lSLAND JOURNAL VOLUME 13: Another outstanding annual issue of the Journal. This issue does not have any special articles on lighthouses. However, there are a number of features that should be of interest to those who enjoy this beautiful state of Maine. There is an outstanding article entitled "Our Harbors, Ourselves" descsribing the fisheries in the early 1900's. A companion article on the Great Machias Bay Codfish Run. All in all this is just first class work. Cost $14.95 plus 2.00 p & h.
TWILIGHT ON THE LIGHTHOUSES: By Jim Gibbs: A magnificent hard cover book of 152 pages on the lighthouses of the Pacific coast. There are a number of color photos plus old and rare black and white ones. The forward and the epilogue of the book are especially noteworthy. The author presents a comprehensive history of the aids to navigation from early days to the present sophisticated methods in use today. There is a series of drawings of older equipment that is truly noteworthy and rarely seen in one chapter of any work I have seen. The epilogue has been written extremely well and obviously with deep concern by the author. The final paragraph is quoted in its entirety: "The world is getting overpopulated, but heaven beckons the saved to a place where an eternal lighthouse displays the greatest beacon of all, a light which cannot be extinguished." Cost $29.95 plus $2.00 p & h.
MARBLEHEAD LIGHTHOUSE: LAKE ERIE'S ETERNAL FLAME: By Betty Neidecker: Nicely done new book on the Marblehead Lighthouse. A number of archival photographs as well as modern ones. The author notes in her preface that probably no site in Ohio has been photographed or painted by artists more than the Marblehead Lighthouse yet little has been written about it. The names and lives of the hard-working and often heroic keepers have been all but lost between the pages of history. There is a fascinating chapter on the Keeper's Log. The overall policy of keeping the log is explained and selected log entries are printed from period 1873 to 1903. Some interesting ones: "September 10-1873 - IMPORTANT EVENT. This day I do not work for Uncle Sam. The only important event which transpired today was the birth of a daughter weighing 8 pounds at 2:00 p.m." "June 7, 1895, Rose, the cow died today." Many of the logs I have seen have similar entries. Most of handwriting is well done and legible. Soft cover of 100 pages which includes an index and bibliography. Cost $16.95 plus $1.50 p & h.
LIGHTHOUSE VICTUALS & VERSE: By Elinor De Wire: Another new one by Elinore De Wire! The work starts off with a number of favorite recipes of Lighthouse people. Interesting names such as: Miah Maull Shoal Clam Chowder which of course is made with tomatoes; Connie Small's pie crust and apple pie; Nearly-out-of-provisions Stew; Rose Hips Jam; Quoddy Quahog Stew and others. The remaining section of the book is Lighthouse Poetry & Prose by Masters & Amateurs. That section if full of gems and copies of many of the articles and features that Elinor has done in the past. Truly worthwhile book for lighthouse lovers of all ages and interests. Cost $14.95 plus S1.50 p & h.
THE LIGHTHOUSE ACTIVITY BOOK: By Elinor De Wire A charming new work by Elinor! Aimed at kids from 5 to 12. However, I am sure that adult Lighthouse buffs will enjoy it too. There are stories about cats, dogs, flying cows, seagulls, ghosts, etc. On the serious side, information about the Army of Two at Scituate, Life at Lighthouses, and a few technical things about lighthouses and light keepers. All in all a great and interesting magazine type book. I anticipate that there will be a great demand for copies. Soft Cover, 84 pages, cost $14.00 plus $1.25 p & h.
LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S SCRAPBOOK: by Elinor De Wire: This is a scrapbook made up with copies of articles Elinor has had published in a number of magazines throughout the years. Included are excerpts from Elinor De Wire's articles in her 1988 to 1995 column, "Whale Oil and Wicks," which were published in the NOAA excellent magazine Mariner's Weather Log. The book is dedicated to Richard DeAngelis, Editor of that magazine. Unfortunately the Weather Log had been suspended due to economy reasons. On the bright side, it has been re-funded and is now being published again. Cost $15.95 plus $1.75 p & h.
U.S. LIFESAVING SERVICE: HEROES, RESCUES, AND EARLY ARCHITECTURE OF THE EARLY COAST GUARD: By Ralph Shanks, Wick York and Lisa Woo Shanks: New book by the noted maritime historians is now on hand. There are over 400 illustrations covering almost every U.S. Lifesaving Station. There are 262 large format pages and a set of nine maps showing every lifesaving station in the country. Like Lighthouses, the heritage of our Lifesavers is becoming more and more popular with the public. The book comes in both hard and soft cover. Cost for soft cover is $21.95 and $34.95 for the hard cover. P & h is $2.25.
MAINE LIGHTHOUSES - A PICTORIAL GUIDE: by Courtney Thompson. An absolutely outstanding new work on the Lighthouses of Maine. Includes Campobello Lights and sone of New Hampshire. Color photos of all the lights and many have multiple photos all of which are truly outstanding. There are maps for each light with directions for each, plus a brief history. The state is divided into eight different areas with a general photo of the location of each light in that area. There are 216 outstanding photographs of lighthouses. I counted them! An appendix lists each light showing the general description, characteristic, height above uater and the distance visible. 128 pages. Both soft and hard cover. Soft cover $19.95 and hard cover $24.95 plus $2.00 p & h. DON 'T MISS THIS ONE!
MORE BEAUTIFUL LIGHTHOUSES - A PICTORIAL GUIDE, By John Spatuzzi: This one will be ready November 15. 1996. John Spatuzzi has come up with a winner with this booklet. It is the same format as his Beautiful Lighthouse Booklet. This one contains 312 color photographs. Each one is labeled and contains a very brief comment or description. It does not give directions on how to get to any of the lighthouses. The booklet does not have ALL the lighthouses in the United States however, has photos of selected lights of both Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, the Great Lakes, Hawaii and Alaska. Contains 64 pages and includes an index. I have reviewed the draft copy. It will be a great stocking stuffer! Cost $7.95 plus $1.50 p & h.
THE KEEPERS OF RACE ROCKS (CANADA): By Colin Lamont: This excellent feature appeared in the magazine This Country Canada. Lorraine Collett of British CoLumbia played telephone tag for almost a month and still not have made contact. However Lorraine arranged for 24 copies of the magazine to be sent to the Museum to offer to our lighthouse people. Incidentally, I was out of town off and on and now Lorraine is away so we still have not made contact. The feature is 10 pages long with a number of excellent photos of the light and the keepers. Race Rock is located at the southwest approaches to the Juan De Fuca Straight off Vancouver Island. Race Rocks were named in 1842 by officials of the Hudson's Bay Company who christened the barren group of islands for its violent tides. This dangerous group is appropriately named for the tide makes a perfect race around it. The future of Keepers at Race Rocks is uncertain. The Canadian Department of Transportation plans to automate Race Rocks Light March 1, 1997. There is considerable political objection by the people of British Columbia on those plans. 24 copies of this magazine are available at $5.00 pp. Thanks to Lorraine for her help.