Sable Points Lighthouse Keep er s A ssociat i on Sable Points Beacon Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Spring 2013 Inside thi s is s ue : Big Sable Point Seawall Extension Is Complete! The much-anticipated seawall extension project at Big Sable Point began in October with the hiring of local contractors from Twin Lake. The project s total cost was $154,000, substantially lower than the original estimate for $200,000! The contractors completed their work in December and the seawall is now safe for future generations of Lighthouse visitors and it looks simply wonderful. Its long-term projects like these that help us to remember that if we can be patient, all of our preservation projects will be seen through to fruition. Thank you to our members, keepers and donors for your years of support, and we hope you are able to see the beautiful addition this year! President Greetings 2 News From Director 3 Discovering WRLS 4 LSP Historic Marker 5 BSP Featured Light 5 Honor Donations 5 BSP Brick Found 6 Wood Window Repair 6 LSP West HSR MI Festival Bidder 68 Keepers Storms & Log Sand 79 New Board Members 10 Craft Items 11 WRLS MLAP 11 Festival Activities 11 Meet the Staff 12-14 Annual Meeting 13 New Email 13 Sunset Cruise 15 USLHS 16 Nights at the Lights 17 Holidays at the Lights 17 Photos courtesy of Jim Nordlund, Jr.
Pa ge 2 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Greetings from the President Dear SPLKA Member and Friends; Preservation of historical structures is an on-going task just like the maintenance and repair we do on our homes. As an Association we have some major maintenance and restoration work that needs to be completed over the next several years so that we can continue to fulfill our mission of preserving our lights. At the October Board of Directors meeting we heard a report from Blair Bates of Building Restoration Inc. Blair has done a thorough assessment of the brick at our three lights with brick exteriors as well as looking at the steel cladding on the tower at BSP. This past July Mr. Bates rappelled down the sides of our towers with a camera, taking pictures of rust spots and gaps in the mortar. The results of his report indicate that we have some work to do to continue to preserve these historical structures. He is recommending that we repair the rust holes in the steel cladding on the BSP tower (this is of immediate concern); seal open joints on LSP and BSP towers, repair plaster on the interior of the towers at BSP and LSP. The brick on the house at BSP is in need of repair at various spots around the building. While we have found a brick that is acceptable for repair of the side of the house under the gift shop windows we have other locations that will also need to be repaired. The limestone window sills under the windows at BSP also need replacement. In addition to these repairs we need to repair the wood window frames on all the windows at BSP. Our Executive Director is seeking approval to schedule a wood window repair workshop at BSP for 2013. This workshop will provide training in the historically correct way to repair the weathered damaged window frames. We also will need to plan to repair the chimney at BSP and at WRLS. Just like our homes there is always something that needs attention. The estimated cost of these repairs exceeds $150,000. The Board of Directors will be focusing efforts on fund raising in 2013 to begin raising funds needed to make these repairs. If you would like to make a donation to SPLKA to help with these projects we would be grateful! Sincerely; Lenore Janman, President SPLKA Board of Directors Board of Directors Lenore Janman, President Robert Baltzer, Vice President Tammy Howell, Secretary Doug Buikema, Treasurer Ceil Heller, Director Dave Dietrick, Director Linda Hummel, Director John S. Truxell, Director Staff Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema, Executive Director Leslie Griswold, WRLS Curator/Assistant Director Matt Varnum, Operations Manager Derrick Ebidon, Restoration/Maintenance Supervisor Patrick Miedema, Gift Shop Manager Shirley Mitchell, Bookkeeper Deborah Dyer, Office Manager
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 3 Spring News from the Director Spring has come to the lakeshore! With a passionate, organized and highly qualified staff on board, I m more excited than ever to open the lights this season. Our new staff will be working hard to get the chance to meet our many various Keeper groups, from the weekend Keepers at White River, Daykeepers at Little Sable (the Seekers group), and at the Breakwater Light (the Breakers group) residential Keepers onsite at Little Sable, the Breakwater and at Big Sable Point. We feel as though we have found the perfect candidates to run the departments of volunteer coordination, the gift shops, restoration and maintenance, and our newest lighthouse sister, the White River Lake Station. However, we understand it is challenging to work with a new staff, so we appreciate in advance your flexibility and understanding. Luckily, Matt Varnum, an LNBL Keeper as well as our 2012 Intern for Big Sable Point Lighthouse, has accepted the promotion to Operations Manager, so he has a good understanding of how the volunteer program works. He is eager to learn the ropes at Little Sable and White River this season, as he is already familiar with our Ludington lights. Another bit of good fortune came to SPLKA through the official hiring of Leslie Griswold, the 2012 Interim Coordinator for White River Light Station. Leslie also serves as our Assistant Director for the organization, assisting in grant work, marketing, event planning and rentals in addition to her duties as a full-time on-site curator for the Light Station and the liaison to our partners with Fruitland Township and the Friends of White River Light Station. Leslie is a joy to work with and has already provided an immense amount of administrative support. Due to this assistance, I am excited to have the opportunity this season to visit a different light and group of volunteers daily, while also working to touch base with our State Park and Municipal partners in each community along the shore. Derrick Ebidon did an impressive job of closing down the lights with a limited amount of training, but with the tutelage and support of our long-term Closing Crew of Keepers at each light. He is excited to meet our Keepers throughout the season and learn what skill sets are brought to the table with each new tour, for those who would like to assist in Restoration and Maintenance projects at the lights. Pat Miedema, our newest staff member, brings a lifetime of retail, marketing, mathematics and financial reporting to our four gift shops and he has many ideas for revenue generation. As is the case with all of our staff, he is also passionate about the preservation and promotion of our lights. Thanks to longtime Bookkeeper Shirley Mitchell and our Office Manager Debbie Dyer for their help in holding down the fort as we sought to build the ideal staff to move our organization into the future. In this edition, you ll find an introduction to each of your staff members as well as our two new board members, Linda Hummel of Ludington and John Truxell of White Lake. Linda is an active Keeper at all of our lights and John also serves as President of the Friends of White River Light Station. We welcome them both to the SPLKA Board of Directors! Your donations of time, funds and resources KEEP OUR LIGHTS SHINING, and you are the core of our organization. We, your SPLKA Staff and Board, are honored to serve the mission of our members and volunteers- the preservation, restoration, education and accessibility of our four lighthouses along a fiftyfive mile stretch of Lake Michigan shoreline. We sincerely appreciate your patience as we developed this much-expanded newsletter publication. While we know it s no excuse, sometimes we re so busy making news that it s difficult to find the time to report on all the exciting preservation projects taking place. This spring, we plan to implement a new Communications Plan which will allow for monthly e-news blasts from our Assistant Director (expect them sometime around the fourth week of the month) and semiannual hard-copy newsletters sent in the mail in the Spring and Fall. If you re not yet a friend of ours on Facebook, please connect with us there to get weekly updates on SPLKA and Michigan Maritime projects. We COULD NOT do this important work without YOU. Thank you! Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema, Splka Director
Pa ge 4 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Discovering the White River Light Station By Leslie Griswold Within three floors, and a winding tower, a visitor to the White River Light Station can discover over 200 artifacts covering a wide-array of White Lake and Great Lake history. The Great Lakes Maritime Museum collection is a broad spectrum of artifacts pertaining to Michigan s booming maritime shipping economy, and the services and tragedies that sprung from this demand. As a Michigander, one knows the story, and most likely the song, that tells of the mysterious disappearance of the Edmund Fitzgerald. On November 9, 1975 the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald set forth on their passage to Detroit from Lake Superior. On November 10 th, it s second day at sea, the Edmund Fitzgerald ran into a gale-force storm on the lake. The intensity of the storm was one of the first experienced Captain Ernest McSorley had ever faced. It did not take long for the storm to damage the Fitzgerald s radar. Without radar and trapped in the terrifying storm the Fitzgerald reached out to the nearest ship, the S.S. Arthur M. Anderson. This would be the last ever heard from the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald. Sometime between 7:10 and 7:30 the ship disappears, along with all of its 29-member crew. The greatest collection of artifacts from this tragic Michigan wreck lie in the Great Lakes Shipwreck museum at Whitefish Point, however one special piece is on display at the White River Light Station. A life ring from the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald was graciously donated by the Friends of the White River Light Station group and can be seen at the museum, forever reminding visitors of the danger lurking on our great lakes and memorializing the brave men and women who risked their lives to grow our state. Another interesting artifact on display at the White River Light Station is the Harden Start fireextinguishing grenade. Before modern fire-fighting equipment, firefighters used extremely basic tools to fight fires, buckets, and hoses that needed to feed directly from the lake. These rudimentary tools meant a much lower success rate in fighting the fires. In response, new technology began to evolve, and the fireextinguishing hand grenade was invented. The grenade got its name not because it was like a true grenade, in that it causes an explosion but in that it s shaped like a grenade. It is actually a small grenade shaped thin glass bottle. The glass was exceptionally thin so it would easily break when tossed into flames. The highly fragile grenades are extremely rare to find intact, because they were meant to be broken. The Harden Star Fire-Extinguishing grenade that rests in the White River Light Station was created around 1890 and remains intact, with the original salt water and brine solution. The most exceptional artifact on display at the Great Lakes Maritime Museum is the original 4 th order Fresnel lens. The Fresnel lens was created by Augustin Fresnel in Paris, France. The first Fresnel lenses were used in England, but quickly spread to lighthouses throughout the world. There are seven official orders, or sizes, of Fresnel lens. The 1 st order is the largest with the greatest distance of light refraction; from there the size decreases with the number order. The 7 th order Fresnel is the smallest and has the shortest light refraction distance. In the White River Light Station, the original 4 th order lens is on display on the second floor. These are just a few of the many artifacts on display at the Great Lakes Maritime Museum within the White River Light Station. The museum s artifacts, and the beautiful White River Light Station itself, remind visitors of a time gone by; the history of Michigan to be treasured and forever remembered.
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 5 LSP Historic Marker Language Authorized for Spring Installation The Little Sable Point historic marker language has been approved through the DNR. The staff is planning a ribbon-cutting ceremony to promote the light and thank the Seekers, along with the installation of the marker which we will announce in a monthly e-news blast once it has been decided. Please be sure your accurate email is on file with the SPLKA staff, or email splkaoperations@gmail.com to update to a new email address.. The marker will cost $3,300 and has been budgeted for the 2013 season, with partial funding provided by contributions from the Seekers. Special thanks to Marcia Martin and Chris VanAntwerp for their efforts to ensure the marker language was historically accurate. We have asked Carl & Mort Wiegand, Yvonne Kessler, & Claire Dennison to cut the ribbon in recognition of their work to save the LSP lighthouse. This will be a great celebration and we hope to see you all there. Big Sable Point Wins Featured Lighthouse of 2013! SPLKA attended the Annual Alpena Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, Oct 12th - 14th, with a booth run by volunteers and Board members. Each year the Festival runs a contest for a featured lighthouse for the next year s festival and this year, your staff and board led a campaign to get Big Sable elected to that great honor. Much to our excitement, our beloved Big Sable Point Lighthouse has won and will be the FEATURED Lighthouse of 2013! At the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, this news will help Big Sable to receive much more exposure and will give us additional opportunities to pitch our needed fund raising efforts towards preservation to restore our historic wooden windows, our beautiful brick and steel structure and many other facets of the building that need some TLC in the years to come. Thank you to our board members, SPLKA members and staff who were integrally involved in this first-time campaign to win a SPLKA light this honor. In addition to this nationally recognized award, the Stony Acres Winery will produce 200 bottles of special edition Big Sable Point Lighthouse wine for 2013. Big Sable will be featured on the festival's website, www.lighthousefestival.org, and also on the cover of the 2013 Great Lakes Lighthouse festival Program of Events, in Lighthouse Digest and the United States Lighthouse Society publication, the Keepers Log. Honor Envelope Donations Exceed Expectations for 2012 Visitors Throughout this past season, Debbie Dyer, our friendly and helpful Office Manager, has kept a record for each of our lights, regarding the honor system and our honor envelopes. SPLKA's mission in part is to make the lights as accessible as possible to the public, and part of adhering to that mission is offering all visitors an honor envelope if they have come to the light without cash. We are thrilled with the result of those honor envelopes. They come in year-round, always surprising the staff by containing more money than the bare minimum to climb. Not only do we see now that we earn good money back on this system, but the goodwill and good publicity that we receive from this simple act of trust and kindness has gone a long way with visitors. The final breakdown for the year s take from honor envelopes is as follows: LSP received $166.50, BSP received $838, and LNBL received $1,222! Donations which did not identify a designated light totaled $170.00. Please remember to offer this option to visitors who didn t bring their wallets with them to the light. The good PR goes a long way for SPLKA! :) 2012 Attendance Totals Total Climbs 75,602 Big Sable Point Closed Sept-Oct 17,309 N. Breakwater 16,594 Little Sable Point 34,869 White River Light 5,632 Total Unpaid 1,198
Pa ge 6 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Big Sable Brick Found at Colonial Brick in Chicago After a year s searching for the proper type of brick to match the building s needs at Big Sable, Board treasurer Doug Buikema and Cindy Beth tracked down a good source at a great price. The Ludington State Park manager Jim Gallie was kind enough to allow us to store these bricks in the driveway of the LNBL keeper s quarters over the winter, when our brick workshop takes place in May. Derrick Ebidon, our new Restoration and Maintenance Supervisor, worked with Doug Buikema and Cindy Beth to get the bricks delivered and used commercial shipping shrink wrap for containers to wrap both pallets of bricks to protect them over the winter. He also purchased a large tarp, rope and fasteners which were put over the shrink wrapping to further protect this rare and valuable supply of bricks from the wintery elements. We hope you will see the fruits of this labor of historic preservation this season! Visit our website to read an interesting article on Historic Mortar from our contractor and historic mason, Blair Bates. Partnership with MHPN and SPLKA for Wood Window Repair Leslie Griswold and her team of grantwriting classmates at GVSU worked with Cindy Beth and the MHPN to write a grant for the $2,000 needed to host a two-day workshop to train tradespeople on wooden window repair at Big Sable in 2013. The two-day workshop has already been budgeted for Big Sable in 2013, but in the meantime, Leslie and Cindy Beth have also applied for a full two-week workshop grant which would provide $30,000 in wooden window repair and would save the $2,000 already budgeted for use on another preservation project. If not chosen for this grant, the twoday window workshop will still be scheduled for the fall. SPLKA would then host a twoday workshop that teaches local, skilled tradespeople the handson experience of wood window restoration while rebuilding BSP s windows in the process. Big Sable has over forty windows that are in need of some sort of attention or restoration. SPLKA and MHPN encourages our volunteers and other contractors to attend this exciting workshop and learn a valuable and dying trade, the craft of historic wooden window restoration. Little Sable Point HSR Bidder Chosen to Complete Project SPLKA will complete a Historic Office of our choice, Sanders and work and we will have until the Structures Report on the Little Czapski of Marquette, to end of 2013 to complete the Sable Point Light as part of the perform the work on the historic project which should give us Michigan Lighthouse Assistance Program grant. On September 10, Cindy Beth submitted our structures report at Little Sable Point Lighthouse. Cindy Beth works weekly with the staff at plenty of time. If for some reason there continues to be a hold up in the selection of our architectural solicitation letter the state historic office to inquire bidding choice, we can always and list of selected bidders to SHPO for review. At this time, we are still awaiting approval of our selected bidder from the State Historic Preservation about the timeline for this project and they are currently awaiting approval from their boss as well. As soon as our bidder is selected, we may begin request that the grant be extended. We hope for a speedy restoration as we are all eager to dive into the history of LSP!
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 7 Keepers Log: Mouth Cemetery, by Gayle & Bob Turnwold A visit to the White River Light Station would not be complete without a day trip to the Mouth Cemetery where the original Lighthouse Keeper, William Robinson and his wife, Sarah, are interred. On a recent visit to the area my husband and I did just that. Our search for the Mouth Cemetery took us down many roads, one of which finally led us in the right direction. As we traveled down the winding road we bumped along dodging deep ruts; passing through thick groves of trees, the road become shadowed with the late afternoon light. A make-shift sign of old wooden poles supporting a weathered plaque engraved with the official cemetery hours stands sentry at the entrance. The cemetery sets atop a slight incline, enclosed within a rickety gated steal fence topped with finials and surrounded by towering maples and oaks, an eerie essence of another time envelopes you. Ghostly creaking as you pass through the gate and shivers down your spine. And as you wander through the cemetery reading the scarred and broken grave markers in search of William Robinson s grave site you can almost hear the faint echoes of ghostly whispers. Walking through the neglected cemetery you notice the fallen tree branches still laying atop the broken fence where they fell. In one area, a great tree impaled with a spiked finial remains as evidence of the violent storm that ravaged it. At last you come upon the marker you seek, that of William Robinson, noted lighthouse keeper at White River Station for thirty-three years. Set within a private fenced area, the marker is unadorned, but sturdy. Although simple, it speaks of the man himself: dedicated and trust worthy. Next to Photo courtesy of Carol Buikema it sets the marker of his beloved wife, Sarah. Certainly the grandeur of the two, your eyes are naturally drawn to it as the markers surrounding it are dwarfed by its height. When William Robinson was forced to retire in 1919, due to age, from his duties at the White River Light Station, he was heartbroken. Only four keepers followed in his footsteps, the next being his eldest grandson, William Bush. When his grandson took over William Robinson stayed on in the hopes of assisting. However, when his superiors discovered he remained on the premise they gave him a deadline by which he needed to leave. Vowing he would never desert his post at the lighthouse, William Robinson retired to his bed the night before he was to be displaced, never to awaken. Although his physical presence is longsince gone, legend says his spirit remains at the lighthouse. In later years William Robinson walked with a cane, and to this date, late into the night the faint tapping on a cane and whispering footsteps can sometimes be heard in the museum above the living quarters. Could this be William Robinson going about his duties, still watching over the channel? Depends on what you believe. In honor of his many years of service at White River Light Station, his funeral service was held at the lighthouse. William Robinson loved the lighthouse and the surrounding area and requested he be buried overlooking the cannel he watched over for so many years: last stop the Mouth Cemetery, in Montague, MI. Some sunny day when you are seeking a historical adventure, visit White River Light Station with its Maritime Museum. Don t forget to treat yourself to a visit at the Mouth Cemetery, you ll be glad you did!
Pa ge 8 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Seeking Volunteers for West Michigan Lighthouse Festival, June 1-2 Would you like to help over the 2nd Annual West the Keepers already onsite over the Festival) Michigan s Lighthouse festival? If you are looking for ways to be involved in this exciting new annual event, we d love to have your Please email Tammy Howell, Board Secretary help! Tammy Howell, Volunteer Liaison for the at: tamara_64@msn.com if you are willing to festival, is seeking volunteers to act as the pointperson for Big Sable and White River Light for or if you d like to coordinate as the point person for volunteer for a four-hour shift over the weekend, the West Michigan Lighthouse Festival, scheduled one of these two lights. We re seeking local for June 1-2, 2013. One person per light is needed assistance from the Seekers and Breakers (day to coordinate over the course of the weekend, and keeping groups) to help at LNBL and Little Sable. their responsibilities would include setting up their own team of 2-4 volunteers (acting to support Michigan s 2 nd West Coast Lighthouse Festival Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, 2013 Muskegon to Manistee, MICHIGAN Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) invites you to attend their 2 nd Annual Michigan s West Coast Lighthouse Festival, held annually the first weekend of June, Saturday and Sunday, June 1-2, 2013. SPLKA is a nonprofit that seeks to preserve, promote, educate the public and make their four lighthouses more accessible to visitors. Over the course of this weekend, festivalgoers can tour and climb six lighthouses along 90 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, including the only annual openings of the Muskegon South Pierhead Light, and the Manistee Pierhead Light. In addition to these rarely open lighthouses, visitors will not want to miss the storybook charm of the White River Light Station, the rolling sand dunes where Little Sable Point resides, the stout four stories of the Ludington North Breakwater, and the Queen of the North, Big Sable Point Lighthouse, which has recently been honored with the 2013 Featured Lighthouse of the Year for the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival. The sable sister lights are two of the tallest in the state of Michigan, with both towers standing over one hundred feet tall! At the lights, enjoy live music from Ted Malt and his brass band or the Michigan folk-duo, Max and Ruth Bloomquist, an original theatre performance based upon the real life of Michigan s last female Lighthouse Keeper, Francis Marshall by local actress and playwright Anesa Beilfuss, take in history, free lighthouse coloring books and children s activities, and an ice cream social at the Breakwater pier in Ludington. Stop off along coastline towns for maritime-themed artisan craft shows at the Ludington Area Center for the Arts, author signings by the Trumans, writers of the Big Sable Point book STORMS AND SAND. Participate in the Chalk Art Day and Concert at the Little Sable Point Pathway to Illumination or view the historic Big Sable Point Fresnel lenses for free at the Historic White Pine Village. Pick up a children's Passport to Culture and have them get them stamped at participating venues Sandcastles Children's Museum, White Pine Village and the Mason County library for lighthouse themed entertainment and activities. Once the passport has been filled at these partner venues, children receive a free climb to the top of a SPLKA lighthouse tower. Admission charged ($1-$4) for tower climbs, museum entrance and cruise, but warm family memories offered free of charge (231/845-7417; splka.org).
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 9 Storms & Sand A Story of Shipwrecks and the Big Sable Point Coast Guard Station Great Lakes maritime history encompasses epic stories of heroic rescues, tragic losses, and changing times. Storms & Sand is a glimpse into the world of the brave men of the Big Sable Point, Michigan, U.S. Life-Saving Service/U.S. Coast Guard station. The station was located on land that is now part of Ludington State Park. Storms & Sand presents the history of the station, including the sacrifices by the lifesavers and Coast Guardsmen, and their courageous struggles in rescuing Lake Michigan shipwreck victims. Storms & Sand also chronicles lesser-known events in the lives of the men, their families, and the Big Sable Point Lighthouse keepers. Storms and Sand is an authoritatively researched and engagingly written study of a critical Lake Michigan life-saving station. This is an important contribution to Great Lakes maritime history. Dr. Matthew Daley, Associate Professor, Department of History, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, Michigan I thoroughly enjoyed my review of Storms & Sand. It is a wonderful and readable rendering of the life and times, and vital role, of the USLSS/USCG on the Great Lakes. Kenneth R. Pott, Director, Tri-Cities Historical Museum, Grand Haven, Michigan Storms & Sand: A Story of Shipwrecks and the Big Sable Point Coast Guard Station is a hardcover book with sewn binding. It has 208 pages with 69 photos and illustrations. During the Lighthouse Festival on Saturday, June 1, 10am-4pm, you can visit Steve, Grace and Joel Truman at the Maritime Artisan Craft Fair at the Ludington Arts Center, where they'll be signing books onsite. S p e c i a l O f f e r f o r S P L K A M e m b e r s Storms and Sand: A Story of Shipwrecks and the Big Sable Point Coast Guard Station 25% of proceeds go to SPLKA! So make sure to specify SPLKA! SPLKA members receive free shipping and Pine Woods Press will pay the Michigan sales tax. Quantity: Total: Name by Steve and Grace Truman, lifetime members of SPLKA since 1996, and their son Joel Address City, State, Zip Code To order, please clearly print your name and address on the shipping label below and remit with a check for $29.95 for each book. Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association SPLKA P.O. Box 673 Ludington, MI 49431 Phone: 231-845-7417 Email: splkadirector@gmail.com www.splka.org
Pa ge 10 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Meet your New Board Members Linda Hummel, LPC was born in Toledo, but at the age of three her family moved to Newaygo where she attended the South Garfield one -room schoolhouse through elementary, walking a mile and a half each way. She joined the Air Force following graduation, serving in San Antonio, Denver, Des Moines, and Chicago. Using the GI Bill she attended CMU for her teaching degree, and later pursued a special education masters at GVSU and counseling masters and licensure at MSU. Following a 30 year career in education, Linda retired in 2008 and moved to Ludington. Her son s family of 4 grand children, live nearby in Fremont and her daughter lives in San Francisco. Linda is very active in the Ludington community as an Art Center and Memorial Medical Hospital volunteer and also as a member of the American Legion Post. As a child, Linda often visited Stearns Park with her grandparents, but later camped at the Ludington State Park with close family friends. Visiting Big Sable during these campouts, she finally picked up a lighthouse volunteer brochure and began her first keeper assignment at BSP in 2007, while also overseeing four days at NBL when it initially opened. She has served an additional week at NBL and LSP, and she currently subs as a NBL Breaker, working evening events at both BSP and NBL, and has assisted with clerical duties in the office, painting NBL, and merchandise ordering/inventory/distribution. Linda s hobbies include flower gardening, crocheting, knitting, walking, biking, and golf. Her newest activity is snow shoeing, since she just completed making her own set through the Ludington State Park program. John Truxell, born in Detroit, Michigan and moved to Grand Rapids at an early age. He graduated from East Grand Rapids High School, spent four years in the Navy, returned, and then graduated from Western Michigan University. His career was spent with General Motors Corporation in Sales and Marketing. He lived in South Africa for six years and spent many years travelling internationally before retiring. John has been happily married to his wife, Nancy, for 37 years. John has been involved in many civic and service organizations since retiring including Boy Scouts, Project 2000 Plus, Montague City Council, White Lake Historical Society, Lake Watch, Celebrate White Lake, Milwaukee Clipper Preservation Association, Lake Michigan Federation, White Lake Association, Rotary International, Eagles, and Friends of the White River Light Station. Besides his interest in the White River Light and visiting other lights around the world, he enjoys boating, trap and pistol shooting, hunting, reading, travel, and keeping up a fitness regime.
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 11 Attention all Volunteers with Craft Skills The 2013 West Michigan Lighthouse Festival will again feature a Craft Fair at the Ludington Center for the Arts on Saturday, June 1st. This year SPLKA will have a 'craft table' set-up in our office area, featuring a variety of items that have been made by our Lighthouse Volunteers and Membership. This will be a fundraising contribution to SPLKA. Please consider contributing some of the wonderful items that you like to create. All items should have a small card attached with a suggested price, any necessary details about the item, your first name, and the city and state that you are from. We will have a drop-off container at the office for your donations or they may be mailed to the SPLKA office at SPLKA, PO Box 673, Ludington, MI 49431. All items should be received by May 20th. Linda Hummel will be overseeing this event and she would love to receive an advanced email from you letting her know what you are planning to prepare and submit, along with your phone number and address koalalinda1950@yahoo.com. I know we have a lot of crafty volunteers out there, so let's all pitch in and make this a fantastic fundraiser. Anyone who is interested in helping to set up the tables and oversee the sales are also encouraged to contact Linda. White River Light Station-(WRLS) and MLAP Grant Updates Our Keepers served at the WRLS September through the beginning of January, when our new Curator Leslie Griswold moved onsite. In the winter of 2013, Leslie began assisting in grant facilitation and marketing, working on an annual maintenance plan for the light and grounds, developing a plan for new exhibit themes for the museum in 2014. Over the summer, with the help of a CMU museum studies intern, she will begin tackling the immense task of creating an accurate photographic artifact inventory. Leslie has also worked with Cindy Beth, Fruitland Township and the SHPO grantwriting team on the WRLS grant for exterior repainting at WRLS. This work is expected to take place in late summer of 2013. Keepers onsite at WRLS this fall discovered a flooding issue due to high rains at the base of the tower, and SPLKA staff has worked steadfastly with the township on determining the source and fixing the problem. So far it has been a dry spring. At-a-Glance Lighthouse Festival Special Event Schedule Saturday, June 1st BSP 11am Ted Malt: Brass Band LNBL 4pm Ted Malt: Brass Band LSP 11am Anesa Beilfuss: Lady of the Lights Monologue Sunday, June 2nd BSP 4pm Anesa Beilfuss: Lady of the Lights Monologue LNBL 11 am Anesa Beilfuss: Lady of the Lights Monologue LSP 4 pm Ruth & Max Bloomquist: Folk Music Artists WRLS 4pm Anesa Beilfuss: Lady of the Lights WRLS 11am Ruth & Max Bloomquist: Folk Music Artists Monologue
Pa ge 12 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Meet the SPLKA Staff: Cindy Beth, Executive Director Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema I am coming into my third season as the Executive Director for SPLKA. A graduate of Hart High School, Muskegon Community College and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, I have a self-designed Bachelor of Arts degree in Cultural Literature and Performing Arts. Having previously served as the Playhouse Manager for the Historic Howmet Playhouse in Whitehall, I possess strong passions for and a background in historic preservation, nonprofit management and arts education. I enjoy camping, hiking and lighthouse hunting with my husband and hound, traveling, gardening, teaching and practicing yoga in my spare time. Words to live by: Spread love everywhere you go, let no one ever come to you without being happier. - Mother Theresa Debbie Dyer, Office Manager Debbie Dyer has served as Office Manager for SPLKA since February 2011. She began with our organization through Experience Works, which is a federally-funded that helps those 55 years and older, find employment and learn new skill sets. In September 2012, Debbie was hired officially by SPLKA and we are thrilled to have her on board! She loves being a part of SPLKA and enjoys working with the wonderful staff, board and volunteers. During her free time, she can be found spending time with friends and family. During the summer months, she likes to spend as much time as possible enjoying one of our beautiful beaches, lighthouses, walking her faithful canine companion, Suzzee, or just sitting around a bonfire with friends. She also loves watching sports and is a faithful Michigan State fan. Debbie is grateful to SPLKA for allowing her to be a part of such a fantastic organization and encourages our members to always "Keep Those Lights Shining." Derrick Ebidon, Restoration and Maintenance Supervisor Hi members, I am Derrick Ebidon, Maintenance and Restoration Manager who joined SPLKA last fall. I am an Electrician by trade, but have been involved in all phases of maintenance for many years, both in industry and residential. I have a great passion for our lights and look forward to working with the membership to preserve and restore them to the best of our ability for generations to come.
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 13 Shirley Mitchell, Book Keeper My involvement with the lighthouses began in November, 2002, six months after moving to Ludington from Maumee, OH, when Bill and I attended the signingover ceremony at the State Park of BSP to the care of our keepers association. We were lighthouse keepers the following Spring and shortly thereafter I was asked to go on the Board as Treasurer. I have been keeping track of the expenses and income ever since. We have two grown married sons, a computer engineer living in Joplin, MO, and an architect living in a Chicago suburb. The latter is the father of our two granddaughters. In addition to working with SPLKA, I am currently teaching Statistics at West Shore Community College. Sam Leaving Gift Shop Manager Position Samantha Dains got married to Morgan Stutler on Oct 13th, pictures and video at stutlerdainswedding.wordpress.com. I have been with SPLKA since 2004 and have since graduated from Grand Valley State University with my Bachelors in Art. Because of these large life changes and changes taking place in SPLKA itself as we have grown and taken on White River, I ve had to make the hard decision that I can no longer continue my role as Gift Shop Manager. I have loved my time with SPLKA, and treasure the time I spent working at Big Sable through out my college years. I now hope to began pursuing my art career in Illustration, images of my current work are on my website for those interested, dainss.carbonmade.com. I hope to still see many of you as the lighthouses aren't leaving my life completely as I will be joining SPLKA as a member. So to all the volunteers I have worked with over the years, I ll miss you, but hopefully I'll see you at the annual meeting or Lighthouse Festival. We re in the Clouds with New Staff Gmail Accounts Gmail allows our staff to quickly and easily share files through cloud technology. Contact us here! Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema splkadirector@gmail.com Leslie Griswold whiteriverlight@gmail.com Matt Varnum splkaoperations@gmail.com Patrick Miedema splkagiftshop@gmail.com Derrick Ebidon splkarestoration@gmail.com Shirley Mitchell splkafinance@gmail.com Debbie Dyer splkaofficemanager@gmail.com Lenore Janman splkapresident@gmail.com SAVE THE DATE FOR THE SPLKA ANNUAL MEETING We hope to see you SATURDAY, September 21, 2013 from 6-9pm.
Pa ge 14 Vol ume 8, Issue 1 Interim Director Chosen as WRLS Curator and Assistant Director, Leslie Griswold I'm a graduate of Grand Valley State University with a bachelors degree in History and a Nonprofit Administration minor. I attended Whitehall High School and have lived in the White Lake area for most of my life. In my free time, I love to be outdoors and enjoy being around the water. I also love to read and spend time with family and friends. I love to travel as much as possible. My professional passions are historic preservation and children's education. Matt Varnum, New Operations Manager I am originally from Bay City, MI, grew up in Midland, MI and now resides in Ludington.. I have a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University with a History major and a Museum Studies minor. I volunteer at the Alden B Dow Museum in Midland, a volunteer as a lighthouse keeper for SPLKA in 2011 at the Ludington North Breakwater Lighthouse, I have coached three years of basketball, and tutored four elementary students. I was a part of the History and Museum Studies Club at CMU, I enjoy sports since I played many years of sports while growing up, the outdoors which include camping, hiking, kayaking, canoeing. I worked for the city of Midland at the library for almost 5 years before I was an intern at SPLKA over the summer of 2012. I am looking forward to working with all the staff and volunteers of SPLKA again after having a great time over the summer, which also got me interested in applying for the position when I heard of the opening. Patrick Miedema, New Gift Shop Manager Hi! My name is Patrick Miedema and I am the new manager of gift shops for SPLKA. I was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan but most of my life has been spent in Ludington. I graduated from Ludington High School, attended Grand Valley State College before transferring to and graduating from Michigan State University. Just like Deb, our office manager, I am a rabid MSU fan. I was introduced to business management early by working in and then managing my parents' flower shop and greenhouse operation. Later, I was the Room Service Manager for the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. After attending MSU, I taught elementary and middle school students for 20 years. I am married, have two children, six and a half grandchildren (my daughter-in-law is due in October), and an Australian Shepherd / Border Collie mixed puppy named "Bella". And now, I have an awesome job and a great staff with which to work.
Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 15 CRUISE INTO YESTERYEAR, A FIRST TIME FUNDRAISER CRUISE PAST THREE LIGHTHOUSES ON THE HISTORIC SS BADGER CARFERRY! The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) invites you to join them as they CRUISE IN- TO YESTERYEAR with their partners at the historic SS Badger Carferry. This unique sunset cruise offers views of never-before-viewed sites while aboard the majestic and historic Lake Michigan Carferry, the SS Badger. In celebration of the 2 nd Annual Michigan s West Coast Lighthouse Festival, being held over the previous weekend of June 1-2, 2013, the Badger will embark upon a three to four hour cruise south towards Little Sable Point Lighthouse and past the pier lights of Ludington and Pentwater over the Lakestride 50 s themed weekend. Included in the ticket price for this sunset, shoreline cruise is a full buffet of 50s themed comfort foods, including a chocolate fondue in the dessert buffet. A costume contest will be held for cruise goers who wish to get more fully into the spirit of the theme, and participants are encouraged to dress in any 50s attire they choose, be it sock hop style or 50s Hollywood glamour. The Badger will offer two free roundtrip tickets on the Carferry to the winners of this contest, and they are offering a 50% off coupon to anyone who joins the SPLKA membership or renews their membership while on board. SPLKA will also have several rare artifacts and replicas from their Maritime history museums on display in the Badger museum and there will be history-themed entertainment provided over the evening as well. This CRUISE INTO YESTERYEAR, the first ever of its kind to hit the eastern Lake Michigan shoreline, will take place on Saturday, June 8 and seating is limited to provide the highest quality experience for guests. At only $49 a ticket, these fundraiser tickets are a bargain and offer an incredible opportunity to support the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association s mission of preservation, promotion, accessibility and education of Michigan s Maritime History. A full 50% of the evening s proceeds will benefit SPLKA's four lighthouses along three counties of Lake Michigan shoreline. Tickets can be purchased by contacting the Lake Michigan Carferry Service at their Reservations: info@ssbadger.com or by calling
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Sabl e Points Beacon Pa ge 17 Nights at the Lights, 2012 LSP- Max and Ruth Bloomquist had 130 in attendance. Helen Lee, Modern dancer from Chicago returned for a second year in a row! She has danced at LSP and BSP and will dance at WRLS this August 14, 2013 as part of the Nights at the Lights! An Dro- Celtic Multi-instrumentalists. Their Celtic Bard will share Irish folklore, poetry and music on a replica ancient wirestrung Bardish harp at LSP on Wednesday, June 12, 2013 at 7pm. Helen Lee at Big Sable August 7th -> < The Bloomquists at Little Sable Ben Bedford will be returning to play his Historical Folk Music at Big Sable Point on Wednesday, September 11, 7-8pm. We will have LMTA buses onsite to provide transport for a small fee. An Dro at BSP! July 3 Photos courtesy of Cindy Beth Davis-Dykema Holidays at the Lights, Santa Visited North Breakwater Held over the weekend of July 14-15, 2012, our Ludington volunteers did a great job with LNBL, creating Holidays at the Lights as a way to gain greater exposure for our four lights. Volunteers Susan Kiel, Gary and Sue Ann Schnitker and Andy Betka decorated the LNBL to look like a Christmas tree for their Christmas in July event where they provided Christmas carolers on the pier, cold cocoa and cookies and hosted Santa in his swimsuit to help celebrate the Lighthouse Season! We appreciate our Holidays at the Lights volunteers at our other lights as well and all the hard work that they did to get us so much Photos courtesy of Susan Kiel attention over the weekend! * Katie Beaman plays a Night at the pier Light, July 10, 7-8pm
Name(s): Address: City, State, Zip: Telephone: Email: Membership Application New Renewal Donation **Stating New Level of Membership and benefits. Contact Cindy Beth at splkadirector@gmail.com if you'd like to become a Business Partner $ 25 Associate Membership $ 50 Individual Membership $ 75 Couple/Family Membership $ 150 Head Keeper $ 350 District Inspector $ 500 Lifetime Individual Membership $ 250 Business Partnership** $ 500 Corporate Sponsor Amount Enclosed: $ Today s Date: Please mail check and completed form to: Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association P.O. Box 673 Ludington, Michigan 49431 (231) 845-7417 Website: www.splka.org SPLKA P.O. Box 673 Ludington, MI 49431 NONPROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID LUDINGTON MI Phone: 231-845-7417 E-mail: splkadirect www.splka.org