We left home last Sunday morning at 8:45 and after stopping at the BK Lounge for a quick breakfast we hit the NYS Thruway at 9:30. It was quite foggy and as we traveled east the fog turned to rain, then heavy rain. Hmm, I kept thinking, “It’s going to be fine after a while.” Once we passed the Amsterdam exit, sure enough the rain stopped and the skies started clearing. Once we started heading south it got even better.
We arrived at Lighthouse Park just a bit south of Port Ewen, NY about 12:45 plenty early for the 2pm ceremony! This was fine though as it gave us time to socialize with some of the SELC folks and take a few pictures. The “dignitaries” were enjoying a tour of the lighthouse.
Here’s one of the lighthouse from the park. The little island to the left of the lighthouse is man-made and was the site of the first Esopus Meadows Lighthouse (1839).
http://a8.cpimg.com/image/A8/70/13074088-7af6-028001E0-.jpg As you can see the milfoil is growing from the shoreline practically all the way out to the
lighthouse. This area, being so shallow is the “Meadows”, hence the name Esopus Meadows. When the water level of the Hudson was lower the area was a meadow but not now. This shallow area is why the lighthouse is there, to warn folks. I suppose the pesky weeds would be a further inducement to stay clear.
This photo’s for John, who says I never get in any of them. I.O. did ok with the camera.
http://a1.cpimg.com/image/79/6F/13074041-ec22-028001E0-.jpg The SELC folks had tables set up with their wares, also a membership table.
http://a3.cpimg.com/image/A3/70/13074083-323d-028001E0-.jpg Seating appeared to be BYO with a tent provided, also light refreshments. Now supposedly these dignitaries were to partake before us common folk but after a bit it was every man and woman for themselves, especially in the drinks department as by now it was downright hot!
http://a2.cpimg.com/image/5C/6E/13074012-61a1-028001E0-.jpg When I decided to purchase Jim Crowley’s book “Lighthouses of New York” I was told that there was someone present who would sign it for me.
Here we are, Mombo and Stan Fletcher the last keeper of the Esopus Meadows Lighthouse!
http://a0.cpimg.com/image/82/6F/13074050-1c8f-028001E0-.jpg (Now you can see why I try staying out of the pictures!) Mr. Fletcher served at the lighthouse for 21 months immediately before it’s closing in 1965. He rattled off a list of other lighthouses where he’d been but right now the only two I remember are White Shoals (he’s originally from Michigan) and Execution Rock. He said that White Shoals began to tilt after a while as the water started eating away at the foundation but that
Execution Rock with all those huge rocks would be there forever.
(More to follow)
