at the lantern from the Scottish 1869 clipper ship. I kept hoping no one would chose that if my name were drawn. Once Kim called my name, my heart did not stop racing for at least an hour. We hope to go to a Restoration Hardware or a Pottery Barn type place to find the appropriate "L" bracket, hook, or other implement so we can hang it in the house. It is somewhat heavy, so "stud-finder" don't fail me now.

Hope everyone had as much fun at the reunion as I did. Can't wait for the next one?

You weren't the only collector with your eye on that lantern. I was hoping it would still be there if my name was called. You beat me to it! Enjoy,it is truly a beautiful antique.

Bob

Randy, Ready to trade yet??????

Bob, what did you win?

Digger, what do you have in mine (of mine) to trade!?!

What did I win, Randy? It wasn't a Harbour Lights product but it is something we will have to remind us of the Baltimore Reunion forever. It was a beautiful red velvet Christmas stocking that will hang by our fireplace during the Christmas season for many years to come. The stocking was hand crafted and has three of the Chesapeake Bay's most famous lights embroidered on it. Lorna and I were very happy to be in the "winner's" category.

Bob

Susan Hannum did a very nice job on that stocking. A few of the cross-stitchers present gave her an A+ on it! And it was such a nice gesture for her to have made it available at the reunion.

If Susan reads this: Thank you very much for handcrafting this wonderful Christmas stocking. It will be filled with a lifetime of small gifts and a memory of days gone by. It was very generous of you to donate your work of art to the raffle. We'll treasure it always.

Bob & Lorna

I'm now the proud owner of a genuine Ecuador-made Panama hat!

Bill was quite pleased to see me wearing it not only all the way through BWI, but on the entire flight to Atlanta!!

Bob,

I will be sure Susan gets the word. She does do an excellent job - the fur around the top of the stocking is the real thing. When she decided to make the stocking, we tried to decide which lights might be most appropriate, and decided on Hooper (duh), Seven Foot, and Bill's personal favorite, Thomas Point. When we were in CA on spring break, Susan delivered the stocking to Maureen. From what I gather, the stocking was in jeopardy of not making it to Baltimore if Maureen left it out at HL HQ.

Come Christmas time, maybe you can take a pic of the stocking as you display it and send it to Susan - she would really enjoy it.

Dave

I believe I saw that Panama Hat at the airport also!

Cam won the OE Thomas Point, but we didn't keep it long. While we visited our daughter in San Jose, CA, we presented it to our middle daughter's 4th grade class. I chatted about lighthouses for a few minutes and left them searching for the seahorse.

Rich

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Way to go, Rich.

Spread the word while they're young. You'll hook them early and we'll have another generation to help preserve lighthouses for their children, just as we are working to preserve them for ours.

John

I din't "win" anything at this reunion, but I can't complain as I did pretty well at the previous ones. But I did walk away with the two signed hardhats from the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society -- something I really wanted, but I was surprised that I got both of them as an early Christmas gift. But the real "win" was being at the reunion.
Linda

I was the proud winner of the "Authentic Lighthouse Bulb from the Cabo Busto Lighthouse in Spain." I remember seeing it earlier in the weekend on display with all the other prizes and thinking how great it would be if I could win it. When they called my name, I was stunned. I just couldn't believe I had won. The bulb was still available, so I stumbled up to the table and picked it up without even having to think about whatever else was still there. I was very careful, though, I didn't want to drop it and break it after Nancy Younger had brought it back all the way from Spain. Paul Brady was nice enough to take my picture holding it and then I walked back to my table. My tablemates (Hi Rhonda) were kind enough to take a few pictures of me, as well. After I placed it carefully down, I noticed that my hands were shaking. I guess that shows how thrilled I was. I've fulfilled my dream of having a piece of an actual lighthouse. My husband is going to build some kind of stand so that I can display it. I've been trying since to find out something about the lighthouse that held my bulb, but so far no luck. If anyone knows anything about it please let me know.

This you Laurie?



Paul Brady Photo.

Yep, that's me. You can see I'm clutching the bulb with both hands.

I didn't win anything, but just being at the reunion was a real "HIGH."
We were treated royally by the Youngers and I was totally impressed.
JoanieO

My wife won the framed picture of the Mark Sherman prints. Paul was extremely happy because it was another member of our Hoosier Lighthousing club that was fortunate enough to have their name drawn.
Paul...what exactly is this and are there anymore like it? It is 12 Mark Sherman prints.
Dave

Brittany won eddystone , and Colleen won an OE Thomas Point at dinner . I won a CH2 on the opportunity drawing. I would have to say that we were one lucky family.

We will never forget the 2001 Reunion. Many thanks to the Younger Family, the HL crew, and the many dedicated Wackos and others who gave of thier time to make it a great event for all.

Lonnie, Colleen, and Brittany

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