The New England Harbour Lights Collectors' Club is now an established fact, with 3l members attending the organizational meeting, and several more who were unable to attend interested in joining, bringing our projected membership near 40. A charter membership designation is available until the end of l998. Members now belong from 5 of the 6 NE states --only RI hasn't made itself known to us. The necessary steps in organizing a club were carried out, including an election: Chairperson, alias ladylightkeeper, is Barbara Hupp; the treasurer, alias foghornkeeper, is Henry Hupp; and secretary or Keeper of the Log is Penny Miller. A contest was held to see how many members could identify NE lights, and top- ranking scorers received prizes. Harbour Lights and other dealers and benefactors were most generous in sendng items for door prizes and raffles (everyone went home with a prize); and 3 lighthouses, including a Point Arena, were raffled off, to raise over $200 to start off the club's lighthouse preservation fund. There were a dozen display boards to look at, ranging from photos from the RI reunion, to HL products, club news; recommended lights websites, and a travel board highlighting the various lighthouse tours, harbor cruise, photogrpahy opportunities, and dinner meeting with speaker, which are scheduled as the club's first outing for the weekend of June 4-6, l999. A meeting is tentatively scheduled for CT in April and the Boston area for Nov. l999. There were many items for members to take with them relating to lighthouses, preservation funds, dealer cards, travel literature, and even brochures describing the newest in digital cameras for those who wish to put photos directly onto their computers. The speaker, Kevin Arsenault, former Matinicus Rock and Whitehead lightkeeper, kept our interest peaked with his true stories of seeing glowing lights atop the tower with no lantern room on Matinicus -- no shiny metal to reflect light and a dark cloudy night, with no moon to provide light. He said several lighthouses have the reputation for being haunted, and most were connected to lightkeepers who did not want to retire and leave their post, one even committting suicide.The lights here and the mysterious door that wouldn't stay shut at Whitehead were never able to be explained to anyone's satisfaction. A report was given by member Ron Foster on a newly- reported restoration project, of Avery Point in Groton, CT, which was built as a monument to lightkeepers themselves. The Lighthouse Depot through its preservation foundation has targeted this monument for possible restoration. And finally member Jeremy D'Entremont, archivist for the PBS TV station in Boston, gave a short report on how he will be setting up the club's own website and putting the news bulletin on-line, as most members have access. Members were asked to pass on the word about the club and all its exciting plans for the future to potential members, either HL collectors or anyone who just likes lighthouses. Our goal is threefold: to foster our lighthouse collecting hobby; to learn more about our lighthouse and maritime heritage through speakers and outings; and to raise funds to donate to preservation efforts. We all extend an invitation to any collector or enthusiast out in web-land to join this new 6 state club. Please contact Barbara at her winter phone (60l) 534-6522 starting late Nov. as her e-mail webtv address in NH will be turned off until spring. Keep the Flame!
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[This message has been edited by ladylightkeeper (edited 11-10-98).]
