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10167. Harrison, Timothy. Ghost Lights of Lake Erie. FogHorn Publishing. 2010. 171p. Soft wraps. Packed with 230 photographs, this is the second book in the popular Ghost Lights series by Timothy Harrison, editor of Lighthouse Digest magazine. His latest work is jam-packed with historic images, many never before published, of lighthouses now lost and many forgotten, from the shores of Lake Erie. Thoroughly illustrated, presenting a long ago era of lighthouse history in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan and the Detroit River. Includes light stations, fog signals, the keepers and their families and much more. Great addition to your library. (M). $15.95. 10166. Harrison, Timothy and Walter C. Plohocky, BMCS, USCG Ret., Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse and Life Saving Station. Foghorn Pub. 2010. 32p. Soft wraps. This new book tells 3 different stories of the life on the small island of Thunder Bay near Alpena, Michigan. First is "A Season On Thunder Bay Island" by former US Coast Guard lighthouse keeper Walter C. Plohocky, telling of life on the island for one complete shipping season, March through December. Also included is a history of the lighthouse and the story of Capt John and Celia Persons, the Icons of Thunder Bay Island. Well illustrated with historic photographs. Soft cover. (M). $8.95.
10172. Bundschuh, Scott W. Crisp Point Lifesaving Station & Lighthouse – “Lifetime of Historical Service”. Ann Arbor. 2009. 456p. Soft wraps. This scarce work documents the history of the Crisp Point Life-Saving Station and Lighthouse on eastern Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula. Only the light tower and a fragment of its fog signal building remain of the Crisp Point Lighthouse. This publication provides essential records and photographs documenting the story of Crisp Point and the brave men who served at this lonely station. (M). $38.
10115.
Benchley, Rob and Robert D. Felch. Keeping the Light
– The Epic Move and Preservation of Nantucket’s Sankaty Head Lighthouse.
2009. Sconset Trust. 144p. DJ. A lighthouse has stood on Sankaty Head near the
10180. Thompson, Kalee. Deadliest Sea: The Untold Story Behind the Greatest Rescue in Coast Guard History. New York. 2010. 309p. DJ. Deadliest Sea by Kalee Thompson is the spellbinding true story of the greatest rescue in U.S. Coast Guard history. It's no secret that commercial fishing on the Bering Sea is easily one of the world's most dangerous and deadly professions. For the men of the vessel 'Alaska Ranger', this fact presented itself on March 23, 2008, when the ship began taking water only to be fully submerged just a few hours later. In "Deadliest Sea," author Kalee Thompson offers readers the harrowing account of the Ranger's accident, and the daring rescue attempt by U.S. Coast Guard helicopter rescue teams which succeeded in saving the lives of more than twenty of the crew members--thus becoming the single most successful cold-water rescue in Coast Guard history. A fascinating and gripping account for all. (M). $25.99.
10121. St. Germain, Paul. Twin Lights of Thacher Island, Cape Ann. Arcadia. 2010. 128p. Soft wraps. 180 vintage photographs. Thacher Island was named for Anthony Thacher who, in 1635, lost his four children and other family members in a shipwreck during the most severe storm to ever hit the Massachusetts coast. Some time later beacons were established on the island to warn mariners away. In later times, the lighthouses there have played an important role in several wars, including the Revolutionary War and World Wars I and II, when the navy established a radio compass station and lookouts to protect the coast from enemy submarines. A ship bearing a U.S. president almost wrecked on Thacher Island, and the island was used as a witness protection site for a Mafia criminal. Twin Lights of Thacher Island, Cape Ann captures the history, adventures, and intimate stories from over 200 years of lighthouse keepers living on the island, including how the two towers were built and how scientific discoveries were applied to improve the lights over the years. This interesting volume draws images from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the station, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $21.99.
10122. Coast Guard Sector San Diego. The Coast Guard in San Diego. Arcadia. 2010. 128p. Soft wraps. 180 vintage and recent photographs. Located a few miles north from the border of the United States and Mexico, the U.S. Coast Guard has maintained a continual presence in San Diego since 1935. It was in May of that year that a single air detachment, led by Cdr. Elmer F. Stone, began operating out of a commercial hangar at Lindbergh Field. From those humble beginnings, a base was constructed on 23 acres of tidelands adjacent to the airstrip and eventually formed into Sector San Diego. Through the years, their units and missions have evolved as new technology and changing world events dictated new missions for the Coast Guard. Today Coast Guard Sector San Diego stands as a model of interagency cooperation for the Department of Homeland Security as the Coast Guard works with other federal agencies to protect San Diego's maritime domain. This interesting volume draws images from the Coast Guard archives as well as public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the station, men, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $21.99. 6697. Thompson, Frederic L., THE LIGHTSHIPS OF CAPE COD. 1996. 2nd printing. 112 pp. Soft wraps. Signed by the author. Illustrated with over 93 beautifully detailed photographs. Much sought after, this scarce volume chronicles the history of the lightships in this vital area. Wonderfully detailed b/w photographs enhance the author's vivid description of the history and life aboard these vessels. One of the only volumes ever written exclusively on this subject, this fine work will make a fine addition to any library (M). $14.95. (Wholesale discounts available)
29313.
Ryder, Richard G. Seashore Sentinel: The Old Harbor
Lifesaving Station on Cape Cod. West Barnstable. 2009. 120p. Soft
wraps. This latest account of the history and life at Cape Cod’s Old Harbor
Life-Saving Station updates his older work -
1002. Crowell, Marnie Reed. Mark Island Light. Sunset, Maine. 2009. 27p. Soft wraps. Mark Island Light, officially known as the Deer Island Thorofare Lighthouse, was fitted with a fourth-order Fresnel lens showing a fixed white light and was first lighted on New Year's Day in 1858. The 25-foot tower was attached to a one-and-one-half-story wood-frame keeper's dwelling. In 1998, some 140 years after its light beamed for the first time, Mark Island Light entered another chapter in it ownership when it passed into the hands of Island Heritage Trust. To highlight the acquisition of the light, the author has published a comprehensive and fascinating history of the light, its keepers and operational details, as well as a record of the heroic keepers who lived the isolated life we tend to romanticize today. Included in Crowell's affectionate history are vintage and contemporary photographs and drawings and excerpts from journals, letters and newspapers. (M). $13.95.
1007. Maginley, Charles D. and Bernard Collin. The Ships of Canada's Marine Services. Vanwell. 2001. 288p. DJ. With one of the longest coastlines in the world and a significant inland waterway, Canada possesses an unparalleled civilian fleet providing essential marine services. This detailed work presents an illustrated record of the historical and hard-working ships that have shaped their history and maritime heritage, current to the year 2001. The ships included belong to the Canadian Coast Guard and its predecessors, to the Customs Preventive Service, patrol vessels of the RCMP, and the civilian-crewed vessels of the Canadian Naval Auxiliary Service. These ships include hydrographic survey vessels, icebreakers, fisheries patrol boats, search and rescue craft both station-based and offshore, lighthouse supply vessels and buoy tenders, lightships, tugs, and northern exploration ships. Included are work histories, specifications and photographs (some quite rare) or paintings of each ship are given. Many ships are illustrated in rare old photographs digitally enhanced for clarity, in sketches and paintings by talented marine artists, and in a stunning 24-page colour section within the book. Ship histories have been compiled from many sources, both published and obscure, to provide as complete a record as possible. (M). $59.95.
1019. Foster, Colonel Frank C. and Lawrence H. Borts. Military Medals of the United States. Fountain Inn. 2010. 192p. Soft wraps. Military Medals of the United States, here in its seventh edition, is an authoritative reference work on the subject. Included are complete criteria for every Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine award since 1939. All decorations, service medals, and ribbons shown in b/w or full-color and accompanied by dates and campaigns as well as detailed descriptions on proper wear and display. The many illustrations make this book a truly beautiful reference work. The book also contains detailed information about the various devices worn on each ribbon, guides to the proper wear of medals and ribbons on the uniform, and much more. There is even a special section on United Nations mission medals. Included are: Criteria for all medals listed in full detail with dates and campaigns; Superb front and back color pictures of all U.S. Military decorations, service medals, marksmanship medals and ribbons, plus commonly awarded foreign medals; Separate color ribbon display in correct order of precedence for Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine awards since 1939; Complete chapter on devices for awards and ribbons – cross referenced with medals; Complete section on wear and display of U.S. Military Medals for all branches; Valuable section on how to claim your medals from the government. (M). $24.95.
29371. Murphy, Mary. Preservation Values in the United States: A Case Study of Three Lighthouses. Masters Thesis. Texas Tech University. 2007. 142p. This study is an analysis of the preservation values evident in three historic lighthouses: The Roanoke River Lighthouse in Plymouth, North Carolina; the Old Plantation Flats Lighthouse in Cape Charles, Virginia; and the Old Roanoke River Lighthouse in Edenton, North Carolina. These three lighthouses are compared and analyzed according to the preservation values set forth by Austrian historian Alois Riegl in his essay "The Meaning of Monuments and Their Historical Development" and the values implied in the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. This study serves four purposes: First, this study establishes the relationship between Riegl's preservation theory and the current preservation guidelines in the United States. Second, this study presents the histories and current conditions of three related historic lighthouses together in a single work. Third, this study makes a recommendation of treatment for the Roanoke River Lighthouse in Edenton based on Riegl's preservation theory. Fourth, this study concludes with a summary regarding the current state of preservation theory in the United States, and of lighthouse preservation in particular. Filled with photographs, drawings and illustrations. Worthwhile reading, and an interesting source of reference for those interested in similar restorations. Available in: High quality paperback ($124) spiral bound ($32) or as PDF on disc ($24).
29325. Karentz, Varoujan. Beavertail Light Station on Conanicut Island. Booksurge. 2008. 242p. Soft wraps. For over 250 years, America’s 3rd oldest lighthouse has stood as a sentinel at the entrance of Rhode Island's Narragansett Bay. The author tells the story of technological innovation and federal bureaucratic conflict as four different organizations, beginning in 1749, attempt to improve operations and reliability of the light station there. Woven into this history, the author follows the early slave trade and Colonists who insisted that the lighthouse be built, and describes the work ethics and reporting requirements of the generations of 'Keepers' who tended the light. (M). $24.99
29411. Osmers, Henry. On Eagle’s Beak - A History of the Montauk Point Lighthouse. Outskirts Press. 2008. Soft wraps. 371p. A history of Montauk Point Lighthouse has been long overdue! Henry Osmers fills the void with a chronicle that is thorough and appealing. The author blends scholarly research with supreme storytelling skills to chronicle this graceful treasure perched atop Turtle Hill, at the eastern tip of Long Island. On Eagle's Beak details many facets of the Montauk story, from the settlement of the peninsula and construction of the light station, to the keepers who staffed it until automation and its modern day operation as a museum. Especially noteworthy is Osmers' coverage of Montauk Light's long struggle with erosion, a problem facing many lighthouses in the nation. With more than 70 photographs, illustrations and graphs, as well as scores of anecdotes culled from diaries, newspapers and ledgers, “On Eagle’s Beak” is perfect for devoted lighthouse aficionados and casual admirers alike. (M). $19.95.
29410. Osmers, Henry. Living on the Edge - Life at the Montauk Point Lighthouse 1930-1945. The story of the Montauk Point Lighthouse is also a profoundly human one. Dozens of keepers and their families called the lighthouse home over the years. Theirs was an often lonely existence, and Osmer does justice to their experiences with two chapters detailing notable keeperships under both civilian leadership and, later, Coast Guard administration. Also sprinkled throughout are reflections of the lighthouse’s numerous visitors over the years – notably an 1861 visit to the Point by Walt Whitman, who wrote a laudatory poem on Montauk, from which the book takes its title. Modernization in recent times ended the era of the lighthouse keeper, and the Montauk Point Lighthouse, now automated, became a museum in 1987. (M). $19.95.
29340.
McHugh, Joe. The Flying Santa. Calling Crane
Publishing. 2002. 32p. Stiff wraps. 16 full color illustrations. The Flying
Santa is a book the entire family will enjoy. Written by storyteller and public
radio producer Joe McHugh and illustrated by his wife Paula Blasius McHugh, the
book follows the life of Bill Wincapaw from his boyhood love of flying, his
close friendships with airplane designer Glenn Curtiss and noted aviator Charles
Lindbergh, to that fateful night in 1929 fighting for his life in the teeth of a
winter storm and his efforts afterwards to repay the kindness of the light
keepers along
29329. Harrison, Timothy E. Ghost Lights of Michigan – Lost & Forgotten Lighthouses of the Great Lake State. FogHorn Publishing. 2009. 121p. Soft wraps. Michigan has the distinction of having more lighthouses than any other state. Fortunately, many of the state's historic beacons still stand. However, some lighthouses were destroyed and have literally been lost in the pages of time and forgotten by most. Others have been significantly altered and few people are aware of their original appearance. Researched and written by Timothy Harrison, editor of Lighthouse Digest magazine, this is like a time machine taking you back in history to a forgotten era. You will be captivated by the informative text and rare and historic images provided by Harrison, which are all that remain as a reminder of the Ghost Lights of Michigan. (M). $12.95.
29324. Weymouth, Kent. Lighthouses of the Golden State – California’s Shining Beacons. Sacramento. 2008. 200p. Soft wraps. With a population of about 200 people Yerba Buena was a sleepy little town in 1846. The following year, Yerba Buena would become San Francisco. With the discovery of gold at Sutter's mill by James Marshall in 1848, a rush to California began that would swell the population of San Francisco to more than 36 thousand by 1850. Risking their lives for the promise of fortune, men traveled from all over the world to this new prosperous land, at a time when the coast of California and the waters surrounding it were unexplored, dangerous and unprotected. Magnificent structures would rise in the decades to follow, built by brave and adventurous souls. At these isolated outposts, hearty individuals were stationed as light-keepers to protect the ships bringing commerce, supplies and the peoples that would build the west. Step back in time to an era of adventure, hardship, loneliness and isolation, when lighthouses rose on the shores of the Golden State. Exhaustively researched and thus thoroughly informative, Lighthouses of the Golden State offers up a truly complete and detailed history of the construction, purpose, and current condition of the towering structures. Weymouth covers the individual history of dozens of lighthouses, and extensively specifies the reason that each particular lighthouse was built, what the operating procedures for each were, and general points of information and interest about them. Well illustrated. (M). $19.95.
29310. Helvarg, David. Rescue Warriors: The U.S. Coast Guard, America's Forgotten Heroes. Thomas Dunne Books. 2009. 356p. DJ. The men and women of the Coast Guard are the forgotten heroes of the armed services, writes journalist David Helvarg. Since its founding more than two hundred years ago, the United States Coast Guard has rescued over a million people. On any given day, “Coasties” respond to 125 distress calls and save over a dozen lives. Yet despite having more than 50,000 active-duty and reserve members on every ocean and on our nation’s coasts, great lakes, and rivers, most of us know very little about this often neglected but crucial branch of the military. In Rescue Warriors, award-winning journalist David Helvarg brings us into the daily lives of Coasties, filled with a salty maritime mix of altruism and adrenaline, as well as dozens of death-defying rescues at sea and on hurricane-ravaged shores. The definitive book on America’s “forgotten heroes.” (M). $25.95
29303. Meininger, William F. Recollections of Thirty-Two Years in the U.S. Coast Guard, and Other Ramblings. Authorhouse. 2008. 383p. Soft wraps. Mr. Meininger was born and raised in the Midwest and joined the Coast Guard in 1961. He served on several ships in both the north Atlantic and south Pacific. Returning from overseas in 1965, he was assigned to a small boat rescue station and later a patrol boat. He attended Officers Candidate School in 1970 and completed naval flight training receiving his wings in 1971. He then served as a search and rescue pilot at Cape May, NJ; Kodiak, AK; Clearwater, FL; Astoria, OR and Detroit, MI. He spent his last five years as a staff officer assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters in Washington, DC. retiring after thirty-two years of service in 1993. The author notes that “this is a collection of humorous stories I recall from my time in the service, and shortly thereafter. It is my nature to poke fun at things I find funny, or in some cases, sad. Most, almost all, of these recollections are accurate.” Wonderful account of the author’s thirty two year career in the Coast Guard, well written, funny, a treat to read. (M). $19.95.
29309. Biggs, Jerry. Rescue and Refuge:
29261. Borch, Fred L. and Charles P. McDowell. Sea Service Medals – Military Awards and Decorations of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Annapolis. 2009. 184p. DJ. Sea Service Medals is the first and only complete historical examination of all the personal awards, decorations and medals that may be awarded to Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel for heroism, achievement and service. As a comprehensive history of all awards and decorations of the United States' three sea services, this book serves as a valuable guide to the rich traditions of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. It provides little-known historical information on the background and development of each award and decoration, along with details of its design and award criteria. The decorations examined include well-known awards for combat heroism such as the Navy Medal of Honor, the Navy Cross, and the Silver Star. Non-combat heroism awards such as the Navy and Marine Corps Medal and Coast Guard Medal are also discussed. All decorations and medals for achievement and service are examined, ranging from the Navy and Coast Guard Distinguished Service Medals, the Legion of Merit, and the Meritorious Service Medal to the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Coast Guard Achievement Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon. Fifty full color photographs of sea service awards, including illustrations of never-before-published rare Navy Medals of Honor, provide context for this unique history. (M). $34.95. Our Price $31.46.
29307. Cook, David E. The Light-Keepers of Lake Champlain. Mayfield. 2009. 232p. Soft wraps. A biographical anthology of at least 146 men and women who maintained the light stations of Lake Champlain before they were all automated, this detailed work is filled with lots of great historical and family history of lighthouse keeping on Lake Champlain's New York and Vermont shorelines. Includes a listing both chronologically and an alphabetical of the lighthouse keepers. In addition to listings of the many keepers over the years, includes a biography of each, stations served and great information about the station and his activities and occurrences there. Illustrated with photos when available. Packed full of information. (M). $16.95.
29236. Isom, James C. HISTORY OF THE NEW DUNGENESS LIGHTHOUSE. New Dungeness Chapter, United States Lighthouse Society. 2000. 92p. Soft wraps. The New Dungeness Light Station is one of the oldest lighthouses in the Northwest. It is located at the tip of the nearly 5 mile long Dungeness Spit in Sequim, Washington. The Lighthouse has been in continuous operation, providing navigational aids since its completion in 1857. Several of the original buildings remain intact. Well illustrated with vintage photos, maps and diagrams, this comprehensive work details the long history of this important light station, its keepers and their families, and the changes to the light station and the new more effective navigational aids that were installed over the years to keep pace with the demands of ships plying the waters of the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Chapters include: Coastal explorations; Land claims; Commerce and the spit; Indian life; United States Lighthouse Service; New Dungeness Lighthouse; Lens, lamps, lanterns; Fog signals; Life at the lighthouse; Chronology and more. (M). $21.95
29185. Tougias, Michael J and Casey Sherman. The Finest Hours - The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard's Most Daring Sea Rescue. Simon and Schuster. 2009. 224p. DJ. In the winter of 1952, New England was battered by the most brutal nor'easter in years. As the weather wreaked havoc on land, the freezing Atlantic became a wind-whipped zone of peril. In the early hours of Monday, February 18, while the storm raged, two oil tankers, the Pendleton and the Fort Mercer, found themselves in the same horrifying predicament. Built with "dirty steel," and not prepared to withstand such ferocious seas, both tankers split in two, leaving the dozens of men on board utterly at the Atlantic's mercy. The Finest Hours is the gripping, true story of the valiant attempt to rescue the souls huddling inside the broken halves of the two ships. Coast Guard cutters raced to the aid of those on the Fort Mercer, and when it became apparent that the halves of the Pendleton were in danger of capsizing, the Guard sent out two thirty-six-foot lifeboats as well. These wooden boats, manned by only four seamen each, were dwarfed by the enormous seventy-foot seas. As the tiny rescue vessels set out from the coast of Cape Cod, the men aboard were all fully aware that they were embarking on what could easily become a suicide mission. The spellbinding tale is overflowing with breathtaking scenes that sear themselves into the mind's eye, as boats capsize, bows and sterns crash into one another, and men hurl themselves into the raging sea in their terrifying battle for survival. Not all of the eighty-four men caught at sea in the midst of that brutal storm survived, but considering the odds, it's a miracle -- and a testament to their bravery -- that any came home to tell their tales at all. (M). $24.95.
Just Arrived:
28348.
Wilkinson, William D. and CDR Timothy R. Dring, USNR (Retired). American
Coastal Rescue Craft - A Design History Of Coastal Rescue Craft Used By The
United States Life-Saving Service And The United States Coast Guard. University
Press. 2009. 185p. Unjacketed cloth. With CD-ROM with 323 b/w illustrations.
Long awaited, this exhaustive reference work describes detailed history and
technical design information on every type of rescue craft ever used by the U.S.
Life Saving Service (USLSS) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) from the 1800s to
current day. By looking at these vessels, many of which featured innovative
designs, the authors shed light on the brave men and women who served in these
heroic services. The first of its kind ever to be published in the United States
on this topic, the book and accompanying CD provide detailed information,
drawings, and photographs (many of which have never before appeared in print)
for each type of surfboat, lifeboat, and utility craft, along with a complete
list of every boat ever built and assigned coastal rescue station(s). Included
are motorized, wind-powered and human-powered vessels. The book is organized
into two major sections: 1) a general, historical narrative, and 2) detailed
technical appendices. This college text-sized book is 185 pages in length, with
about 140 photos and diagrams. In addition, a reference/appendix section on a
co-packaged CD will include 323 additional photos and diagrams. The book is
co-authored by William D. Wilkinson, Director Emeritus of the
6275s. Ralph Shanks, Wick York, Lisa Woo
Shanks, editor. THE
6281. vanRoden, Mary. Nauset
Light, A Personal History - the1875 Lightkeeper’s House and the1892 Oil
House.
25237.
Quinn, William P., SHIPWRECKS ALONG THE
29231. (DVD) Portland Head Light and the Lighthouses of Maine's Casco Bay. Portland Head Light is the first and the oldest of all Maine's lighthouses, located in Casco Bay at the entrance of Portland Harbor. There was once seven lighthouses (Portland Breakwater, Spring Point Ledge, Ram Island Ledge, Halfway Rock, Portland Head, Cape Elizabeth East and Cape Elizabeth West) and one lightship that marked the waters of Casco Bay and Portland Harbor. Learn the stories surrounding the keepers and their descendants, their hardships and the lives that they led. (M). $19.95.
29205.
Hawley, Jonathan P. Point Betsie - Lightkeeping and
Lifesaving on
2986. Kagawa, Ron M. and J. Richard Kellam. Cobb's Island, Virginia : The Last Sentinel. Virginia Beach. 2003. 128 p. DJ. This one is definitely a sleeper – once I picked it up I was unable to put it down. Cobb's Island, Virginia: The Last Sentinel, co-written by Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture Ron Kagawa and J. Richard Kellam, charts the history of the now-barren Virginia barrier island that was once a flourishing hunting and fishing resort and home to the first U.S. Life Saving Service facility there. However, 99% of the history there relates directly to the Life Saving Service and early Coast Guard there. From cover to cover, the authors trace the work of the life-savers on the island, and particularly the history of the 1875-76 life-saving station and later Coast Guard stations there, their modifications over the years and finally moving of the Coast Guard station in its entirety to the mainland between 1997-2001. The book is chock full of vintage photographs, architectural plans and much more. Well worth a place in your library. The book is now out of print but we have been able to obtain a quantity of copies, new, never opened. (M). $38.95
29173. Chance, Toby and Peter Williams. Lighthouses – The Race to Illuminate the World. London. 2008. 272p. DJ. Illustrated. Written by Toby Chance, James Chance's great-great-grandson and grandson of Sir Hugh Chance, the last Chairman of an independent Chance Brothers, Lighthouses attempts to fill the gap in lighthouse history concerning the development of illumination technology during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The main characters are James Chance, who started the lighthouse department at the firm founded by his uncle Lucas Chance in 1822; and Sir David Brewster, a radical Scottish optical scientist whose entreaties to the British establishment to take the lighthouse question seriously from the 1820s were largely ignored until a Royal Commission on lighthouse reported in 1861. During this time Britain lost its lead in lighthouse technology to the French, mainly due to the invention in 1819 of what has come to be known as the Fresnel lens, named after its inventor Augustin Fresnel. Fresnel, like Brewster, was an optical physicist but unlike Brewster was entrenched in the French scientific establishment and was hired by the Astronomer Royal to head up the French lighthouse service's investigations into improved methods of lighthouse illumination. The true-life story that follows is of one man and his family's unexpected role in an exciting race to perfect this technology, against European rivals and colleagues, as they strive to regain for Britain the leadership position she had lost to the French in the 1820s. A must for serious lighthouse enthusiasts. (M). $26.99
29199. Noble, Dennis L. and Truman R. Strobridge. Captain “Hell Roaring" Mike Healy - From American Slave to Arctic Hero. Gainsville. 2009. 352p. DJ. Captain “HeLL Roaring" Mike HeaLy remains One of the Coast Guard's great heroes. In the late 1880s, many lives in northern and western maritime Alaska rested in the capable hands of Michael A. Healy (1839-1904), through his service to the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service. Healy arrested lawbreakers, put down mutinies aboard merchant ships, fought the smuggling of illegal liquor and firearms, rescued shipwrecked sailors from a harsh and unforgiving environment, brought medical aid to isolated villages, prevented the wholesale slaughter of marine wildlife, and explored unknown waters and lands. Captain Healy's dramatic feats in the far north were so widely reported that a New York newspaper once declared him the "most famous man in America:' But Healy hid a secret that contributed to his legacy as a lonely, tragic figure. In 1896, Healy was brought to trial on charges ranging from conduct unbecoming an officer to endangerment of his vessel for reason of intoxication. As punishment, he was put ashore on half pay with no command and dropped to the bottom of the Captain's list. Eventually, he again rose to his former high position in the service by the time of his death in 1904. Sixty-seven years later, in 1971, the U.S. Coast Guard learned that Healy was born a slave in Georgia who ran away to sea at age fifteen and spent the rest of his life passing for white. This is the rare biography that encompasses both sea adventure and the height of human achievement against all odds. (M). $34.95
29201. Butler, Karen. Nantucket Lights: An Illustrated History of the Island’s Legendary Beacons. Nantucket. 1996. (151 pp. / 148 illus.) DJ. Lavishly illustrated, Nantucket Lights tells the story of the island’s lighthouses and lightships and the men and women who faithfully kept them. This is one of the most comprehensive and attractive books ever done on the lighthouses of Nantucket. Dazzling images including fascinating historic illustrations as well as recent photographs and paintings, and a carefully researched text illuminate an important aspect of Nantucket’s maritime past. Nantucket's three lighthouses all have fascinating history -- little Brant Point Light, which has been rebuilt more than any other American lighthouse; remote Great Point Light, completely destroyed in a storm in 1984 but rebuilt only two years later; and Sankaty Head Light, the famous "Blazing Star." There's also an excellent chapter on the Nantucket Lightship. Even if you've never been to the "Far Away Island," this book is a must. (M). $24.95.
29202. Hubbard, Sharon, with photography by Dan Driscoll. Quarterboards: A Unique Art Form. Nantucket. 2008. 100p. DJ. Quarterboards explores the tradition on Nantucket of naming homes and adorning them with the type of stunning signs found on ships. ‘Sconset’s 1680 house Shanunga, for example, takes its name from the quarter board salvaged from the wreck of a schooner in 1852. Lavishly illustrated with striking photography throughout, capturing the unique charm of Nantucket’s historic homes, bringing the deftly woven narrative filled with colorful characters and fascinating anecdotes to life. (M). Published at $39.95. Our price $36.95.
29203. Philbrick, Nathaniel. Away Off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People, 1602-1890. Nantucket. 1993. 273p. Soft wraps. This local best-seller focuses on the real people – great and obscure, famous and infamous – behind the island at the center of a whaling empire. “For everyone who loves Nantucket, this is the indispensable book.” (M). $19.95.
29200. na. Cornfield Point Light Vessel LV-51 – A Connecticut State Archaeological Preserve. Published for the Connecticut State Historical Preservation Office by Historical Perspectives, Inc. c.2006. 24p. Soft wraps. Quite a nice publication, Details the history of Light Vessel No. 51 including her recent discovery in Long Island Sound off Old Saybrook. After serving for 27 years, on April 14, 1919 she was rammed by an oil barge and sank within eight minutes. The crew disembarked to the lifeboat and were picked up by a tug. Booklet includes chapters on lightship history, design and technology, LV No. 51, Life on board, Reminiscences of a retired light vessel crewman, Sister ships, The sinking of light vessel No. 51, Underwater survey of the wreck, and more. Thoroughly illustrated. Well done. (M). $12.95.
4571. Shomette, Donald G., SHIPWRECKS
ON THE
2999. Frump, Robert. Two Tankers Down: The Greatest Small-Boat Rescue in U.S. Coast Guard History. The Lyons Press. 2008, 212p. In the tradition of The Perfect Storm, this is a too rarely told, riveting story of a legendary rescue at sea. Two Tankers Down is an improbable true story of men against the sea. In a fierce nor’easter offshore Cape Cod on Feb. 18, 1952, two tankers broke in half. The two ill-fated tankers, SS Pendleton and SS Fort Mercer, were T-2s, a ship type mass produced during World War II when the United States had to build a bridge across two oceans. The U.S. Coast Guard rescued 70 of the crew amid deadly dangers. Noted maritime author Bob Frump has rescued this all but forgotten story that should be told as long as men go down to the sea in ships. Bernie Webber was the least likely candidate to execute the greatest small-boat rescue in American history. The trouble-prone son of a Baptist minister, he’d been well on his way to becoming a juvenile delinquent - until he went to sea. And then, on the night of February 18, 1952, in a raging blizzard off the coast of Cape Cod, Webber, now a young lifeboat coxswain with the U.S. Coast Guard, and his crew performed a miracle. Two big oil tankers had split in two in raging seas, and nothing—not a big cutter, not a sea plane, not a chopper—could reach them in time. Only Webber and his crew of three men, had a chance. He knew they would probably die on this mission. They were, after all, in an unassuming thirty-six-foot rescue boat that didn’t even have a name but for the “CG 36500” on its side. But he loved this boat—and he knew the inauspicious Coast Guard motto: “You have to go out. You don’t have to come back.” Webber and his crew took the CG 36500 out in sixty-foot waves and saved thirty lives. He and his men won the rarely bestowed Coast Guard Gold Medal for Valor and a place in history that shapes the Coast Guard culture to this day. Two Tankers Down tells their story, capturing the full drama of one of the most gripping sea rescue stories of all time. (M). $16.95
29198. Mattsson, Algot. Out of the Fog - The Sinking of Andrea Doria. Cornell Maritime Press. 2003. 168p. DJ. A trace of the unsolved mystery seems to follow all ship sinkings through history. This interest is especially keen in the case of the collision between Stockholm and Andrea Doria, two passenger liners that collided at the edge of the fogbank in 1956, even though both were equipped with radar and officers on both ships were aware of the presence of the other. Stockholm was badly damaged but able to return to New York under its own power. Andrea Doria sank soon after the collision. The preliminary hearing held after the tragedy raised as many questions as it answered, as the two companies who owned the ships chose to settle out of court before all the testimony had been given. With no documented resolution, some of those questions remain to this day, but this book provides information and insights not previously available. Out of the Fog describes the events leading up to the collision from the perspective of both ships. The collision itself is covered, as is the heroic and largely successful rescue effort that followed. The book contains testimony given at the hearing, and an appendix provides a legal opinion from an attorney who was directly involved with the case. Well illustrated. (M). $24.95.
29105. Chewning, Alpheus. Virginia Beach Shipwrecks. 2008. History Press. Soft wraps. 128p. 40 b/w photos. The waters of coastal Virginia swirl with tales both tragic and heroic. Join Virginia Beach native Alpheus Chewning as he recounts harrowing stories of storms at sea, loss of life and fortune and the heroism of the United States Life-Saving Service. Marvel at the blunders and bungles that have plagued the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel and learn about the U-boats that lurked off the coast during World War II. Extensively researched and filled with fascinating details, "Virginia Beach Shipwrecks" is a treasure for sea lovers of all ages. (M). $19.99.
29190. Eldridge, Dana. Once Upon Cape Cod; From Cockle Cove to the Powder Hole. Brewster. 1997. 112p. Soft wraps. A group of essays describing Dana Eldridge's early years on Cape Cod in the 30’s – so very different from today’s Cape. Written with humor and warmth, this is a must read for anyone with a love of all things Cape. This is a book of essays where time stands still, the way it should. His boyhood adventures remind you of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. He had loving, laconic parents, and perfect grandparents. The whole watery world of Cape Cod was full of freedom and adventure for a boy. Here is the classic theme of local, small town life before we began to run away from it. (M). $10.95. 9191. Eldridge, Dana. Cape Cod Lucky - In Another Time. Brewster. 2000. 170p. Soft wraps. This sequel to Once Upon Cape Cod treats the reader to more insights and antics of growing up on Cape Cod. Dana Eldridge's unique prose brings us back to a time when young people explored and played with a freedom we rarely see today. This is a story of growing up on the Cape in the mid 40’s and 50’s – one of the last remnants of the unhurried life of the nineteenth century. That Cape is gone now, but Eldridge brings it vividly to life. You’ll smell the salt wind, you’ll hear the surf roaring on the bar, and you’ll laugh out loud at the wonderfully wry stories that fill this book. (M). $12.95.
29163. James, Barry C. Lighting the Way - A History of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse. Copper Harbor. 2000. 128p. Soft wraps. Action providing improved navigational aids at Copper Harbor followed closely upon the Keweenaw copper rush. The shipwreck of the John Jacob Astor in 1844 and rapidly expanding Lake Superior shipping traffic influenced President Polk and Congress to authorize construction of the Copper Harbor Lighthouse in 1847. For $4,800, Charles Rude built the original 65-foot-tall split stone, whitewashed tower on Hays Point between 1848-1849 about of the steel tower. A new lighthouse was built in 1866, incorporating the light towers and keeper’s dwelling in the same building. The present 62-foot steel tower was erected in 1933, with the light being converted to electricity in 1937. Detailed history includes all aspects of the operation of the station with a great deal on the work and life of the keepers there. Well illustrated with vintage photos. (M). 16.95.
6641.
Wood, Vincent L., PLUM ISLAND RECOLLECTIONS - Views and
Reminiscences of Plum Island c.1900 Recounting the Deeds of Capt. Thomas J.
Maddock and the Crew of the U. S. Merrimack River Life-Saving Station, Plum
Island, Massachusetts.
2998. Harrison, Timothy E. Lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia Region. Arcadia. 2009. 128p. Soft wraps. 180 vintage photographs. With the exception of Mount Desert Island’s Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse, the lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia region are among the most remote and lesser-known lighthouses of Maine. As the vessel traffic changed in these areas in the early 1900s, some of these lighthouses were sold into private ownership while others became less important as aids to navigation. Since the structures were located on remote islands or in a highly restricted military installation, the photographs and historical firsthand memories of most of these lighthouses have remained elusive and seemingly lost in the dusty pages of time. Through vintage photographs, Lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia Region uncovers the history of these structures that kept watch over Maine’s rocky coast. Superb photographs of the stations, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $21.99.
29109. Ostrom, Thomas P. The United States Coast Guard on the Great Lakes - A History. Elderberry Press. 2007. Soft wraps. 223p. The United States Coast Guard traces its origins to 1790, but was not officially named until 1915. At last there is one definitive volume, though a bit crude, describing its history on The Great Lakes from inception to the present. The author, Thomas P. Ostrom, served in the U.S.C.G.R. from 1961-69, and had basic and advanced training at the U.S.C.G. Base, Alameda, California. He served subsequently in the Port Security Reserve Unit in Duluth, Minnesota, and participated in monthly and active duty assignments each summer, earning petty officer rank. Chapters include: A Brief Coast Guard History (1790 to 2006), Predecessors on the Great Lakes (1790-1915), The Coast Guard Emerges (1915-1939), World War II to the Present (1945 to 2006), Station Duluth (1866 to 2006), The U.S.C.G. Reserve and Auxiliary, Aids to Navigation, Great Lakes Light Stations, Great Lakes Ice Breakers, Buoy Tenders on the Lakes, Life Saving, Environmental Protection, Law Enforcement, Port Security, National Defense, and Commerce, An Overview of the Ninth Coast Guard District, Coast Guard Command Leadership, and more. (M). $19.95.
2982. Silvia, Matilda. Once Upon an Island. Cohasset. 2003. 224p. DJ. In Once Upon an Island, Matilda Silvia captivates her readers with her accounts of living on Peddock’s island, a small island in Boston Harbor. This chronicle encompasses both typical family stories and unusual tales about living in a remote location situated across the bay from a booming metropolis. Matilda Silvia's father arrived on Peddock's Island, a new military fort under construction, in 1904 from Fort Apache. Fort Andrews would house the 59th Coast Artillery Corps, who were assigned to protect the Harbor while being trained during wartime. Silvia's father, an Army tailor, and his family continued to live there for nearly 100 years. The author herself was born on the island in 1917. (She recently died, and her daughter finished this book.) Silvia's memoir presents a conventional story of growing up in a military atmosphere-going to parades on summer Sunday afternoons, playing inter-post baseball games, attending school bundled in long underwear and starched petticoats in the winter. The one exceptional aspect of her narrative is the island's situation as an insular community: Silvia and her schoolmates had to take a boat to school, for instance, and could get ice cream only when a 100-pound chunk of ice was ferried over to keep the ice chests cool. Silvia documents her family's life with photographs dating back to the construction of Fort Andrews to almost a hundred years later showing a windowless and overgrown Officer's Quarters. She also recounts the unique way that people learn to live off the land. Her immediate neighbors, the soldiers, and the original Portuguese settlers proved that no matter what period of time it was, hooch would be found, lobsters would be shared, and military entertainment would be provided. Silvia's warmth and passion for the history, folklore, and close knit community of Peddock's is sure to infect all readers. Silvia's book gives a fine snapshot of a bygone era. (M). $19.95.
29142.
Holmes, Richard. RHODE ISLAND LIGHTHOUSES – A
Pictorial History. 2008. 212p. Soft wraps. A complete pictorial guide
of the past and present
28454. Patterson, Janice B. Cleveland's Lighthouses. Arcadia. 2009. 128p. Soft wraps. 180 vintage photographs. Missionary-geographer John Heckewelder was prophetic in the 1790s when he mapped the place where the Cuyahoga River flows into Lake Erie. He wrote, “Cujahaga will hereafter be a place of great importance.” In 1796, surveyors arrived to plot a new town and named it after their superintendent, Moses Cleveland. Soon Cleveland was a magnet for inventors and entrepreneurs. By 1829–1830, a lighthouse was necessary to support lake traffic spurred by shipbuilding, shipping, and population growth. A succession of taller, brighter structures has guided mariners into the Cleveland harbor, creating a splendid history. Remarkable people have tended these sometimes-silent sentinels through decades of calm nights and dramatic storms, subtly contributing to the region’s growth and prosperity. Also included is Cleveland’s Life Saving Service and Coast Guard history, drawing from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the stations, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $21.99.
2946. Chase, Wanton. Boyhood Life at Rose Island [Lighthouse]. Rose Island Beacon. Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation. Number 1. December 2001. 26p. Soft wraps. Wonderful out of print booklet recalling the boyhood life at Rose Island Lighthouse by Wanton Chase, who passed away this past December at 99 years of age. This high gloss page booklet details his memories of life growing up at the lighthouse in the early 1900s. Because he was a “sickly baby” he was sent to live at the Rose Island lighthouse with his grandparents from 1910 to 1918. Wonderful reading. (M). $9.95.
2911. Hudson, Gary J. They Had to Go Out. Xlibris. 2008. 173p. Soft wraps. Gary Hudson knows all too well that he could have been among the five Coast Guard crewmen who drowned during an attempted rescue on a wretched night in January of 1961. Just a week before the tragedy, Hudson had been transferred away from the Coast Guard rescue station at Point Adams near the mouth of the Columbia River. Otherwise, he could have been on one of the three Coast Guard boats attempting to aid a fishing vessel that sank. “They were all my shipmates,” Hudson said of the Coast Guard victims and survivors. “I knew them all.” For several years after the disaster, Hudson drove a rescue boat over the same treacherous waters at the Columbia River bar, and rescued a few boaters himself. He couldn’t stop thinking about his lost comrades. Hudson, 68, who now lives near Toledo, decided to do more than remember - he has now written this book to set the record straight about what happened. “They Had to Go Out” includes a detailed account of the worst loss of life the Coast Guard suffered on the Columbia River in a single incident. The book is heavy on facts about the rescue boats’ strengths — and weaknesses that may have been factors in the deaths. He spent four years interviewing survivors and going through the official records from the sinking. All this, and the many photos included, makes “They Had to Go Out” a fascinating read. (M). 19.99.
2984. Metzer, Patty. Keeper of the Light. Focus Pub., Bemidji. 1997. 2nd. 368p. Soft wraps. Colin McRae seems to have found his life's fulfillment in his position as keeper at Highland Lighthouse in North Truro on Cape Cod. His life changes when he must travel into Provincetown to find a housekeeper and companion for his ailing sister. The only person available is a young, mysterious girl who is thought of as the town 'dummy' because she is mute. Life at Highland Light would never be the same. A story with strong characterization, unpredictable plot and an intriguing 1797 Cape Cod setting. Readers will not be disappointed. (M). $12.95.
2097. Egan, Leona Rust. PROVINCETOWN AS A STAGE. Parnassus, Orleans. 1994. 296p. DJ. In 1916 this remote fishing village extending 25 miles into the Atlantic was teeming with unprecedented numbers of tourists; there were battleships from Teddy Roosevelt’s Great White Fleet in the harbor, and a significant segment of Greenwich Village’s Avant-Garde was there. By all contemporary accounts, never before in America had so many people who wrote, painted, or acted been thrown together in one small place. Of great significance to American theatre was a young struggling playwright named Eugene O’Neill, who settled in the old Peaked Hill Bars Life-Saving Station, where he remained for nine years that was to culminate in a Nobel Prize. O’Neil’s life in Provincetown, in the station and his career are the focus of this interesting book. (M). $14.95.
2936.
Halperin, James L. and Gregory J. Rohan. The
Collector’s Handbook – Tax Planning, Strategy, and Estate Advise from
Collectibles Experts for Collectors and their Heirs. Dallas. 2008.
4th. 120p. Soft wraps. The Collector’s Handbook is a step-by-step guide to tax
and estate planning for collectors. From record keeping to disposition methods,
this handy primer cuts right to the chase on every topic. It is mostly written
to the active collector, but pertinent chapters also have “Tips for Heirs”
sections to aid non-collectors in avoiding common pitfalls when inheriting a
collection (and once you've read this book, its convenient size makes it perfect
for inclusion alongside your collection in a bank vault or safe deposit box).
Whatever your motivations in collecting, this book will help make you a more
intelligent collector. Nearly every collection involves making reasonable
financial decisions; doing so repeatedly will improve the monetary value you or
your heirs ultimately reap from your collecting endeavors, as well as increase
your satisfaction. Making your hobby more productive and rewarding is easiest
done while you are actively pursuing these pieces of history. This booklet is
written by three owners of Heritage Coin, the world’s largest and most
respected rare coin dealer and auctioneer, and offers sound advice and the
experience gained from billions of dollars in collectible transactions over four
decades. Chapters include record keeping, caring for your collection,
safeguarding your collection, tax options for estate planning, charitable
giving, art attribution and authentication, having your collection appraised,
selling your collection, insurance companies offering collectible coverage, and
more. A wealth of sound and practical information, written in a clear and
concise manner. Must reading for every serious collector! (M). $16.95.
2908. Hanable, William S. Lighthouses and Lifesaving on Washington's Outer Coast. Arcadia. 2008. 128p. Soft wraps. 180 vintage photographs. Washington’s storm-ridden outer coast stretches from Cape Disappointment, at the mouth of the Columbia River, to Cape Flattery, at the entrance to the Strait of Juan de Fuca, a distance of about 150 miles. Historians have labeled these waters “the Graveyard of the Pacific” and “the Unforgiving Coast.” Despite their hazards, sea routes to, from, and along the coast have been busy. Maritime fur traders and explorers, warships, Gold Rush shipping, passenger vessels, lumber carriers, break-bulk freighters, container ships, and tankers have plied these waters. Concurrently, fisheries developed along the coast, adding to the number of vessels at risk. To assist mariners sailing these waters, the United States built its first lighthouse on the Washington coast at Cape Disappointment in 1856. Additional lighthouses, lightships, and lifesaving stations soon followed. With more than 180 images from archives throughout the Pacific Northwest, this collection documents their history. This interesting volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the station, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $21.99. 2907. Barnette, Michael. Florida's Shipwrecks. Arcadia. 2008. 128p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. The Sunshine State has a rich maritime history spanning more than five centuries. Tragically, part of that history includes thousands of ships that have met their fates in Florida waters. Potentially more than 5,000 shipwrecks reside off Florida’s 1,200 miles of coastline, with hundreds more lost in the state’s interior rivers. In and of itself, the Florida Keys archipelago, consisting of approximately 1,700 islands stretching 200 miles, is littered with the remains of close to 1,000 shipwrecks. In fact, many features of the Florida Keys were named after various shipwreck events, such as Fowey Rocks, which earned its name after the 1748 wrecking of the British warship HMS Fowey, and Alligator Reef, where the schooner USS Alligator met her demise in 1822. Florida’s Shipwrecks utilizes captivating images to illustrate dramatic stories of danger and peril at sea, introducing readers to a fascinating cross-section of Florida’s shipwreck history. This interesting volume draws from public and private collections, most never before published. Superb photographs of the station, keepers, equipment and more, well worth it. (M). $19.99.
2921. Bardwell, John D. Old Kittery. Arcadia. 2005. 128p. 4 ½” x 6 ½”. Kittery, Maine is the cradle of American shipbuilding and its destiny has always been with the sea. Since time immemorial, Native Americans and European settlers have fished the Kittery waters. From the earliest colonial times, shipbuilding has been the dominant industry in Kittery -- its Naval Shipyard is the oldest and probably the best-known in the United States. Old Kittery and the more than fifty vintage photographs included, illustrate the history and nature of this Maine coastal community. Beautifully illustrated. (M). $9.99.
28452. Terras, Donald J. Lighthouses of Chicago Harbor – Their History, Architecture and Lore. Evanston. 2006. 96p. Soft wraps. Since 1831 Chicago’s harbor has been home to a succession of lighthouses to grant safe access to one of the great historical port cities of the country. This beautifully illustrated book tells the story of the structures, the keepers, and the role that they played in Chicago’s development. Wonderfully illustrated with numerous vintage images, many beautifully reproduced in full page views. One of the first that you will encounter as you thumb through the pages is a full page color image of an 1848 Pleasonton map of Great Lakes lighthouses – a spectacular map by this early overseer of lighthouse construction in the United States. Other rare views include many keeper photos, lamps and equipment and much more. Well worth the price for these images alone. (M). $19.95.
28426. Steinberg, Maurice “Moe” RM 3/c. A Sailor at War: On the Greenland Patrol - WWII. Xlibris. 2002. 178p. Soft wraps. A wonderful memoir of Radioman 3/c Maurice Steinberg’s experiences of World War II – from boot camp, to becoming a Morse Code radio operator on board a 240-foot Coast Guard convoy escort, and anti-submarine duto in the North Atlantic. U-boats remained a constant threat as his vessel patrolled the North Atlantic routes. This is part of the story of the Greenland Patrol, and life aboard a Coast Guard vessel. Wonderfully written in a down-to-earth style that every veteran and civilian alike will appreciate. (M). $24.95.
28418. Patten, Juliana Fern. Another Side of World War II: A Coast Guard Lieutenant in the South Pacific. Shippensburg. 2006. 156p. Autographed by the author. Another Side Of World War II is the engaging personal story of one man's experiences of World War II in the South Pacific Theatre. Coast Guard Lieutenant Jules Fern’s letters, spanning two years at sea in the South Pacific, offer a poignant view of life aboard ship during World War II. Compiled from his letters, logs, and photographs of the time, this account penned by his daughter after his death, provides readers with an intimate and vivid detailing of events from the perspective of someone deeply involved with the progression of the war. A welcome contribution to the growing library of World War II military memoirs an and biographies, Another Side Of World War II is very highly recommended to all readers with an interest in first-hand accounts, as well as those in search of a better understanding of World War II and America's participation in the South Pacific combat zones. Well illustrated with his photos taken at the time, orders, messages and more. (M). 16.95. 28359.
Rogerson, Bruce et al. Point Cabrillo Light Station.
28367. Semones, JoAnn. Shipwrecks, Scalawags, And Scavengers - The Storied Waters Of Pigeon Point. Glencannon Press. 2007. 160p. DJ. Over 70 photos and illustrations. Pigeon Point - Those lucky enough to survive the bloodiest of shipwrecks at Pigeon Point say the San Juan, an old steamer, was doomed from the moment it collided with an oil tanker just before midnight on Aug. 29, 1929. "We heard the crash and the lights went out," said the San Juan's second officer. "Then, in a second, I got covered with water and the vessel sank from under me." Fifty-five passengers and 20 crewmen perished in the fog as the waves overtook the splintered steamer. Just one child survived the wreck as his mother threw him onto the deck of the oil tanker, itself damaged from the collision. Such tales haunt the pages of "Shipwrecks, Scalawags, and Scavengers: The Storied Waters of Pigeon Point." Between 1853 and 1953, ships of all types – clipper ships, barks, schooners, steamers — sailing the central California Coast fell victim to Pigeon Point’s unpredictable weather and rocky shoreline. Author and historian JoAnn Semones offers the first- ever history of shipwrecks at San Mateo County's notoriously treacherous Pigeon Point, using rare photographs and historic accounts from the people whose lives were altered by their experiences there. (M). $24.95.
28261. Harrison, Timothy. Lighthouses of the Sunrise County. Foghorn Publishing. 2008. 189p. Soft wraps. The most complete photographic book ever published about the eleven lighthouses where the rays of the sun first touch the coast of the United States of America - Maine's Washington County. This detailed work by noted lighthouse historian and writer Tim Harrison utilizes hundreds of early photographs to detail the lives of the keepers of the lighthouses at some of Maine's most pictures and remote light stations from the days of the U.S. Lighthouse Service to the days of U.S Coast Guard and then to the present. Superb accounts by keeper and their families and descendents make this a most interesting read. Includes many early, rare photos, memories and storied about the keepers and their families, their pets, work and improvements to the station over the years, and much more. Includes an entire chapter on Connie Small, the "First Lady of Light." Light stations include Avery Rock, Libby Island, Little River, Lubec Channel, Moose Peak, Narraguagus, Nash Island, Petit Manan, St. Croix River, West Quoddy Head and Whitlock's Mill. Great reading, well worth the price for the images alone! (M). $18.95.
28319.
Peterson, Harold L., THE AMERICAN SWORD 1775 – 1945
– A survey of the Swords Worn by the Uniformed Forces of the United
States from the Revolution to the close of World War II. Dover. 2003.
Soft wraps. A complete classification and description of all the major types of
swords worn by the armed forces of the
28365. Shaw, David W. The Sea Shall Embrace Them - The Tragic Story of the Steamship Arctic. Free Press. 2002. DJ. 241p. The 1854 collision at sea between the American ship Arctic and the Vesta, a much smaller French steamship, set in motion one of the most harrowing events in maritime history. David W. Shaw has based this fascinating account on the firsthand testimony of the few who survived the wreck, including the Arctic's heroic captain, James C. Luce, who was forced to fight his mutinous crew as they took the lifeboats and left hundreds of passengers to suffer a cruel and painful death. Not only did 400 people -- including Luce's own frail son -- die by daybreak, but the wreck also ended the domination of the seas by the American maritime fleet for the rest of the nineteenth century. Utterly compelling, The Sea Shall Embrace Them is a stirring slice of heretofore little-known American history. Beautifully written, it puts the reader on deck as a ship full of men, women, and children do battle both with a mighty ocean and with their own baser instincts. (M). Published at $24.95. Our price $22.95.
28375. Hodgkins, John. A Soldier's Son: An American Boyhood during World War II. Down East Books. 2006. 325p. Soft wraps. John Hodgkins was eight years old when his father was drafted into the army and left for Europe to fight in World War II. After his return, John's father never spoke much about the war, but John knew he'd kept a diary. After his father's death, John opened his diary and two boxes of memorabilia. What began as John's attempt to tell his father's story became the story of his own life. This memoir recounts what life was like on the home front of Temple, Maine, during the war -- as well as what life was like on the front lines, thanks to what John learned from his father's letters home and his war diary. It also provides a firsthand look at the hardscrabble lives of rural Mainers and a way of living that is now mostly gone. (M). $16.95.
28301. Elmer, EDeana Bosworth. Lighthouses of Louisiana. St. Albans. 2008. DJ. 131p. The first book ever to be completely devoted to the history of Louisiana’s lighthouses. Author E’Deana Elmer has always been fascinated by lighthouses. It took two and a half years of digging using such sources as the National Archives and the Coast Guard Archives to put together this detailed history of these little known and in many cases long lost beacons. “Did you know that the Chase bank building (formerly the Hibernia building) on Canal and Carondelet was once used as a lighthouse,” the author indicated in an interview. At the time it was built it was the tallest building in New Orleans and ships would use the lights on the buildings roof as a guide. There once had been 35 lighthouses in Louisiana, with only nine of them still standing today. Only two of them are still operational - the Southwest Pass lighthouse and the Sabine Pass East Jetty lighthouse. Most of Louisiana’s lighthouses have been snuffed out, destroyed by storms, eaten away by erosion, or simply torn down. (M). Published at $29.95. Our price $26.95.
8298.
Bachelder, Peter Dow and Mason Philip Smith. FOUR SHORT
BLASTS – The Gale of 1898 and the Loss of the Steamer
28240. Buker, Commander George E., THE METAL LIFE CAR- The Inventor, the Impostor, and the Business of Lifesaving. University of Alabama Press. 2008. DJ. 224p, 17 illustrations. This title presents the fascinating story of American ingenuity and its struggle against bureaucracy and chicanery. For centuries sailing vessels crept along the coastline, ready to flee ashore in case of danger or trouble; this worked well until weather or poor sailing drove these ships against an unforgiving coast. Joseph Francis, born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1801, was an inventor who also had the ability to organize a business to produce his inventions and the salesmanship to sell his products. His metal lifeboats, first used in survey expeditions in Asia Minor and Central America, came into demand among the world's merchant marine, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Revenue Service. His corrugated "life car" would become an important tool of the U.S. Life-Saving Service. The metal boats also played an important role in the Third Seminole War in Florida. Francis' metal pontoon army wagons served in the trans-Mississippi campaigns against the Indians. In Europe, he was acclaimed as a genius and sold patent rights to shipyards in Liverpool and the Woolwich Arsenal in England, Le Havre seaport in France, in the free city of Hamburg, and in the Russian Empire. But while Francis was busy in Europe, Captain Douglass Ottinger, U.S. Revenue Marine Service, claimed to be the inventor of Francis' life car and obtained support in the U.S. Congress and the Patent Office for his claim. Francis had to battle for decades to prove his rights, and Americans remained generally unfamiliar with his devices, thereby condemning Civil War armies to inferior copies while Europe was using, and acclaiming, his inventions. Long awaited account of the work of this important life-saving equipment inventor. (M). $29.95.
28308. Ellsberg, Commander Edward. On the Bottom. Flat Hammock Press. 2004. 256 pages w/ photos, with added CD, & DVD. With an introduction by Edward L. Beach, Captain, U. S. Navy (Retired). First published in 1929, this enthralling work has become one of the greatest true stories of adventure, dogged determination, courage and loyalty ever written. On the evening of September 25, 1925 the U.S. Navy Submarine S-51 was rammed by the steamship SS City of Rome in open seas off Block Island, Rhode Island, and sank in 132 feet of water, with the loss of 33 lives. This disaster evoked such a storm of popular indignation against the Navy Department that something had to be done. It was felt that at all costs a determined attempt must be made to raise the S-51, if only to restore public confidence. No vessel had ever been raised from such a depth, and to the technical mind the thing was impossible. The task of salvaging the submarine fell to Lieutenant Commander Edward Ellsberg and a group of naval divers scavenged from all over the fleet. It was done painstakingly over a nine month period and involved obstacle after obstacle, all the while battling rough seas, icy waters, and "the bends." Working in hard hats with lead boots, in minimal light, while dragging air lines behind them, each diver had about an hour of exhausting and terrifying work before a lengthy decompression process. It is no exaggeration to say that the impossible was achieved. Originally published in 1929, this magnificent account of the struggle on the ocean floor to salvage the sunken U.S. Navy submarine, S-51, has become a modern classic of the sea. What was not included in Edward Ellsberg’s gripping account are specifics of the accident, the aftermath, and the extent that the event touched the nation. This expanded edition presents this and more by including an introduction, a publisher’s preface, additional photographs, an afterword, and appendixes. Also added is a recording of the period song "Sinking of the Submarine S-51," an oral history by Commander Ellsberg, and a video disc of rare on scene newsreel footage. "A marvelous tale, filled with moments of horrified expectancy, of glad thrills, of impossible deeds and endurances, of achievements that smack of magic." (The New York Times). (M). $34.95 Due in soon:
28129.
Galluzzo, John. Lifesavers of the South Shore – A
History of Rescue and Loss. History Press. 2008. DJ. 128p. However cruelly
the rocks of 28262. Bostick, Douglas W. The Morris Island Lighthouse: Charleston's Maritime Beacon. History Press. 2008. 128p. Douglas Bostick, historian and former director of Save the Light, Inc., recounts the stories of the many lightkeepers and their families who braved meager provisions, low pay and grueling conditions living on a small island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor. Filled with over 55 black & white photographs. (M). $19.99
28300.
DeWire, Elinore. LIGHTHOUSES OF THE SOUTH – Your
Guide to the Lighthouses of Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
and Florida.
28310. Ransom, Candice. Rescue on the Outer Banks. Millbrook Press. 2002. 48p. Soft wraps. Illustrated by Karen Ritz. Superb and artwork introduces young readers to Life Saving Service history through this fictionalized story based on the exploits of the Pea Island Lifesavers. On October 11, 1896, ten-year-old Sam Deal and his horse, Ginger, watch as the brave surfmen of Pea Island struggle to save the lives of nine people stranded on a shipwreck. Sam has dreamt of becoming a surfman just like the all-African-American crew, and this is his chance. Can he and Ginger help the crew rescue the victims, or will they be lost forever? Written in a story format, this account relates events that really happened, followed by a brief summary of the historical event to further explain the significance it had on history. Wonderful for your children, and for yourself just for the illustrations. (M). $14.95.
28285. Meehan, James D. My, But the Wind Did Blow - Memoirs of Delaware's Epic Struggles with the Sea. Published by Harold E. Dukes, Jr.; 2003. 176p. DJ. Signed by the author. Most interesting work includes more than 300 photos telling the dramatic story of how Delawareans coped with the perils of the sea. Includes the 1962 storm...the collapse of the Cape Henlopen Lighthouse...dramatic shipwrecks...light stations of the past, the U.S. Life Saving Service, keepers and crews, lightships...rumrunners...war preparations...how U-boats sank two ships off the Delaware coast...surrender of German submarine and much more. Fine large vintage and recent photos. Great addition to your library, almost impossible to find. (M). $34.95. By the same author: 28340. Meehan, James D. When Life Was a Day at the Beach – An Oral History of the Delaware Coast 1907-1952. Harold E. Dukes Jr. Bethany Beach. 2007. 176p. DJ. In an oral history, told through the words of 70 people interviewed, comes a different type of story … one which overflows with the poignant memories of the men and women who helped build a legacy for the Delaware shore. The first-person text is supplemented with over 300 vintage photos. A wonderful memoir. (M). $39.95. 28341. Meehan, James D. Rehoboth Beach Memoirs – From Saints to Sinners. Harold E. Dukes Jr. Bethany Beach. 2000. 256p. DJ. An outstanding collection of vintage photos depicts the history of Rehoboth Beach, from the past to the present. More than 500 photos with accompanying text that bring the fascinating history of Rehoboth Beach to life for the first time – in visual detail. Fascinating, educational and memorable. (M). $34.95. 28342. Meehan, James D. Bethany Beach Memoirs – A Long Look Back. Harold E. Dukes Jr. Bethany Beach. 1998. Fourth printing 2007. 160p. DJ. A superb collection of vintage photographs details the progress of this peaceful resort from the 1920’s, through the war years, to the present day. Over 250 photographs are beautifully presented, bringing to life this seaside resort. (M). $39.95.
Nominated for the 2008 Foundation for Coast Guard History book award:
27268.
Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET: SURFSIDE
LIFE-SAVING STATION - A History of Nantucket’s Life-Saving Stations.
Volume I. Worcester. 2007. 79 p. Soft wraps.
Special edition, signed and numbered of 500, includes pasted in wood chip
from Surfside Life-Saving Station. Historic Nantucket: Surfside Life-Saving
Station is one of a continuing series of booklets that tell the story of
historic lighthouses, lightships and life-saving stations along the New England
Special Purchase Sale:
9496.
Peterson, Douglas, (U.S.C.G. Retired)
28198. Groot, E. P., The United States Life-Saving Service in Ocean County. Excerpts From Annual Reports of the United States Life Saving Service for the Fiscal Years Ending June 30, 1876-1914. Ocean County Historical Society. 2005. 368p. Stiff wraps. This is a carefully prepared and attractively presented narrative of the Life-Saving Service in Ocean County from 1876 to 1914. After witnessing a shipwreck on the coast of Long Beach Island and the loss of all thirteen lives in 1839, W. A. Newell was prompted as a Congressman in 1848 to appeal for funds to establish a federal life-saving system. This book tells the story of that system, its function, and activities at Ocean County’s eight life saving stations. Included are numerous accounts of wrecks and rescue efforts taken from original reposts and other sources, as well as extensive statistical information on maritime accidents and developments in life-saving technique. The book contains extensive notes on the U.S. Life Saving Service, locations and manning of stations, activities and narratives of life saving crews, tabular summaries of maritime accidents, an index of vessel names, and various maps and pictures. Excellent reference and reading. Rare. (M). $88.
28169.
Thurlow, Sandra Henderson and Deanna Wintercorn. GILBERT’S
BAR HOUSE OF REFUGE – Home of History. Stuart. 2008. 96p. Soft
wraps. The Houses of Refuge in Florida were a series of stations operated by the
United States Life Saving Service along the coast of Florida to rescue and
shelter ship-wrecked sailors. Five houses were built on the east coast in 1876,
with five more added in 1885. There was also two Life Saving Stations built, one
just south of the Jupiter Inlet, the other on the Gulf coast on Santa Rosa
Island near Pensacola. The houses were manned by civilian keepers, contractors
who lived in the houses with their families. Most of these houses remained in
service as life-saving stations until 1915 or later. Some of the locations
became United States Coast Guard stations after the Life Saving Service was
merged into the Coast Guard in 1915.Today, only one remains – Gilbert’s Bar.
This rare and wonderful account of the life and work at these lonely outposts is
long overdue. (M). $16.95.
28238. Bathurst, Bella. The Wreckers – A Story of Killing Seas and Plundered Shipwreck, from the Eighteenth Century to the Present Day. Boston. 2005. 326p. DJ. Bella Bathurst's first book, the acclaimed The Lighthouse Stevensons, told the story of Scottish lighthouse construction by the ancestors of Robert Louis Stevenson. Now she returns to the sea to search out the darker side of those lights, detailing the secret history of shipwrecks and the predatory scavengers who live off the spoils. Even today, Britain's coastline remains a dangerous place. An island soaked by four separate seas, with shifting sand banks to the east, veiled reefs to the west, powerful currents above, and the world's busiest shipping channel below, the country's offshore waters are strewn with shipwrecks. For villagers scratching out an existence along Britain's shores, those wrecks have been more than simply an act of God; in many cases, they have been the difference between living well and just getting by. Some plunderers were held to be so skilled that they could strip a ship from stem to stern before the Coast Guard had even left port, some were rumored to lure ships onto the rocks with false lights, and some simply waited for winter gales to do their work. From all around Britain, Bathurst has uncovered the hidden history of ships and shipwreck victims, from shoreline orgies so Dionysian that few participants survived the morning to humble homes fitted with silver candelabra, to coastlines rigged like stage sets to villages where everyone owns identical tennis shoes. Spanning three hundred years of history, The Wreckers examines the myths, the realities, and the superstitions of shipwrecks and uncovers the darker side of life on Britain's shores. (M). Published at $25. Our Price $16.95.
28192.
Raffield, John C. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD STATION ~
PANAMA CITY - A Seventy Two Year History 1933-2005.
Jacksonville. 2005. 111p. Soft wraps. United States Coast Guard Station ~ Panama
City, A Seventy Two Year History," was the first and only documented Coast
Guard history for Panama City and Bay County since the United States Coast
Guard’s arrival in 1933. The station featured nine C.G. Cutters, four C.G.
manned Lighthouses, and WW II Coastal Defense Gun Emplacements at the Pass, K-9
and mounted beach patrols, and the forty LSTs that conducted their two-week
shakedown exercises in the Gulf, and anchored in St. Andrews Bay for ‘safe
harbor’ at night to escape the German U-boats activity in the Gulf. Growing up
in Panama City, the author had both direct and indirect relationship with the
Coast Guard crews, CG Auxiliary personnel, and retirees. Over the years, Coast
Guard retirees have made Panama City their new home, and made boating at one
level or another, their business. The author has always had a fondness for the
beaches, water, boats, and has felt a friendship with the Coast Guard as his dad
had throughout WW II as a member of the CG Auxiliary, and having lived in the
old Coast Guard Headquarters ~ barracks as a child. In this privately published
work, the author presents a detailed history of Coast Guard Station – Panama
City including the men and facilities, history of cutters assigned there over
the years, harbor defenses and beach patrols, lighthouses in the area, LSTs and
World War II activities, and more. Thoroughly illustrated with photographs. (M).
$58. 28202.
Raffield, John C. BIRTH PLACES OF U.S. COAST GUARD
CUTTERS, SMALL BOATS, AND STATIONS – PANAMA CITY, FL. - A Seventy Four Year
History 1933-2007. Jacksonville. 2007. 292p. Soft wraps. Birth Places
Of U.S. Coast Guard Cutters evolved as an additional detailed Coast Guard
history – a companion to the author’s earlier work United States Coast Guard
Station ~ Panama City. In this work he includes additional CG Cutters, bringing
the total U.S. Coast Guard Cutters to eleven being homeported in Panama City.
Through the years, there have been four different Station locations, and the
eleven cutters, four small boats, and four aids to navigation boats making their
berths in seven different locations in St. Andrews Bay. The author felt the need
to complete a more in depth look into the cutters and boats. The author felt
that the new historical information and photos needed to be documented before
all the existing personal historical resources “Cross The Bar,” resulting in
their accounts of local Coast Guard history being lost to Station-Panama City,
Panama City, and Bay County. Growing up in Panama City, the author had both
direct and indirect relationship with the Coast Guard crews, CG Auxiliary
personnel, and retirees. Over the years, Coast Guard retirees have made Panama
City their new home, and made boating at one level or another, their business.
The author has always had a fondness for the beaches, water, boats, and has felt
a friendship with the Coast Guard as his dad had throughout WW II as a member of
the CG Auxiliary, and having lived in the old Coast Guard Headquarters ~
barracks as a child. In this privately published work, the author presents a
detailed history of the vessels of U.S. Coast Guard Station – Panama City.
Thoroughly illustrated with photographs. (M). $68.
28196.
Hill, Peter. Stargazing. Knopf. 2004. 275p.
DJ. When Peter Hill, a student at Dundee College of Art, answered an
advertisement seeking relief lighthouse keepers, little did he imagine that
within a month he would be living with three men he didn't know in a lighthouse
on Pladda, a small remote island off the west coast of
28209.
Morris, Patricia. Georgia's Lighthouses. 28210.
28211.
Fahlen, Kim and Karen Scanlon. Lighthouses of San
Diego. 28212.
Fahlen, Kim and Karen Scanlon. Lighthouses of San Diego.
28213.
Veronico, Betty S. Lighthouses of the Bay Area. 28214.
Veronico, Betty S. Lighthouses of the Bay Area.
28215.
Taylor, Cathy. Maryland's Lighthouses. 28216.
Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina
Lighthouses. 28217.
Clary, Margie Willis and Kim McDermott. South Carolina
Lighthouses. 28218.
Author(s): The
28155. Campbell, Lyall. Sable Island Shipwrecks - Disaster and Survival at the North Atlantic Graveyard. Nimbus. 1994. 200p. Illustrated. More than 500 ships have gone aground in this "graveyard of the Atlantic" since 1583 when one of Sir Humphrey Gilbert's ships, the "Delight", went down. Campbell has studied the marine disasters around Sable Island and tells many of their stories. This best-selling book tells of disaster, danger, rescue, and survival, and the people who provided care and safe haven for those unlucky enough to be shipwrecked in the Graveyard of the North Atlantic. $17.95.
28162. Floca, Brian. LIGHTSHIP. New York. 2007. 40p. DJ. This is a truly beautiful picture book about a subject most young readers may never have encountered. Author-illustrator Floca, in brisk but poetic words and stunning watercolors that are both witty and informative, tells the story of the red-hulled Ambrose Light. Young adventurers are sure to be drawn into the life of the crew and its cat, as the ship weathers fog, storms, and close encounters with other vessels, while all the time she "holds her one sure spot." From the shining lights high on the masts to the domain of the engineer deep in the hull, Floca's research lets readers explore the equipment of a lightship and the perils of the sea. Though each picture deserves attention, especially striking are the ones of the scarlet hull in a snowstorm (through portholes, cat and cook are seen snug below) and of the huge black shape of the S.S. Ardizzone (a tribute to the English illustrator) looming over the Ambrose as a crewman shouts his warning. (M). $19.95.
28108. D’Entremont, Jeremy. The Lighthouse Handbook: New England. Kennebunkport. 2008. 440p. Soft wraps. New England's remarkable and stunning lighthouses are among the region's greatest attractions, treasured national landmarks beloved by all. Many are still operative, too, guarding the rocky and dangerous northeastern coastline. This breathtaking volume captures every magnificent one, in full color and with directions for reaching even the least accessible. In addition to its comprehensiveness, the book's size makes it a wonderful working field guide that fits comfortably in a glove compartment or backpack. Foreword by Bob Trapani, executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. (M). $14.95
27302. Powers, Dennis M. SENTINEL OF THE SEAS – Life and Death at the Most Dangerous Lighthouse Ever Built. Citadel Press. 2007. 380p. DJ. Miles off the coast of northern California lies a mariner’s nightmare. Concealed by roiling sea and thick fog, the jagged edges of a submerged volcanic mountain chain await approaching vessels like predators in the mist. This is one of the most hazardous reefs off the West Coast. And for over a century, it has been home to the most remote, most expensive, and most dangerous lighthouse ever built in America. In Sentinel of the Seas, Dennis M. Powers chronicles the heroic stories of men and women who have gone where land and sea collide. To build the St. George Reef Lighthouse, Alexander Ballantyne—probably the only man alive who was qualified and brave enough to supervise such a project—faced incredible hurdles, including the haul of six-ton granite blocks onto a spit of washed-over land from a quarry seventy-five miles away. In 1937 George Roux, the tough, longtime head lighthouse keeper, was trapped for two months by howling winds and stories-high waves with his crew on the verge of mutiny. In 1951 a rogue wave capsized a Coast Guard launch being lowered from the lighthouse, challenging keeper Fred Permenter to attempt a nearly impossible rescue that would win him a place in Coast Guard history. Based on five years of research drawing on the National Archives, original journals, and personal interviews, Sentinel of the Seas is the first book to capture the tumultuous history of this astounding engineering feat and the lives that have been influenced by it. (M). $21.95.
2873. na. H. K. CUMMINGS REVISITED, 1887-1905. Vol. I. Intro. by Henry Scammell. Bobi Eldridge (Coordinator). Snow Library. Orleans. 2004. 35p. Soft wraps. Superbly reproduced images from the collection of 750 glass plate photographs taken by H. K. Cummings at the turn of the previous century. Henry Knowles Cummings, born in the last year of the Civil War, discovered the fascination of photography the years from 1885 to 1905. His photos bore images of the town as it then was, streets and buildings, horses and rigs, and people and dogs. Other plates held images made by the ever present sea. He pointed his camera everywhere, at the treeless moors of the Outer Cape, at the wooden sailing ships storm-smashed against the shore, at the crews of life-saving stations. That was H. K. Cummings pursuing his avocation, as two or three of his Orleans contemporaries did. On the counter of his dry good store on Main Street, he kept a pile of prints from his negatives, which he sold for 25 cents each. By the time of his death in the 1950s, at 87, Cummings the photographer had amassed about 1,000 views of Orleans scenes and people. His plates and some of his prints are preserved now at the Snow Library, a valuable record in the history of the town. Volume I contains thirty three impressions including Chatham Twin Lights, the wreck of the Kate Harding (December 1892), Orleans Life-Saving crew, town views and much more. A joy to peruse through, beautifully done. (M). $17.95.
2874. na. H. K. CUMMINGS REVISITED, 1887-1905. Vol. II: Working. Intro. by Henry Scammell. Bobi Eldridge (Coordinator). Snow Library. Orleans. 2006. 35p. Soft wraps. Superbly reproduced images from the collection of 750 glass plate photographs taken by H. K. Cummings at the turn of the previous century. Henry Knowles Cummings, born in the last year of the Civil War, discovered the fascination of photography the years from 1885 to 1905. His photos bore images of the town as it then was, streets and buildings, horses and rigs, and people and dogs. Other plates held images made by the ever present sea. He pointed his camera everywhere, at the treeless moors of the Outer Cape, at the wooden sailing ships storm-smashed against the shore, at the crews of life-saving stations. That was H. K. Cummings pursuing his avocation, as two or three of his Orleans contemporaries did. On the counter of his dry good store on Main Street, he kept a pile of prints from his negatives, which he sold for 25 cents each. By the time of his death in the 1950s, at 87, Cummings the photographer had amassed about 1,000 views of Orleans scenes and people. His plates and some of his prints are preserved now at the Snow Library, a valuable record in the history of the town. Volume II contains thirty three impressions including Wellfleet Lighthouse, wreck of Charles A Campbell, Orleans Life Saving crew, Orleans Cable Station, salt works, town views and much more. A joy to peruse through, beautifully done. (M). $17.95.
28114. Drew, Bernard A., The Berkshire Photo Album – Historic Images 1870’s – 1990’s. Pittsfield. 1999. 128p. A wonderful collection of some 440 images from The Berkshire Eagle’s extensive archive, this book provides a look at life, love, and labor during the last century and a half in the two cities and thirty towns of Massachusetts’ western-most county. Many of the views are published here for the first time and feature people, places and events both well remembered and long-forgotten. Excellent New England reading. (M). $16.95
2890. Coston, Martha J., SIGNAL SUCCESS. The Work and Travels of Mrs. Martha J. Coston. An Autobiography. Kessinger. 2007. 333p. Reprint. Soft wraps. Widow of the inventor of the Coston flares used extensively by the Life-Saving Service, tells of her efforts to sell his night signals. Martha Coston was born in 1826. Widowed at 21, she discovered her late husband's (a former naval scientist) notes on the invention of a ship-to-ship, land-to-ship pyrotechnic flare signal system. Martha Coston perfected AND then patented her deceased husband’s idea for a pyrotechnic flare. Martha Coston developed the idea into an elaborate system of flares called Night Signals that allowed ships to communicate messages nocturnally. The U. S. Navy eventually bought the patent rights to the flares. Coston’s flares served as the basis of a system of communication that helped to save lives and to win battles. The Coston flare was also used extensively by the U. S. Life Saving Service and later Coast Guard. Martha Coston credited her late husband with the first patent for the flares, but in 1871 she received a patent for an improvement exclusively her own. Her system was also adopted by the governments of France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Haiti. As of the late 1970s, the Coston Supply Company established by Mrs. Coston remained in business. This system of bright, long-lasting signal flares revolutionized naval communication and continues to be in use. (M). $36.
2821. (DVD) The Lightship
(c1985, released June 2005) with actors: Tom
Bower, Klaus
Maria Brandauer, Robert
Costanzo, Badja
Djola, Robert
Duvall. From the 1934 novel by Archie Binns. Lightships – stationary
vessels that serve as offshore lighthouses – were once a common feature of the
27462. Roche, James D. The Cuckolds Lighthouse: A Challenge to All Except the Mariner. iUniverse. 2002. 74p. Soft wraps. The historical significance of the Cuckolds ledge in Maine dates back to 1874. Located at the entrance of Boothbay Harbor, a busy East Coast port, this seven-acre, fifteen-foot-high rock ledge was easily hidden at night and by ocean waves, fog, or snowstorms. Initially it was outfitted with a tripod and day-board, then a fog signal station, and finally a lighthouse. When the power of automation replaced the knowledge and skill of the traditional lighthouse keeper, the Cuckolds Lighthouse was left on its own to battle the elements and warn the approaching mariner of the dangers lurking only fifty-nine feet below its shining light. Having withstood more than a hundred years of abuse from the ocean's fury, the lighthouse stands today not only as a navigational beacon but also as a symbol of America's rich maritime history. The Cuckolds Lighthouse provides a look into the important past of this small lighthouse off the coast of Maine and the people who kept the little light going day and night. Illustrated with many vintage photos. (M). $12.45.
2806. Cavallaro, Lenny and Lou Cook, Bob Jannoni. SOLVED:
The Mystery of the General Arnold. Carver. 2007. 112 p. Soft wraps.
In 1778, the brigantine General Arnold went aground on the White Flat off
Plymouth, Massachusetts. More than 70 men froze to death in one of the most
horrible naval disasters of the Revolutionary War. Almost two centuries later,
the skeletal remains emerged from the waters. Was this the Arnold? The debate
lasted for many years. Finally, in this work, the authors solve this mystery and
relate the tale of this stricken vessel. (M). $8.95.
27459. (DVD) The Great Ships - The Coast Guard Ships (History Channel) c.2005. New old stock, factory seaeled, from program presented in 1997 on the History Channel and A&E Home Video. The United States Coast Guard has policed the nation's waters since the 1790s. From the first official vessels of the U.S. Government to today's specialized lifesaving craft, the ships of the Guard have played a vital role in maritime history. This in-depth program goes aboard some of the many craft employed by the Coast Guard, from the small boats used for shoreline rescue operations to the deep-sea patrol ships that form the vanguard in America's war against drugs. See dramatic footage of real-life search and rescue operations, and hear incredible stories of life-and-death missions from Coast Guard sailors and officers. And trace the evolution of the Guards' ships from the earliest Revenue Cutters to the myriad vessels of the modern force. The DVD also presents the history of the Coast Guard including the U.S. Life Saving Service and the Revenue Cutter Service to the present day cutters and boats. Color and B&W. 50 minutes. (M) $24.95
27303. Wardius, Barb and Ken. WIND
POINT LIGHTHOUSE.
27301. Rongner, George E. LIFE
ABOARD A COAST GUARD LIGHTSHIP. Infinity Publishing. 2007. 247p. Soft
wraps. George E. Rongner served 32 years in the U. S. Coast Guard, enlisting as
a surfman and rising to Chief Warrant Officer. One of his many assignments
included ass Officer in Charge, Buzzards Bay Lightship. His readable account
chronicles the ceaseless dangers and constant tedium experienced by the men
living closely together at sea for such lengthy periods of time. He describes as
no outsider can, how they reacted to the routine, the piercing emanations of the
fog signal, and the perils from storms and passing vessels. Former lightship
sailor and anyone interested in the sea, will enjoy this look into the everyday
life aboard a Coast Guard Lightship. Nicely done, a great read. (M).
$14.95.
27296. Kirklin, Wayne. LIGHTSHIPS:
Floating Lighthouses Of The Mid-Atlantic. History Press. 2007. 128p.
Before radar, depth finders and satellite-guided navigation—before the
seafloor was charted with scientific precision—mariners had to rely on
alternative means to approach a coastline safely. Lightships played an
invaluable role in filling the void. In Lightships, author Wayne Kirklin
chronicles the heyday of these crucial navigational aids. (M). $19.99.
27330. D’Entremont, Jeremy. THE
LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS. Beverly. 2007. Soft wraps. 240 p. With
The Lighthouses of Massachusetts, author Jeremy D’Entremonthe continues his
new series, "Lighthouse Treasury," which describes the fascinating
history of our American lighthouses, state by state. The author focuses on the
human side of lighthouse history, telling the tales of the courageous keepers,
male and female, and their families who kept the beacons burning, braved
ferocious storms, and saved hundreds of lives in the days when shipwrecks were
commonplace. In The Lighthouses of Massachusetts, D'Entremont continues his
definitive series, narrating the histories of more than sixty lights from
Buzzards Bay to Newburyport. The Lighthouses of Massachusetts is meticulously
researched and copiously illustrated, with photographs from the author's
enormous collection. (M). $21.95
27234.
Edgett, Ruth. A WATCH IN THE NIGHT: THE STORY OF Available Spring 2008 -
27268.
Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET: SURFSIDE
LIFE-SAVING STATION - A History of Nantucket’s Life-Saving Stations.
Volume I. Worcester. 2007. 64 p. Soft wraps.
Historic Nantucket: Surfside Life-Saving Station is one of a continuing series
of booklets that tell the story of historic lighthouses, lightships and
life-saving stations along the New England
23254.
Jones, Ray. THE LIGHTHOUSE ENCYCLOPEDIA – A
Definitive Reference.
27259.
Barbo, Theresa M., John J. Galluzo and W. Russell Webster. THE
PENDLETON DISASTER OFF CAPE COD: THE GREATEST SMALL BOAT RESCUE IN COAST GUARD
HISTORY. History Press. 2007. 128p. Soft wraps. Late in February
1952, a northeaster swept
27223.
Sutherland, Kenneth G. UNITED STATES COAST GUARD HARBOR
PATROL FLEET 1924-1980. Bloomington. 2007. Soft wraps. 248p. One of
the most important activities of the U.S. Coast Guard is Port Security under the
control of the Captain of the Port. This book is a first attempt to collect and
share data on the various types of small boats used by the C.O.T.P. On
June 15th, 1917, Congress passed the Espionage Act, forming the basis for the
Coast Guard's Port Security and Port Safety Missions and by 1918, jurisdiction
over the anchorage and movement of vessels in harbors changed from the War
Department to the Treasury Department, with Coast Guard officers as Captains of
the Ports. The U. S. Coast Guard's Port Security Small Boat Stations and Units
have a long and proud tradition of duty and service, from enforcing the rules
and regulations to anti-sabotage patrols, search and rescue, fire-fighting, and
placing marine inspection teams aboard large supertankers underway in all
weather conditions. Covering the period from 1924-1980, this book provides the
first look at the variety of craft used to carry out these missions. (M).
Published at $34.99. Our price $31.99.
27171.
Hall, Thomas. THE T.W. LAWSON: THE FATE OF THE WORLD'S
ONLY SEVEN-MASTED SCHOONER.
27155. Waugh, Chris. MISTY MEMORIES OF GUARD ISLAND,
ALASKA – Ketchikan’s Legacy of a Lighthouse Family.
27179.
Kroll, C. Douglas. COMMODORE ELLSWORTH P. BERTHOLF –
First Commandant of the Coast Guard. Annapolis. 2002. 160p. DJ.
Written by a former Coast Guard officer, the book chronicles Bertholf’s
colorful early career with the service when he patrolled the vast reaches of the
Pacific, enforced maritime laws regulating the fishing, sealing, and whaling
industries, participated in daring rescues, and transported Siberian reindeer
from Russia to the starving Inuits. When Ellsworth P. Bertholf was
court-martialed and dismissed from the Naval Academy for a hazing incident, no
one could have predicted his future greatness. But undaunted by his experience
at the academy, Bertholf pursued a career in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and
by 1902 had earned a special Gold Medal of Honor from the U.S. Congress for his
role in a dramatic overland relief expedition to Alaska. By 1915 he had bypassed
twenty-two officers senior to him to become the first commandant of the U.S.
Coast Guard and went on to successfully steer his fledgling service through the
trials of World War I. This biography of the man who has been called the savior
of the Coast Guard offers a revealing portrait not only of Bertholf but also of
the last years of the Revenue Cutter and Life-Saving Services and the early
formative years of the Coast Guard. (F). Published at $39.95. Our price
$24.95.
27201.
Pinyerd, David. LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ON THE
OREGON COAST. 2007. Arcadia Publishing. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200
vintage photographs. The Oregon Coast has been the site of shipwrecks even
before Lewis and Clark’s arrival in 1805. Even as the population grew, the
federal government let the Oregon Coast go unguarded by lighthouses and
lifesavers for decades. Economic and political pressures finally forced the
government to build the first Oregon lighthouse in 1857 at the Umpqua River. The
LifeSaving Service followed in 1878 with a station at the mouth of Coos Bay.
Eventually, most of the harbor entrances and headlands were protected by both
the Lighthouse Service and the LifeSaving Service, the precursor to today’s
Coast Guard. Lighthouses and Lifesaving on the Oregon Coast commemorates the
true heroes who served to warn, protect, and rescue those who went to sea.
Another in the series from
27200.
Roales, Judith. DELAWARE LIGHTHOUSES AND RANGE LIGHTS.
2007. Arcadia Publishing. 128 p. Soft wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Delaware
does not usually come to mind as one of America’s great maritime states. Yet
it has a long history of “firsts,” innovations, and improvements in
lighthouse construction and technology dating from the beginning of lighthouse
history in the United States. One of the original six lighthouses built before
the founding of this country was in Delaware. In the following years, major
offshore lighthouses and an extensive system of range lights were established.
At the height of its lighthouse history, Delaware had 27 manned light stations
that warned mariners of the shoals and colliding currents at the mouth of the
Delaware Bay and guided ships safely from the Atlantic Ocean to the inland ports
of Wilmington and Philadelphia. Most of Delaware’s lighthouses are gone now,
preserved only in faded photographs and yellowed documents such as those
collected here. The lights that remain struggle daily to survive the punishing
hands of vandals and Mother Nature. Another in the series from 27199.
Ewing, Wallace K and David H. Seibold. MARITIME GRAND
HAVEN: COAST GUARD CITY USA. 2006. Arcadia Publishing. 128 p. Soft
wraps. 200 vintage photographs. Settlers arrived at the mouth of the Grand River
on November 2, 1834. Their community was christened Grand Haven, as it offered a
secure harbor. As the logging industry grew, shipping expanded, and Grand Haven
Harbor became especially busy during the financial boom and westward expansion
that followed the Civil War. Northwest Ottawa County became an established
resort destination, and passenger boats frequented the harbor as well. Heavy
traffic through Grand Haven caused concern about shipwrecks. The first crew of
lifesavers was formed in 1871 and soon joined the United States Lifesaving
Service. In 1915, the United States Lifesaving Service merged with the United
States Coast Guard. Grand Haven has long had a proud association with these
dedicated crews, and in 1998, the relationship was marked when Congress
designated it “Coast Guard City USA.” Another in the series from
Just in: 2789. THEY HAD TO GO OUT – True Stories of America’s Coastal Life Savers From The Pages of “Wreck & Rescue Journal”. Gwinn. 2007. Forward by Fred Stonehouse. 208p. Soft wraps. They Had to Go Out represents an unprecedented gathering works of talented historians working in the field of Life Saving Service history, taken from the pages of Wreck & Rescue Journal. Included are the writings of Ralph Shanks, Fred Stonehouse, Dennis L. Noble, Maurice Gibbs, and John Galluzzo.The stories reach from Massachusetts to Michigan to Washington, covering some of the accounts of bravado and selflessness of the men of the U. S. Life Saving Service, shedding more light on perhaps the most exciting aspect of America’s maritime history. (M). Published at $16.95. Our price $15.95. 26323.
27101. Szelog, Thomas and Lee Ann Szelog. OUR
POINT OF VIEW – Fourteen Years at a Maine Lighthouse. Down East
Books. 2007. 112p. DJ. Beautifully illustrated with 106 color photos by the
authors. Our Point of View offers moving personal glimpses about living in a
lighthouse keeper's home, as well as arrestingly beautiful visual images of the
lighthouse and property and views from this one-of-a-kind vantage point. Tom
and Lee Szelog were the first tenants to live in the newly renovated former
lightkeeper’s house at Marshall Point Light in Port Clyde, Maine. Being a
professional photographer, Tom naturally kept a visual record of their years at
Marshall Point. Both of the Szelogs also kept personal journals, and when the
time came to put together a record of their time in this most remarkable home,
they delved back into their journals, selecting the most vivid and interesting
recollections to share with their readers. After nearly 14 years at the Marshall
Point light-keeper’s house, the Szelogs moved to their current home in
Whitefield, Maine where they bring this glimps of their lighthouse life to you.
(M). $24.95.
27108. Roberts, William. LIGHTHOUSES
AND LIVING ALONG THE FLORIDA GULF COAST. Bloomington. 2005. 97p. Soft
wraps. Signed by the author. Here is a true story of the Roberts family's three
generations of lighthouse keepers in the U. S. Lighthouse Service. Their
dedication and devotion began in 1894 when grandfather was assigned to the Cape
St. George Lighthouse in Apalachicola, Florida, and lasted over fifty-eight
years and three generations. This account, recorded by a family member, includes
their lighthouses, family lives, maintaining and operating the
lighthouses, as well as childhood stories of his growing up on lighthouse
stations during the depression years of the late 1920's and 1930's. (M). $21.95.
2790.
2739. Smith, Robert H. SMITH’S
GUIDE TO MARITIME MUSEUMS OF NORTH AMERICA. Del Mar. 2006. 6th. 250p.
with photo CD of maritime subjects. Soft wraps, spiral bound. This month we have
received a pair of books by Robert H. Smith that are valuable additions to any
maritime history collection. The first is the latest version of
“Maritime Museums of North America” listing over 600 maritime museums,
canals and canal locks, and lighthouse museums. Smith’s work has for many
years been the only comprehensive guide in print. In it you will find such
information as location and how to get there, phone numbers, description of
major exhibits, history, gift shops and more. Every page is filled with vivid
descriptions of ships on display, lighthouses and their surroundings, and almost
anything the author, researcher or visitor would need to know. Fully updated and
illustrated. I use this guide as a reference to contact lighthouse related
museums and I am sure that it will be of great use to you as well. This latest
edition has pointers to museum Web sites and accompanying photo CD with more
than 400 images of maritime subjects from around the country organized by state.
(M). Published at $19.95. Our Price $18.95.
26315. Wermiel, Sara E. LIGHTHOUSES: Norton/Library of Congress Visual Sourcebooks in Architecture, Design & Engineering. New York. 2006. 384 p. DJ. This pictorial survey of the icon of steadfastness and strength: the American lighthouse, is the newest addition to the Norton/Library of Congress series. This abundantly illustrated book conveys the romance and beauty of lighthouses and beacons while explaining the development of the forms, materials, architecture, and engineering of their structure: wood, masonry, cast-iron plate, on- and off-shore skeletal, caisson, and reinforced concrete. It covers lighthouses from all parts of the United States from the late eighteenth century to the 1940s, when control of lighthouses was transferred to the U.S. Coast Guard. Numerous images of lighthouses from coast to coast provide examples of striking design and setting, celebrate technological achievement and the work of important engineers, and include associated structures such as keepers' quarters, fog signal buildings, boathouses and boat railroads, cistern buildings, barns, and workshops, as well as interiors and working details of the light mechanisms. With over 1200 illustrations, many of rarely seen views, this is sure to be one of the better books this year. Includes CD-ROM containing all of the images shown in the book for even better viewing. (M). Publisher’s price $75. Our price $69.95.
2743. Fredrickson, Arthur C. and Lucy F. FREDRICKSON'S
HISTORY OF THE ANN ARBOR AUTO AND TRAIN FERRIES - Complete With Pictures. Frankfort.
1994. 158 p. Soft wraps. The carferries came in, and during their brief stay
they did so much to develop our present system of transportations, and then were
so easily forgotten after they had gone. The facts in this history of Ann Arbor
carferries have come from notations in the many log books of these little known
vessels. The stories built around these facts were furnished by the knowing
seafaring men who were present at these times. As many of these men have long
since passed on, these stories are all the more valuable. (M). $9.95.
726b. Coffin, Edward Wayman.
Just released! 26249. Clark, Admont. LIGHTHOUSES OF CAPE COD, MARTHA’S VINEYARD, NANTUCKET – Their History and Lore. Beverly. 2006. DJ. 244p. With a chapter devoted to each light station, this is surely the most interesting and comprehensive book on the subject. Profusely illustrated with fine early photographs and engravings. The author traces the history of each lighthouse from the beginning, the story of the construction and changes over the years, and of the men and women who lived and worked at the stations. The author’s emphasis on stories of the people who lived and worked in the lighthouses makes this book most enjoyable - readers are infused with a sense of daily life at each lighthouse, while also reading the extraordinary events that make their histories. Wonderful reading and most well done. (F). Published at $36.95. Our Price $34.95.
26348. Duncan, Robert C., Roger S. Duncan, W. Wallace Fenn, and Paul W. Fenn THE CRUISING GUIDE TO THE NEW ENGLAND COAST- Including the Hudson River, Long Island Sound, and the Coast of New Brunswick. New York. 2002. Twelfth Edition 827p. DJ. Here, entirely updated, is the latest edition of the most complete, authoritative cruising guide to the northeastern coast. The bible for Eastern sailors and power boaters for more than half a century has been thoroughly overhauled and expertly refitted. For the preparation of the twelfth edition, the authors visited nearly all the harbors, talked with harbormasters and marina owners, and reevaluated earlier judgments. The Guide tells you how to dodge bad currents and edge around shoal water, and where to anchor and find essential services, including pump-out stations, fuel docks, and a hot shower. It notes channels and harbors that have been dredged or shoaled up; recently replaced buoys; and changes in marinas, boatyards, and other facilities. This guide is far more than a traditional cruising guide, providing valuable information on weather, tides, coastal geography and geology, fog, marine birds, animals, sea conditions, and even places of historical interest ashore. The authors—who know these great cruising grounds as old friends—relate the histories of the towns, ports, vessels, lighthouses, and even rocks you'll encounter. Black-and-white photographs and maps throughout. (M). Published at $49.95. Our price $45.
26349. Boyer, Marie-France. SPIRIT OF THE SEA. New York. 2003. 120p. DJ. The cry of a seagull, a plume of spray, the bright pink of a plastic float, boxes of glittering fish on the quay, fishermen's wooden sheds—all these stir in us deep memories of the sea. Marie-France Boyer takes us on a voyage to fishing communities along the coasts of the North Atlantic and the shores of the Channel and the North Sea. She takes us to the heart of our collective memory, gathering traces of this separate seagoing world, which is both familiar and romantic. Lines, nets, lobster pots, marker flags, buoys, and anchors—from Boulogne to Birarritz, from Fécamp to the Ile d'Ouessant, from Maine to Norfolk, there remains an ancient repertoire, a visual imagery of richness and power. This book celebrates the harsh and singular world of fishermen, and reveals the poetry of the everyday. 147 illustrations, 131 in color. (M). $24.95.
26331. (video) Rescue at Sea - Jack Binns - The First Rescue by Wireless at Sea. c.1999. This new VHS video was put out by PBS in 1999 and tells the exciting story of one of the first documented cases of the new wireless telegraph being used in a sea rescue. On January 23, 1909, two ships—the Florida carrying Italian immigrants to New York, the Republic, carrying American tourists to Europe--collided in a dense fog off Nantucket Island. In an instant, more than 1,500 lives suddenly became dependent on a new technology, wireless telegraphy, and the efforts of a twenty-six-year-old wireless operator who bravely tapped out distress signals. "Rescue at Sea", a story of courage, luck and heroism. Produced by Ben Loeterman, the film features interviews with descendants of passengers and crew, recollections of the young hero, Jack Binns and surprising revelations of the connections between this event and a later disaster at sea - the "Titanic", in which radio operator Binns would agaion play a pivotal role. Jack Binns became a Marconi man when he was twelve years old. By the age of twenty-six, he was working for the fledgling Marconi Wireless Company, which leased Binn's services to the White Star passenger line. $15.95.
26299. Hoyt, Susan Roark. LIGHTHOUSES OF NORTHWEST MICHIGAN. Chicago. 2004. 128 p. Soft wraps. Lighthouses of Northwest Michigan is a companion to the author’s first work Lighthouses Of Southwest Michigan. This work completes the history, covering the lighthouses on Lake Michigan’s eastern shore. When settlers first reached this area, rudimentary harbors in this area made docking and loading hazardous while shoals and reefs, hidden beneath the water's surface, threatened to ravage the unsuspecting vessels. The need for lighthouses to mark these dangerous waters and harbor entrances was crucial to prevent the loss of lives and valuable cargo. Through a rare collection of archival photographs, this book explores these fascinating structures and the people who maintained them. (M). $19.99.
26327. Bunting, W. H. THE CAMERA’S COAST - Historic Images of Ship and Shore in New England. Historic New England . 2006. 144p. 252 B&W photographs and color illustrations. With an Introduction by John R. Stilgoe. The Camera’s Coast: Historic Images of Ship and Shore in New England is a wonderful collection of historic photographs, paired with a rich assortment of ephemera—the subtle colors of an old postcard, the seductive details of an advertisement, a gay poster—engagingly captioned by W. H. Bunting. This page-by-page panorama of New England coastal activity from the late-nineteenth to the early twentieth centuries ranges from the ordinary to the extraordinary, from leisure and recreation to hard work. The imagery is mostly bygone but still strongly connected to our present-day landscape. Begun several years ago as a traveling Historic New England exhibition of photographs with informative captions by guest curator and maritime historian Bunting, he brings these vintage photographs to life with their stories – a captivating account. In this beautifully designed book, additional images from Historic New England's diverse collection of ephemera have been carefully selected by the editors to augment the photographs and to flesh out Bunting’s stories. Wonderful gift or reference. (M). $29.95.
26300. Muller, Robert G. NEW YORK STATE LIGHTHOUSES. Chicago. 2004. 128 p. Soft wraps. New York State Lighthouses explores the great lighthouse heritage of New York State. Second only to Michigan in the number of lighthouses it contains, New York boasts a lighthouse legacy that stretches from the Great Lakes to the tip of Long Island. Many of these lighthouses, even some no longer in existence, were photographed for use on early postcards and these images are assembled for the first time in the pages of this book. The culmination of over five years of research and study, this work provides a most interesting view of New York’s many light stations. (M). $19.99.
26279. Duffus, Kevin P. SHIPWRECKS OF THE OUTER BANKS – An Illustrated Guide. Raleigh . 2006. 176p. Soft wraps. It is the most frequently asked question by visitors to North Carolina ’s Outer Banks. Once, the remains of shipwrecks covered nearly every mile of shoreline. Today, most have vanished—either salvaged, burned, buried, stolen or vandalized—but not all. Hundreds of rare and remarkable photographs have also survived. Researcher, writer and filmmaker, Kevin Duffus, has roamed the beaches and searched the faded files of archives to create this photographic companion to historian David Stick’s definitive, “Graveyard of the Atlantic .” Four color format with over 250 images, Duffus' new book is a visual record of shipwrecks and their legacy—lifesaving, salvage, rumors of wreckers, and the hundreds of forgotten shipwreck victims buried among the dunes. Duffus explains the various causes of shipwrecks and why there is a Graveyard of the Atlantic in the first place, what it was like for passengers and crews when ships crashed into the breakers along the banks, and the true stories of some of the most incredible rescues. Duffus shares the memories of the Outer Banks’ last living lighthouse keeper, the descendants of lifesavers, residents who played on shipwrecks as children, and one well-known historian who used to dance on the deck of a wrecked vessel. In addition to GPS locations and directions to dozens of wreck sites, this book includes new research on historic sites altered by inlet migration and a tribute to the forgotten heroes of the islands. The book's foreword was written by David Stick, who has described the volume as the long-awaited sequel to his nearly six decade old and still in print, Graveyard of the Atlantic . (M). $24.95.
26280. (DVD). The Graveyard of the Atlantic - 400 Years of Shipwrecks, Mysteries and Heroic Rescues. A film by Kevin Duffus. For more than four centuries, seafaring vessels have traversed the tempestuous and deadly ocean waters that have been known, nearly as long, as the Graveyard of the Atlantic. In all, more than 1,000 unlucky vessels and their crews and passengers were forced to make the ocean waters and beaches along North Carolina’s Outer Banks their final port of call, representing one of the greatest densities of shipwrecks in the world. It is simply one of the most dramatic and poignant chapters in U.S. maritime history. Featured in this award-winning 90-minute film are the unparalleled rescues of the crews of the Ephraim Williams (1884) and the Priscilla (1899). Learn how shipwrecks provided a way of life and often a means of survival for the residents of these isolated barrier islands. Rare interviews with native Outer Bankers who witnessed many shipwrecks relate the excitement, intrigue and compassion caused by the shouts, “Ship ashore!” Narrated by popular newscaster and musician, Bill Leslie. 90 minute DVD $19.95. 26281. (DVD) War Zone - World War II Off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. A film by Kevin Duffus. In 1942, the United States suffered one of its worst defeats of WWII, not in Europe or the Pacific, but along the nation’s eastern seaboard. Three hundred ninety-seven ships were sunk or damaged and nearly 5,000 people were killed. For six months, 65 German U-boats hunted merchant ships practically unopposed within view of coastal communities. The greatest concentration of these attacks occurred off North Carolina’s Outer Banks. “War Zone” features eyewitness accounts of lifesavers, merchant sailors and residents, and describes how life was altered when war was waged on Outer Banker’s doorsteps. Learn the truth behind decades-old urban legends of German spies, saboteurs and sympathizers. Viewers will marvel at the courage of a young mother who delivered her newborn son in a storm-tossed lifeboat off Cape Hatteras and how the event marked a turning point in the battle of “Torpedo Junction.” Most amazing is the first-hand account of the nearly calamitous first engagement between a U-boat and a U.S. Navy destroyer, and the sinking of the U-701, just 22 miles from Hatteras. “War Zone” is a story of infamy, irony, and innocence lost. 180 minute 2-DVD Set $19.95.
26317. Pickthall, Barry. LIGHTHOUSES OF NORTH AMERICA. Edison. 2006. 448p. Soft wraps. Thoroughly illustrated with over 500 color and b/w photographs and images, this detailed volume takes us on a lighthouse journey along the shoreline of North America. Included for each is a description, a brief history, as well as location, dates built, location and more as well as a recent or vintage photo or diagram of many. Quite well done, this is a worthwhile reference as well as interesting reading. (12” x 9 ¼” landscape oriented). (M). $18.95.
Just Out. 26143. Porter, Jane Molloy. FRIENDLY EDIFICES: PISCATAQUA LIGHTHOUSES AND OTHER AIDS TO NAVIGATION 1771-1939. Portsmouth. 2006. 568 pp. Cloth covered. 168 illustrations. The five lighthouses of the Piscataqua region of New Hampshire and Maine are among the most admired structures of their type in America - Nubble Light, York, Maine; Boon Island Light, Maine; Whale’s Back Light, Kittery, Maine; White Island Light, Rye, New Hampshire; Fort Constitution Light, New Castle, New Hampshire. The construction of a lighthouse is not a simple matter. In addition to being able to project a warning light, the structure also must be able to withstand the foul coastal weather, especially here where the North Atlantic brings crashing waves and strong winds. Before a lighthouse could be built, funds had to be authorized usually from public sources, and politicians, whether local or state or national, had to be convinced that the expenditure is warranted. After lighthouse specifications were written, contractors had to carry out those plans. Bricks, wood, iron, and steel have supported the local lights for centuries, although four of the five lighthouses have been replaced at least once. Finally, the lights had to be maintained, a task originally charged to a keeper and often his family lived with him. In addition to the extensive details about lighthouse construction, maintenance, and operation, the author also discusses the design and placement of various aids to navigation, such as the river and ocean buoys that protect mariners from hidden rocks and ledges, fog signals, and breakwaters that created safe harbors. Chock full of superb information, vintage as well as color images and much more will keep you engrossed for many hours. If you get only one book this year, this should be the one. (M). Published at $34.95. Our price $32.95.
26264. Snyder, James D. A
LIGHT IN THE WILDERNESS The Story of the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse & the
26212. Tag, Thomas A. CHURCH STEEPLES AND FOG SIGNALS. Dayton. 2006. 20p. Spiral bound. Thomas Tag has long been probably the only authority on lamps, lens apparatus and illumination for lighthouses, with his articles on the subject appearing in our catalogue, as well as the U. S. Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log, Lighthouse Digest and other publications. Now Tom has added still another volume to his list of publications – Church Steeples and Fog Signals. This detailed account covers a long neglected area of lighthouse equipment – the mechanical weight-driven fog bell strikers. The author covers a history of fog bells, bell construction, wave actuated bells and clockwork-striking machinery. Included are Lowell Fog Bell Strikers, Custer Strikers, Daboll Strikers, Stevens, Gamewell, and more. Thoroughly illustrated with early photographs and drawings, this booklet makes most interesting reading. (M). #26212 $26.
26239. Butts, Ed. GUIDING LIGHTS TRAGIC SHADOWS. Toronto. 2006. 272p. A peaceful lighthouse at Prescott, Ontario, was once the flashpoint of American invasion in an undeclared war. Robbers called "Blackbirds" preyed on Lake Erie shipping, using false beacons to confuse their victims. The lighthouse at Oswego, New York, was the site of one of the worst disasters in the history of the United States Coast Guard. A Lake Huron lightkeeper wiped snow off the window of his lamp room, and inadvertently caused a shipwreck. A 14-year-old Detroit River lightkeeper¹s daughter was the heroine in a courageous rescue. Lighthouses, from the Upper St. Lawrence River to the head of Lake Superior, have played an integral role in the history, romance, lore and legends of the Lakes. The towers and their keepers bore witness to, and participated in, the dramas of war, shipwrecks, and daring rescues. All while enduring the privations of one of the loneliest occupations on earth. $24.95
26208. Wardius, Barb and Ken. CANA
ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE. Arcadia Publishing. 2006. 128 p. Soft wraps. The
beautiful peninsula of Door County has a long and bountiful tradition of
maritime history, including its many lighthouses, and the Cana Island has
illuminated the coastline on the Lake Michigan side of Door County for over 100
years. The Cana Island Lighthouse is one of the most picturesque of any
lighthouses still operating on the Great Lakes today. The Wardiuses’ interest
in lighthouses began at Cana Island nearly 30 years ago. Today, their prints and
photos carry the island’s history for future generations. Now they have put
the island’s rich lighthouse history into a book, filled with more than 200
archival photographs of the light, keepers and their families, equipment,
everyday routines and more. Rare station and crew images are especially
noteworthy. (M). $19.99.
26211. LaGuardia-Kotite, Martha J. So
Others May Live – Coast Guard Rescue Swimmers: Saving Lives, Defying Death.
Guilford. 2006. 208p. DJ. So Others May Live is the untold story of the U.S.
Coast Guard’s quiet but resolute rescue swimmers. From deep ocean caves on the
Oregon coast to the panicked and chaotic streets of post-Katrina New Orleans,
here are their stunningly heroic stories and the greatest maritime rescues
attempted since the program began in 1985. These feats, told through the eyes of
the heroes, reveal an understanding of how and why the rescuer, with flight crew
assistance, risks his or her own life to reach out to save a stranger. The book
covers diverse environments: oceans, hurricanes, oil rigs, caves, sinking
vessels, floods, and even Niagara Falls. It is truly a can’t-put-it-down
collection of accounts. (M). ). Published at $22.95. Our Price $21.95.
949. Strobridge, Truman R. and Dennis L. Noble.
26193. DeRaps, Ernest G. (US Coast Guard, Retired)
and Pauline E Fitzgerald DeRaps. LIGHTHOUSE KEEPING /
LIGHT HOUSEKEEPING. Wells. 2006. 128 p. Soft wraps. Two lighthouse
books in one - FogHorn Publishing has just released a very unique book, which is
actually two books in one, of the memories and stories of lighthouse life from
the first hand accounts of a family that actually lived the lighthouse life.
This unique book is written with two titles - Lighthouse Keeping, by Coast Guard
Keeper Ernest G. DeRaps and Light Housekeeping, by his wife Pauline DeRaps. This
wonderful book, depicting the DeRaps’s family life on three Penobscot Bay
Maine lighthouses and Ernest’s life at a stag station south of Vinalhaven,
Maine. It is packed with amazing and heartwarming stories that are more than
just a “good read”. In fact, we’ll bet that you won’t be able to stop
reading once you start. First you can read Ernest DeRaps stories as he recalls
the life of a lighthouse keeper. His stories are intertwined with his own
original pen & ink sketches of life at the lighthouses. After reading
Ernest’s side of the story and viewing the full color photos, you will then
need to flip the book 180 degrees and read Pauline’s side of the story for an
entirely different perspective of the same events and stories. This book is a
must have for a lighthouse aficionado. (M). $19.95.
26148. Mills, Chris. LIGHTHOUSE
LEGACIES. Halifax. 2006. Imagine living your life perched on a tiny
island, without electricity, exposed to the fury of the sea, and always at the
service of the mariner. This is how lightkeepers and their families spent their
lives, even up until the 1960s. We are very close to losing the last of the
people who lived this isolated life and experienced the heyday of lightkeeping
in Canada. Lighthouse Legacies lets us share in the memories of those who kept
the lights. These stories are presented largely in the words of the people, with
context and history by author Chris Mills. Each chapter deals with an element of
lighthouse life and is complemented by photos from lighthouse family
collections, the Coast Guard and Mills’ own collection. Great reading. (M).
$24.95
Just Arrived! Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET LIGHTSHIPS: NEW SOUTH SHOAL 1854-1896. 72 pages. 20 vintage photos. Worcester. 2005. $8.95 Other titles in this series include: Brant Point Lighthouse, Sankaty Head Lighthouse, Great Point Lighthouse, Race Point Lighthouse.
Just Out. 26135. Harrison, Timothy E. PORTLAND HEAD LIGHT - A Pictorial Journey Through Time. Wells. 2006. 154 p. Soft wraps. 8 ½” x 11”. An unusual format, this detailed work by noted lighthouse historian and writer Tim Harrison utilizes over 100 early photographs, postcard views and other images to detail the lives of the keepers of Portland Head Light, from the days of the U.S. Lighthouse Service to the days of U.S Coast Guard and then the present. Superb accounts by keeper and author Robert Sterling, as well as members of the Strout family, who kept the light at Portland Head for over 100 years, make this a most interesting read. Includes many early, rare photos, memories and storied about the keepers and their families, their pets, work and improvements to the station over the years, and much more. (M). $24.95
8248. Claflin, James W., LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE MASSACHUSETTS COAST. 1998. 228p. 200 vintage photographs. Published as part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. This is the first volume in a series of photographic histories of lighthouses and lifesaving along the coasts of the United States. Arcadia is a well known publisher of local and regional histories, including the popular Images of America series. This compact volume features over 200 early photographs dating from the 1870's through the 1940's, drawn from my and other private collections, most never before published and traces the history of these services through photos and text. (M) $19.99. Also available from the same author: LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE MAINE & NEW HAMPSHIRE COAST LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING ALONG THE CONNECTICUT & RHODE ISLAND COAST 26164. Kellogg, James [ed]. Burke, Harry Rosencrans. FROM
THE DAY’S JOURNEY. St. Louis. 2006. 129p. Soft wraps. Harry
Rosecrans Burke worked as a newspaper reporter and later editor in rural Iowa,
Oregon, Idaho and California from 1915 until his retirement in the 1950’s. In
1924 he completed his book of essays on local St. Louis history in his book From
the Day's Journey. Here local author and historian James Kellogg has republished
this rare work giving us the opportunity to look through this window into the
past. Burke's original essays about St. Louis locales from the 1920s and '30s
have been expanded by the author’s notes and recollections as he revisits many
of the same places and subjects to add his own updates to the material.
(M). $39.95.
2699. D’Entremont, Jeremy. THE
LIGHTHOUSES OF RHODE ISLAND. Beverly. 2006. Soft wraps. 240 p. With
The Lighthouses of Rhode Island, author Jeremy D’Entremonthe continues his new
series, "Lighthouse Treasury," which describes the fascinating history
of our American lighthouses, state by state. Read about: A feud between two
keepers at Whale Rock Light led to a harrowing life-and-death chase; The
hurricane of 1938 devastated the state's lighthouses. The keepers at Plum Beach
Light off North Kingstown miraculously escaped with their lives; others weren't
so lucky; Ida Lewis lived at Newport's Lime Rock Light for more than 60 years
and became one of the world's most celebrated lightkeepers; The keeper and his
family at Block Island North Light aided the survivors of one of New England's
worst shipwrecks, the Larchmont disaster of 1907; Pomham Rocks Light on the
Providence River was home to a famous fish-catching cat; and much more. The
Lighthouses of Rhode Island is meticulously researched and copiously
illustrated, with photographs from the author's enormous collection. (M).
$14.95 Once Again Available:
8207.
Chenery, Richard L. III., OLD COAST GUARD STATIONS
VOLUME I – VIRGINIA:
20248.
Chenery, Richard L. III., OLD COAST GUARD STATIONS
VOLUME II – NORTH CAROLINA. 2004. 2nd. 123p. Soft
wraps. 113 photographs and illustrations, with 2 maps of
26134.
26133.
Fischer, Katrina Sigsbee and Alex A. Hurst. ANTON OTTO
FISCHER: Marine Artist. Nantucket. 1984. 235 p. DJ. Signed by the
author. Published in 1984 and long out-of-print, this is a fascinating,
generously illustrated biography of an impoverished man who became a much loved
marine artist. A seaman first, Anton Otto Fischer (1882-1962) got his start in
the art world as a model and general helper for A.B. Frost, later becoming a
very popular illustrator for such publications as The Saturday Evening Post. He
also illustrated Moby Dick, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea and the rare tale
"Tugboat Annie." The marine paintings collected here often depict the
dramatic moments of battle and their aftermath, and the trials of travel and
immigration by ocean. Beautifully detailed with strong emotional content. 235
illustrations include photographs, sketches, drawings, pen & ink, and
paintings (many in color). $45 26122.
Tag, Thomas A. THE FRESNEL LENS MAKERS PART V – THE
BARBIER, BENARD AND TURENNS (BBT) LENS WORKS.
2679. Shanks, Ralph and Lisa Woo Shanks, Editor. INDIAN BASKETS OF CENTRAL CALIFORNIA - ART, CULTURE, AND HISTORY. Native American Basketry From San Francisco Bay And Monterey Bay North To Mendocino And East To The Sierras. Novato. 2006. 176 p. 200 photographs. DJ. This unique book provides a complete study of the exquisite Native American basketry from the San Francisco Bay Area and the Monterey Bay region north to Sonoma, Napa, and Mendocino and eastward across the Sacramento Valley to the crest of the Sierras. Baskets of the Pomo, Ohlone (Costanoan), Coast Miwok, Esselen, Huchnom, Lake Miwok, Maidu, Wappo, and Yuki people are lavishly illustrated and knowledgably and sensitively described. Color photographs and drawings illustrate the rare, fine California Indian baskets from museum and private collections in the United States and Europe. The vast majority of these baskets are illustrated for the first time. Ralph Shanks is vice president of the Miwok Archaeological Preserve of Marin. Lisa Woo Shanks is editor of the Basketry of California and Oregon Series. They are the authors of The North American Indian Travel Guide, The U.S. Life Saving Service, Lighthouses of San Francisco Bay, and more, with other works on the horizon. (M). $44.95.
2644.
Belyk, Robert C. GREAT SHIPWRECKS OF THE PACIFIC COAST.
New York. 2001. 276 p. DJ. Fascinating, never-before-documented stories of the
worst shipwrecks on the Pacific Coast during the golden age of coastal
transportation, 1854 to 1929. The eighty years spanning the California gold rush
to the start of the Great Depression saw thousands of passengers and crews
perish in Pacific steamship wrecks. In Great Shipwrecks of the Pacific Coast,
author Robert Belyk looks beyond commonly provided-and frequently
superficial-public explanations of weather conditions or human error, and
closely examines ten significant maritime disasters that occurred along the
Pacific coastline from California to Alaska. Filled with the drama of life and
death aboard doomed ships, Belyk brings to life the struggles of real people
caught in desperate situations when disaster strikes at sea. Illustrated with
rare photographs and drawings. The shipwrecks accounted for here include: Yankee
Blade: Wreck of a Gold Ship, Brother Jonathan: In the Teeth of the Dragon,
Pacific: The Final Whistle, Rio de Janeiro: Death of a City, Clallam: The
"Hoodoo" Ship, Valencia: Appointment with Death, Columbia: Disaster
off Shelter Cove, Francis H. Leggett: Battle Lost, Princess Sophia: A Grave
Error, San Juan: End of an Era. (F). $19.95.
2645.
Hairr, John. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING
STATIONS. 2004. Arcadia Publishing. 128p. Soft wraps. With bold capes
jutting into the ocean, sandy shoals extending miles offshore, fickle weather,
and treacherous currents, it is no wonder that the coastline North Carolina came
to be known as the “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” For more than two
centuries, these bright beacons of safety have guided ships into busy harbors,
signaled dangerous navigational obstacles, and warmed the hearts of homesick
travelers. North Carolina Lighthouses and Lifesaving Stations presents to
readers the tales behind the lighthouses and life-saving stations, illuminating
their past in both word and image. Through more than 200 archival photographs,
stories of shipwrecks, rescues, service, and pride spring to life. Rare station
and crew are especially noteworthy. (M). $19.99.
2629. Clifford, J. Candace and Mary Louise. MIND THE LIGHT KATIE: THE HISTORY OF THIRTY-THREE FEMALE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS. Alexandria. 2006. 144 p. 56 illustrations. Mary Louise and J. Candace Clifford’s book Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers has been so popular the authors have prepared a condensed version for younger readers age 12 and up. The 144 women who served as principal keeper for more than a year are listed in the longer book. The 33 women presented here are those whose lives were recorded in logs, journals, official correspondence, newspaper articles and obituaries, and recollections by their children and grandchildren. Kateie was 44 years old when her son Jacob rowed his stepfather, John Walker, ill with pneumonia, to Staten Island for medical treatment. John’s last words to his wife were, "Mind the light, Katie." John, official keeper of the Robbins Reef Lighthouse, never returned. Although she was paid only a laborer’s wage, Kate faithfully minded the light until she finally received the keeper’s appointment in 1894. Her only communication with the mainland was by rowboat or through the periodic calls of the lighthouse tender bringing supplies. Assisted by her son Jacob, Kate kept the Robbins Reef Light until 1919. (M). $12.95.
25381. Muller, Bob. LONG
ISLAND’S LIGHTHOUSES – PAST AND PRESENT. Patchogue. 2004. 383p.
Soft wraps. Long Island’s Lighthouses – Past And Present is the culmination
of over five years of research and study from local and national sources. While
several books have chronicled Long Island’s lighthouses, none have included
all of the structures including those that have been lost over the years. Filled
with stories and photos never before presented, as well as architectural plans
and more. I particularly enjoy the images and information about the many LHS and
Coast Guard keepers. Well done, an invaluable reference for the area. (M).
Published at $25. Our price $23.95. Please contact us for more information.
23379. Hahn-Pedersen, Morten. DANISH
NORTH SEA LIGHTSHIPS.
25389. [video tape] HISTORY
OF CHATHAM, CAPE COD Part II. Mooncusser Productions. Did you know
Chatham once had its own wrecking settlement called Scrabbletown? Or that
Monomoy Point was once home to Whitewash Village, complete with its own tavern
and schoolhouse? Narrated by five-time Tony award winning actress Julie Harris
(also a Chatham Native), you will view rare historic film of the many local
sights and characters from Chatham's saltier days, including the Shovelful Shoal
Lightship, Old Harbor Lifesaving Station, and a journey up Monomoy by motorcar
as well as see spectacular aerial views of the area from an external
wing-mounted camera. This is a film that you should enjoy. 30 minutes, VHS. (M).
$24.95. New updated paperback editions:
22430s.
Snow, Edward Rowe. THE LIGHTHOUSES OF
26162.
Snow, Edward Rowe. MYSTERIES AND ADVENTURES ALONG THE 2217.
Department of Commerce. Lighthouse Service. INSTRUCTIONS
TO LIGHT KEEPERS.
25230. MacAlindin, Bob. PRISONERS OF THE SEA. Milford Haven. 1999. 176 p. Soft wraps. The crews and the lightships that they manned were the prisoners of an alien environment. For the men it was, in the main, a voluntary exile, that was marginally better for a seaman than voyaging the seven seas and being away from their families for years. For the ships, anchored in one place at the mercy of the buffeting sea, it was a trail between their builder and nature. In spite of this the prisoners enjoyed sunny afternoons fishing and yarning, but were always ready, whatever the weather, to risk their lives to rescue less fortunate seamen whose ships had tried to impale themselves on the very mark that the light vessel was guarding them against. The author traces the development of these "prisons" from the early almost unseaworthy wooden hulks to the modern well founded, all steel, high-tech light vessel, and includes many stories from the crews´ point of view. (M). $29.95.
2232. Trapani, Robert Jr., INDIAN RIVER LIFE-SAVING STATION… JOURNEY ALONG THE SANDS… THE U.S. LIFE-SAVING YEARS, 1876-1915. Virginia Beach. 2002. 64p. Soft wraps. Signed by the author. This lovely addition to our library weaves the history of the Life-Saving Service into this account of life at the Delaware’s Indian River Inlet Life-Saving Station. Laid out chronologically, this booklet provides an intimate look at this station’s important history and its impact on the region. Includes over 55 wonderful photographs and color reproductions, keeper and crew accounts, shipwrecks, equipment and more. Nicely done. (M). $11.95.
25238. D’Entremont, Jeremy. THE LIGHTHOUSES OF CONNECTICUT. Beverly. 2005. Soft wraps. 192 p. With The Lighthouses of Connecticut, author Jeremy D’Entremont inaugurates a new series, "Lighthouse Treasury," which describes the fascinating history of our American lighthouses, state by state. There are 20 Connecticut lighthouses today, from Great Captain Island off Greenwich to Stonington Harbor at the Rhode Island border, and D'Entremont has unearthed everything from unassailable fact to improbable ghost story. He doesn't stop with the lighthouses we see today. The Lighthouses of Connecticut also has chapters on major lights that have disappeared, Sperry Lighthouse in New Haven Harbor and the Bridgeport Harbor Lighthouse, as well as a chapter on lightships and some smaller lights that once protected traffic on the Connecticut River. Read about: The keeper at Green's Ledge Light off Norwalk, who went on a binge ashore, leaving his assistant nearly to starve to death. Two years later, the assistant's brother replaced him and, in an apparent act of revenge, abandoned the new head keeper, who nearly starved to death himself, or how isolation has driven keepers and their assistants insane. One keeper had to stay awake two days and nights, fending off his assistant, who threatened him with a razor lashed to the end of a spar, and much more. The Lighthouses of Connecticut is meticulously researched and copiously illustrated, with photographs from the author's enormous collection. (M). $14.95 New Series: LIGHTHOUSES – A Guidebook and Keepsake
25222. Roberts, Bruce and Ray Jones. LIGHTHOUSES OF CALIFORNIA – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2005. 96p. Soft wraps. 1 map, 100 color photos. Another fine series from America's most popular lighthouse authors. A winning combination of practical travel information, stunning color photographs, and rich maritime history makes Lighthouses of California your essential guide to maritime beacons in the Golden State. From Old Point Loma Light near San Diego to St. George Reef Light near Crescent City, the more than thirty-five lights included here are presented in geographical order, making it easy for you to move from your armchair to the driver's seat and back again. Take this handy little guide with you on your travels, and keep it as a picture-perfect souvenir of your trip to coastal California. Inside you'll find: A detailed descriptions of each lighthouse; complete travel information, including driving directions and GPS coordinates; historical background notes; quick summaries of key information, such as date established, height of tower, and type of lens; more than thirty beautiful full-color photographs; a glossary of terms and important figures in lighthouse history; helpful icons indicating scenic quality, historic interest, and visitor accessibility and friendliness; as well as descriptions and photos of lost lighthouses from the area. (M). $9.95. Other titles available in this series include: 25223. LIGHTHOUSES OF FLORIDA – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2005. 96p. $9.95 25224. LIGHTHOUSES OF MAINE – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2006. 96p. (available 1/06) $9.95 25225. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2005. 96p. $9.95 25226. LIGHTHOUSES OF MICHIGAN – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2005. 96p. $9.95 25227. LIGHTHOUSES OF NEW YORK – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2006. 96p. (available 1/06) $9.95 25228. LIGHTHOUSES OF WASHINGTON – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2006. 96p. (available 1/06) $9.95 25229. LIGHTHOUSES OF WISCONSIN – A Guidebook and Keepsake. Guilford. 2006. 96p. (available 1/06) $9.95 Special Purchase! We recently purchased the author’s remaining stock and can pass on the savings to you…
20230. Farson, Robert H., TWELVE MEN DOWN – Massachusetts Sea Rescues. Yarmouth Port.2000. 246p. 191 photos and illustrations. In Colonial Days Massachusetts turned to the sea for her livelihood. With the growth of coastal and deepwater fleets, many trips ended in disaster. The loss of life was so great that in the late 1700’s the Massachusetts Humane Society was formed. Their work up to World War II, and the work of its successor the U. S. Life-Saving Service, are detailed in this wonderful new work. From Martha’s Vineyard and Cuttyhunk, to Nantucket, Cape Cod and up the coast to Salisbury Beach, there were small stations with surfboats and breeches buoy apparatus. This is a book about rescues near the coast by men who rowed small boats into mountainous waves, many in bitterly cold weather. Thousands of sailors were saved by these intrepid men and their story of selfless dedication comes alive in Mr. Farson’s work. Nicely illustrated with numerous vintage photographs. (M). (Published at $36.) Special Purchase Price. $24.95.
2338b. Grant, John. STAYING AT A LIGHTHOUSE - America's Most Romantic Lighthouse Inns. Guilford. 2005. 104 p. Soft wraps. New Updated edition. Whether they were abandoned long ago or still stand as beacons in the fog, hundreds of lighthouses decorate the beautiful shores of North America. But only a few invite people to stay the night. Staying at a Lighthouse visits these unique overnight havens, offering a personal tour of the most sought-after landmarks in the country. A few of them operate as grand bed-and-breakfast inns. Others provide a more rustic experience, offering guests a retreat from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives. Still others allow visitors to assume the role of lighthouse keeper for a short time. But they all provide an experience that is romantic, renewing, and above all, memorable. Readers can step back in time at these and many other coastal towers: • Heceta Head Lighthouse, Oregon • East Brother Light Station, California • Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn, Michigan • Rose Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island • Saugerties Lighthouse, New York • Race Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts • Monomoy Point Lighthouse, Massachusetts • The Keeper's House Inn, Maine Information provided in each profile includes history of the lighthouse and the area, background of the present-day keepers, and a description of the accommodations and the guest experience, plus all pertinent practical contact details. (M). $11.95. 26122. Tag, Thomas A. THE FRESNEL LENS MAKERS PART V – THE BARBIER, BENARD AND TURENNS (BBT) LENS WORKS. Dayton . 2006. 11 P. Soft wraps. Thomas Tag has long been probably the only authority on lamps, lens apparatus and illumination for lighthouses, with his articles on the subject appearing in our catalogue, as well as the U. S. Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log, Lighthouse Digest and other publications. Now Tom has added still another volume to his list of publications – The Fresnel Lens Makers Part V – The Barbier, Benard And Turenns (BBT) Lens Works. Part V of six parts, describes the development of the early Fresnel lenses and defines the companies and individuals who took part in this effort. Augustin Fresnel had assistance from many sources as he developed and perfected his lens. This part details the work of the Barbier, Benard And Turenns (BBT) in France. From its beginnings in the 1860’s the company was one of the leading makers of Fresnel lenses for the world market, and to its current status as today’s Samtec-Gisman Company, still producing navigation buoys. (M). $26. 2659. Tag, Thomas A. THE FRESNEL LENS MAKERS PART IV - CHANCE BROTHERS GLASS WORKS. Dayton. 2006. Soft wraps. Thomas Tag has long been probably the only authority on lamps, lens apparatus and illumination for lighthouses, with his articles on the subject appearing in our catalogue, as well as the U. S. Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log, Lighthouse Digest and other publications. Now Tom has added still another volume to his list of publications – The Fresnel Lens Makers Part IV Chance Brothers Glass Works. Part IV of six parts, describes the development of the early Fresnel lenses and defines the companies and individuals who took part in this effort. Augustin Fresnel had assistance from many sources as he developed and perfected his lens. This part details the work of the Chance Brothers Company in England, from its beginning as a glass window maker to its production of Fresnel lenses for the world market, and to its final demise in 1977 after being divided into several companies. (M). $26. 25335. Tag, Thomas A. THE FRESNEL LENS MAKERS PART III THE HENRY-LEPAUTE LENS WORKS. Dayton. 2005. 8 p. Spiral bound. Thomas Tag has long been probably the only authority on lamps, lens apparatus and illumination for lighthouses, with his articles on the subject appearing in our catalogue, as well as the U. S. Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log, Lighthouse Digest and other publications. Now Tom has added still another volume to his list of publications – The Fresnel Lens Makers Part III The Henry-Lepaute Lens Works. Part III of five parts, describes the development of the early Fresnel lenses and defines the companies and individuals who took part in this effort. Augustin Fresnel had assistance from many sources as he developed and perfected his lens. This part details the work of the Henry-Lepaute Lens Works, in France, from its beginnings as a clock maker, to its production of Fresnel Lenses for the world market, to its current status. (M). $26. 25216. Tag, Thomas A. THE FRESNEL LENS MAKERS PART II SAUTTER. Dayton. 2005. 10 p. Spiral bound. Thomas Tag has long been probably the only authority on lamps, lens apparatus and illumination for lighthouses, with his articles on the subject appearing in our catalogue, as well as the U. S. Lighthouse Society’s Keeper’s Log, Lighthouse Digest and other publications. Now Tom has added still another volume to his list of publications – The Fresnel Lens Makers Part II Sautter. Part II of five parts, describes the development of the early Fresnel lenses and defines the companies and individuals who took part in this effort. Augustin Fresnel had assistance from many sources as he developed and perfected his lens. This part details the work of the Louis Sautter Company, in France from its beginnings producing Fresnel lenses and other lighthouse equipment from 1852 to the company’s final demise in 1970. (M). $26.
25213. Taylor, Thomas W. KEY WEST LIGHTHOUSE: A LIGHT IN PARADISE. 2005. 141 p. Soft wraps. Key West in the Florida Keys is the southernmost city in the continental United States. It history is replete with stories of pirates, hurricanes, and shipwrecks. Soon after Florida became a territory of the United States, lighthouse was built on Key West in 1826 to serve as a primary aid to navigation to help reduce the number of shipwrecks. This lighthouse was destroyed by the hurricane of 1846 but was replaced by a tower which survives today. Thomas Taylor’s new book Key West Lighthouse: A Light in Paradise brings to life the history of this unique lighthouse and the tropical setting in which it is located. The book includes a number of historic photographs of the lighthouse and details the lives of its keepers. Well done by this noted historian and writer. (M). $19.95.
25195. (4 DVD set) Victory at Sea series. Winner of both an Emmy and a Peabody, this legendary 1952 WWII documentary series drew from more than 13,000 hours of footage shot by the US, British, German, and Japanese navies. Narrated by Leonard Graves, with an original music score by Richard Rodgers, it spans American and Allied naval operations from Pearl Harbor to the Mediterranean, Murmansk to Mandalay. This award-winning documentary series is presented in its entirety and has been digitally remastered and restored for your viewing pleasure. Set includes all 26 full length episodes shown on TV, B&W and color; approximately 12 hours on 4 DVDs of original uncut action. Superb, stirring documentary and music that you will long remember. $39.95. 25158. Evans-Hylton, Patrick. LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFESAVING STATIONS OF VIRGINIA. Arcadia Publishing. 2005. 128 p. Soft wraps. Created as navigational tools, lighthouses are of interest to more than mariners; the ruggedly romantic nature of the beacons delights and enthralls thousand of admirers. Lights along the Virginia coast are no exception. From the richly historic Old Cape Henry Light, authorized by President George Washington in 1789, to the candy-striped Assateague Light on the state’s Eastern Shore, lights along the Virginia shore enthrall thousand of admirers. Of equal interest are the tales of the men of the United States Life-Saving Service, the forerunner of today’s Coast Guard. Spaced along the shore, they aided navigation by responding selflessly to ships in distress, often at their own peril. Author Patrick Evans-Hylton has collected more than 200 archival images that capture the illuminating history of the silent sentinels of the sea and the valiant stories of heroic keepers and surfmen. (M). $19.99.
25151. Dougherty, Barbara Quillen. DEWEY BEACH HISTORY & TALES. Dewey Beach. 2005. 2nd. 144 p. Soft wraps. Signed by the author. The much anticipated second edition of Dewey Beach History & Tales is now available. Featuring 144 pages with approximately 300 photographs, maps, postcards & other images, this second edition of Dewey Beach History & Tales was compiled and edited by local historian Barbara Quillen Dougherty. The book includes numerous updates and historical information, as well as many new “tales”. The first edition, published in 1996, sold out in less than two years. In addition to a great deal on the Dewey Beach Life Saving station and crews, included are very informative articles about Dewey Beach in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s. Included with the book is a lovely Dewey Beach Life Saving Station note card with envelope. The author’s proceeds from the sale of Dewey Beach History & Tales was given to the Dewey Beach Life Saving Station. (M). $38.
6264. Stackpole, Edouard A., LIFE SAVING NANTUCKET. Nantucket. 1972. 295pp. Hard cover, as new. DJ. A complete, definitive history of the life-saving services in this area, surrounded by shoals and known for its toll on shipping. Well illustrated with photos. Certainly one of the best and most interesting and complete sources on the subject. (M) $26.
2541. Tongue, Stephen D. LANTERNS & LIFEBOATS – A History of Thunder Bay Island. Alpena. 2004. 126 p. Soft wraps. “Magnificent desolation”, that is how early settlers described Thunder Bay Island. Just offshore from Alpena, Michigan, Thunder Bay Island boasts a life saving station which assisted in the rescue of over 1,000 lives and the second oldest lighthouse still standing on Lake Huron. The Thunder Bay life saving station opened in 1876, making it one of the earliest on the Great Lakes. Lanterns & Lifeboats the lighthouse and life saving station, their crews and the transition to the Coast Guard in 1915. (M). $14.95. 2558. Trapani, Robert Jr. LIGHTHOUSES OF NEW JERSEY & DELAWARE – History, Mystery, Legends and Lore. Elkton. 2005. Lighthouses Of New Jersey & Delaware presents stories and photographs of 20 lighthouses along the New Jersey and Delaware coasts. From Sandy Hook, N.J., to Fenwick Island, Del., Trapani's stories feature unusual incidents associated with each silent sentinel. Shipwrecks and suicides, storms and fires, invasions of beetles and cats, and even a few ghost stories and legends are spotlighted in this easy-to-read collection of short stories. Using historical photographs, U.S. Coast Guard documents, newspaper articles and personal interviews, Trapani has created an informative and interesting book that shares an import part of the region's history and lore. Particularly interesting are the accounts if the keepers’ lives, their difficulties and efforts to make do. (M). $11.95.
25124. Trethewey, Ken. NORTH ATLANTIC LIGHTHOUSES. Paris. 2002. 200 p. DJ. Large format. Photography by Jean Guichard. A spectacular photographic journey to some of the most remarkable lighthouses along the North Atlantic Coast: from the bright orange towers on the ice-bound cliffs of Iceland to the "pepper-pot" lights nestled in the densely forested shores of Northern Canada; from the more elaborate constructions surveying the American East coast to the magnificent stone edifices of the rocky shores of France and the British Isles. Jean Guichard’s photographs will amaze lighthouse aficionados and beguile all those interested in the perils of our shores and man's formidable efforts to overcome them. (M). Published at $34.95. Our Price $18.95. 25125. Charles, Daniel. LIGHTHOUSE OF EUROPE. New York. 2001. 240 p. DJ. Spectacular large format hard cover book highlighting 230 of the greatest lighthouses in Scotland, Ireland, Wales, England, France, Spain, Portugal, and ending at the gates of Africa. The book starts with a historical overview of Europe’s greatest lighthouses and the myths and legends that surround them. For each geographical region the author recreates the fascinating, age-old history of the lighthouses. Stunning photography of over 200 lighthouses on the Atlantic coast of Western Europe including dramatic views from land, sea, and sky as well as dramatic interior shots. The perfect coffee table book, oversized at 9 ½” x 13 5/8” with 240 pages it is currently the only book available in the United States about European Lighthouses. Text is by Daniel Charles a well know writer and journalist living in France and photos by Philip Plisson, the official photographer for the French Navy, and his son Guillaume a well respected French photographer. Beautifully printed in France. (M). Published at $45. Our Price $26.95.
25116. Monks, Sheryl. GHOSTLY LIGHTHOUSES FROM MAINE TO FLORIDA. Winston-Salem. 2005. 128 p. Soft wraps. Lighthouses have always fascinated people. In this collection, Sheryl Monks gathers 15 tales about the ghostly inhabitants of some of America's most haunted beacons along the eastern seaboard. The stories include Sequin Island Light in Maine, where the eerie sound of piano music can be heard drifting across the harbor; Bird Island Lighthouse in Massachusetts, which was cursed by a pirate light keeper and is now haunted by the wife he murdered there; and the St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida, where two young sisters who drowned during its construction still play pranks on visitors. Included is a history of each beacon, a photo and travel information. (M). $12.95.
25134. Caravan, Jill. AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSES – A Pictorial History. Philadelphia . 1996. 80 p. DJ. Celebrate the history and diversity of this country, as represented by its vast architectural and scenic treasures. This tour of America 's lighthouses, includes those on Atlantic and Pacific shores, the Great Lakes , and inland rivers. The author explains the origins of lighthouses and details their evolution, from the earliest towers, to today’s modern marvels of architecture. (M). Published at $12.98. Our price $9.45. 25137. Batchelor, John. NORTH AMERICAN LIGHTHOUSES COLORING BOOK. New York . 1995. 47 p. Soft wraps. Enjoyable children’s coloring book includes 36 b/w drawings to color of lighthouses including Cape Hatteras , Montauk Point, Cape Canaveral, Quoddy Head, Point Reyes , and many others. Includes location map and history of each. (M). $4.95.
2588. Karch, Mary. UNDER THE LIGHTHOUSE – Memories of Barnegat City. Harvey Cedars. 2004. 80 p. Illustrated with 97 vintage photographs. This pictorial history of Barnegat Light is based on the memories of long-time residents who experienced the early days and changes in this small fishing village on the northern tip of Long Beach Island. Photographs and stories document the fishing industry, historic buildings, and of course its most famous landmark, Barnegat Lighthouse. This book combines images of a past almost forgotten with memories of the residents who will never forget the small town that was once called Barnegat City. (M). $18.95
2589. Buchholz, Margaret Thomas. NEW JERSEY SHIPWRECKS – 350 Years in the Graveyard of the Atlantic. Harvey Cedars. 2004. 200 p. New Jersey Shipwrecks takes us on a gripping voyage through the “Graveyard of the Atlantic,” a name bestowed upon the state’s treacherous shoals and inlets. From the days of sail to steam and oil, ships (and even submarines) have been drawn to this coast and, for thousands of vessels, it became their final resting-place. Early rescuers braved the seas, rowing small boats, using simple buoys and rope to help the wreck victims. Quoting from original documents, letters and reports, Shipwrecks reveals the sense of duty and service which prevailed in these brave rescuers; many devoted their lives — literally — to help save the men and women whose own lives were turned upside down in stormy Atlantic waters. From the early wrecks of the 18th century to the present day, the life-and-death drama of maritime disasters is captured in Shipwrecks, along with the history of the U. S. Lifesaving Service (later to become the Coast Guard), lighthouses, legends, and true accounts of heroism. One hundred and forty-two historic photographs and illustrations are included in this large-format hardcover. The book includes a listing of hundreds of other wrecks along the Jersey Shore. (M). Published at $44. Our Price $40.95.
24408. Baker, Bill. LIGHTHOUSE
ISLAND – Our Family Escape. New York. 2004. 100 p. Soft wraps with dj.
Henry Island off the coast of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia was for
centuries an important maritime region and its 100 year old beacon continues to
shine out to sea. Unlike most, Bill Baker, president of Thirteen/WNET New York
realized his dreams when he purchased
2512. Noble, Dennis. RESCUED BY THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD - Great Acts of Heroism since 1878. Annapolis. 2005. 328 p. Although the U.S. Coast Guard enjoys a reputation as the best maritime rescue service in the world, details of its heroic history are not well known. Dennis Noble has corrected this oversight with a book that highlights dramatic rescues over the past century carried out from shore-based Coast Guard stations and aircraft and patrol boats. He writes about a day shortly before Christmas in 1885 when Keeper Benjamin Dailey and his U.S. Life-Saving Service crew rowed five miles in seas almost higher than the length of their boat to pick up shipwrecked sailors and then bring them safely to shore. He also describes a 1918 rescue when a USCG boat crew pulled through burning gas and oil to extricate sailors from a sinking tanker. Among the most memorable is Paul A. Langlois, who during the darkness of a gale swept night, maneuvered his helicopter around rocky pinnacles thrusting higher into the air then the helicopter, to rescue two people from a sailboat. But as Noble makes clear, not every rescue is successful and attempts that ended in deaths are included as well. Maritime rescue specialists and historians will be drawn to the author’s overview of the change in equipment and the array of aircraft used by Coast Guard lifesavers. (M). Published at $32.95. Our price $29.95.
6721. Jennings, Harold B., A LIGHTHOUSE FAMILY.
Orleans. 1989. 1st. 118p. DJ. Signed by Author. A wonderful narration of boyhood
memories while growing up at Lovell’s Island Lighthouse in Boston Harbor. A
story of adventures, shipwrecks, storms, living without electricity and learning
how to run a lighthouse combine to provide entertainment and a learning
adventure. (F). $12.95. REDUCED to $9.71.
24389. Clifford, J. Candace and Mary Louise Clifford. MAINE LIGHTHOUSES: DOCUMENTATION OF THEIR PAST. Alexandria. 2004. 220 p. Soft wraps. Illustrated with 156 historic black and white photographs. Some 67 light stations with resident keepers were built to aid shipping along Maine’s rocky coastline between 1791, when the tower at Portland Head was lit, and 1910, when the last traditional lighthouse was established at Whitlock Mills. Maine Lighthouses: Documentation of Their Past differs from other books about Maine lights in being based almost entirely on primary sources. This book is almost entirely based on research the authors conducted on Maine lighthouses in the National Archives. The authors combed the lighthouse collection in the National Archives for original records that describe how the site was selected, the construction of the tower and auxiliary buildings, the appointment of keepers, the damage to the station done by weather, and the repairs and reconstruction needed as the decades slid by. Log books tell us about the daily lives of keepers; correspondence with engineers and inspection reports detail the physical evolution of each station; and communication with Federal officials indicates how the Lighthouse Establishment was administered. Extremely well done – an important reference as well as a joy to look through. Filled with wonderful old photographs of equipment including the lenses and lantern room, keepers, early stations and more. (M). Published at $22.95. Our price $19.95.
22140. Skomal, Lenore. THE
KEEPER OF LIME ROCK – The Remarkable True Story of Ida Lewis, America’s
First Official Female Lighthouse Keeper and the First Woman to Win a
Congressional Medal.
24394. Krebs, Laurie. A DAY IN
THE LIFE OF A COLONIAL LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER. New York. 2004. 24 p. New from
PowerKids Press, this charming addition to their Day in the Life series looks at
Boston Light in Colonial times. From the harbor and lighthouse design, to the
keeper’s daily duties, changing weather, firing the fog signal cannon,
polishing the brass, rescues and more. A wonderful addition to your children’s
library. (M). $18.95.
24372. Martin, Mary L. and Tina Skinner. LIGHTHOUSE
VIEWS: The United States' Best Beacons, as Captured on over 400 Postcards.
Atglen. 2004. 128 p. Soft wraps. This new work examines the postcard keepsakes
that lighthouse lovers have collected since the turn of the 20th century,
documenting lighthouses from California to Alaska, and the Florida Keys to the
rocky shores of Maine. Includes market values for appraising your collection of
cards and shows many types and ages of cards. Fully illustrated in color.
(M). $24.95.
24333. O’Neil, Carol. POINT SUR. 2004. 127p. 200 vintage photographs. Published as part of the Images of America series by Arcadia Publishing. Point Sur, just south of Monterey, is a large volcanic over 360 feet above sea level, and was originally only 10-12 feet wide at the top. For 11 years, the U.S. Lighthouse Service was petitioned for a lighthouse at Point Sur and in 1886 funds for the lighthouse were first appropriated. Work was completed in 1889, and a first-order Fresnel lens installed. The station was also equipped with a steam whistle fog signal and keeper's dwelling, which housed three families. The photos in this book are amazing and include a extremely rare selection of construction photos. Working with many descendents of the keepers as well, the author paints a rare picture of lighthouse life here. A fine addition to your library. (M) $19.99.
24353. Planisek, Sandy. RELIVING
LIGHTHOUSE MEMORIES 1930’S – 1970’S. GLLKA. 2004. 253 p. Soft
wraps. Seventeen years after the
publication of their first book "Living at a lighthouse," in 1987, the
Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association has published a second book of oral
histories of USLHE and USCG keepers and their children titled "Reliving
Lighthouse Memories." Profusely illustrated and edited by GLLKA Straits
Coordinator Sandy Planisek, the 253-page book features fascinating and
insightful stories in the words of those who lived the experiences. Includes
memories of a Coast Guard electrician, lighthouse keepers, lighthouse children
and more during the difficult period of automation and changing job
descriptions. Highly recommended. (M).
$13.95 24221. Walling, Michael G., BLOODSTAINED
SEA – The
LONG OUT OF PRINT! The following book is
no longer available in stores and I have long been searching for a few copies
for stock. Finally I was able to pick up two at another out of print book store
though they were quite pricey, and I don’t expect to find any more in
the future. This will certainly be your last opportunity to pick this title up
for your library. CLEARANCE PRICED at Only $7.95 each: Roberts,
Bruce and Ray Jones. Over 80 color and b/w photographs. Soft wraps. Scarce early
editions of this author’s earlier works covers the lighthouses along the
coasts of the NORTHERN LIGHTHOUSES.
772. 8227. MID-ATLANTIC
LIGHTHOUSES – Hudson River to 8264. SOUTHEASTERN
LIGHTHOUSES. Outer Banks to SOUTHERN LIGHTHOUSES. Outer Banks to SOUTHERN LIGHTHOUSES.
Chesapeake Bay to 8265. GULF COAST
LIGHTHOUSES – Florida Keys to the 8266. PACIFIC
NORTHWEST LIGHTHOUSES – 8268. LIGHTHOUSES OF WESTERN LIGHTHOUSES.
Olympic Peninsula to 21362. EASTERN GREAT
LAKES LIGHTHOUSES. Ontario, Erie, and Huron. 2001. 87p. (1) WESTERN GREAT LAKES
LIGHTHOUSES. Michigan and Superior. 1996. 87p. (1) GREAT LAKES LIGHTHOUSES. Ontario, Erie, Huron, Michigan, and Superior. 1994. 120p. (2)
24163. Field, Van R. and John J.
Galluzzo. NEW 24226. Stonehouse,
Frederick. 24227. Oleszewski, Wes. 24295. Jeans, Peter D. SHIP
TO SHORE – A Dictionary of Everyday Words and Phrases Derived from the Sea.
Camden.
2004. 433 p. Soft wraps. “One of the best dictionaries of sea terms ever.”
Bail out. The coast is clear. In deep water. These are just a few of the
seafaring terms that have become part of our common language. But where do they
come from, and what do they really mean? Peter Jeans provides all the answers in
this book which was named a “Best Reference Source” by Library Journal. In
his journey to uncover word origins, Jeans paints a vivid picture of hardy
Nantucket whalers and Elizabethan sea dogs, grizzled Nova Scotia fishermen and
the crews of great clipper ships. Along the way, he recounts the exploits of
such seafaring greats as Sir Francis Drake, Captain Cook, and John Paul Jones.
More than a dictionary, Ship to Shore is a fascinating chronicle of the sailing
men who made an enduring contribution to the English language. Here readers will
find origins of words and phrases. (M). $18.95.
Order Now to Reserve your Numbered Copy! - Only 1000 Printed 24122. Roberts, Cheryl Shelton and Bruce. NORTH CAROLINA LIGHTHOUSES – A Tribute of History and Hope. 2004. Limited Edition signed and numbered of 1500 copies by the authors. This limited coffee table genre but with lots of information will be sure to please lovers of the lighthouses on the North Carolina coastline. Read about these proud beacons, including many of those no longer in existence. Includes wonderful vintage and recent color photographs, and well researched historical text. Available in late June or early July, it is a gorgeous book made more valuable as it will be sold by only two out of state retailers in the country. No discounters will have it nor will it be sold by the large Internet booksellers. We are proud that we have been chosen to carry the Roberts’ latest title and know that you will enjoy it too. Only the first 1500 copies will be signed by the authors and numbered. (M). $29.95. 23560. Caesar, Pete. RESCUE
– The United States Life Saving Service.
9419. Smith, Joseph W. GLEANINGS FROM THE SEA: SHOWING THE PLEASURES AND PENALTIES OF LIFE AFLOAT, WITH CONTINGENCIES ASHORE. 1987. [First published 1887.] Wells, Maine. 406p. The irresistible charms of the Maine coastline, and particularly the Biddeford Pool area, prompted the author in 1887 to write this recollection of the history and the people of this area, resort life and particularly the life of a people largely dominated by the sea. In over 40 chapters the author presents all aspects of the life in the area, from the yachting and fishing of the area, to the storms, cruising and ending with a lengthy 71 page chapter detailing the work of the Life-Saving Service at the Biddeford Pool Station. Illustrated with numerous photographs including three wonderful early views of the Biddeford Pool crews. Delightful reading. Gilt embossed binding with gilt page edges, quite well done. (M). $56.
2450. Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET LIGHTHOUSES: Great Point - A History of Nantucket’s Lighthouses on Great Point. Worcester. 2004. $8.95.
23549. Claflin, James W. HISTORIC
CAPE COD LIGHTHOUSES: Race Point. A History of Cape Cod’s Lighthouse on Race
Point.
23525. Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET LIGHTHOUSES: Sankaty Head. A History of Nantucket’s Lighthouse on Sankaty Head. Worcester. 2003. 65 pages, soft wraps, approximately 27 vintage black and white photographs, fold-out map. SPECIAL EDITION: First 500 copies signed and numbered with artifact from Sankaty Head Lighthouse included. Historic Nantucket Lighthouses: Sankaty Head is the second in a series of booklets that tell the story of historic lighthouses and life-saving stations along the New England Coast. A lighthouse has stood on Sankaty Head near the village of Siasconset since 1850, the third such aid built on the island. Three lighthouses have watched over Great Point, and nine have stood on Brant Point since the first was lit on the island in 1746. In addition, other beacons were constructed on the Jetties Beach and in the harbor as additional aids to vessels approaching the harbor. However, numerous pitfalls were to befall the keepers as fire and the ravages of weather would torment them for years. With thousands of vessels plying the dangerous waters, the chance of a shipping disaster was always great. Hundreds of shipwrecks did indeed occur off the coast with startling losses. Using descriptive text and a variety of vintage images from private as well as museum collections, we get a rare glimpse into the history of the area and the lives of these dedicated government men and women. Author James Claflin combines an extensively researched text with his exquisite collection of vintage photographs, many previously unpublished, to tell the story of this important landmark. (M). $8.95 Also Available: Great Point, Nantucket Lightship in 3 volumes. Coming Soon: Chatham Light, Surfside Life Saving Station, and more...
21468. Twohy, John and George Mattson. CALIFORNIA’S LIGHT STATIONS AND OTHER AIDS TO NAVIGATION c.1950. Jenner. 2001. 96p. Soft wraps 8 ½" x 11". In the late 1940’s the authors, both talented painters and professional photographers, began photographing the keepers tending their apparatus at nearby light stations and soon had compiled a photographic history of the life at stations up and down the coast of California from San Diego to Cape Mendocino. The authors included too the lightships, tenders as well as the keepers and their families. These wonderful black and white images present a rare view into the light keeper’s life when their work was still a necessity. No matter what part of the country you are from, these views of the men and women tending their equipment will surely be of interest. (M). $24.50. 21162. Knight, William E., THE COAST GUARD NAVY OF WORLD WAR II. 1998. 209p. Soft wraps. In this self published account, Quartermaster Chief Bill Knight provides numerous first-hand vignettes of his wartime experiences on Coast Guard vessels in the Pacific theatre. Some humorous, some sad, some shocking but all are engrossing in this detailed account that will add significantly to your insight to life in the Coast Guard during wartime. Of this book, Rear Admiral Russell R. Waesche Jr. wrote that "This fine book adds significantly to those of the excellent masters who have gone before…." Includes a complete listing of ships manned by the Coast Guard during the author’s ten year stay, numerous photographs, and much more. An extremely detailed account. This title was self published and has not been generally available before. [wholesale discounts also available]. (M). $24.95.
23538. Budge, Billy. MEMOIRS OF A LIGHTKEEPER'S SON – Life on St. Paul Island. Lawrencetown Beach. 2003. William (Billy) G. Budge was born in 1948 in the small fishing village of Neil's Harbour on the northern tip of Cape Breton. In 1955 his father accepted the position of lighthouse keeper on St. Paul Island, a rugged and forlorn mountain in the sea. Positioned at the entrance to the Gulf of St. Lawrence between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, this island is subject to violent gales, snowstorms and is often shrouded in fog. Early seafarers called it the "Graveyard of the Gulf" due to the vast numbers of ships and countless lives that were lost along its shores. Billy moved to St. Paul Island with his parents and younger sister in September of 1955. For the next five years they lived at the southwest light station in almost total isolation. His family quickly learned to cope in a world without neighbors, electricity, schools, or any sports activities. They lived off the land – hunting ducks along the coast, berry picking, and jigging cod on the sea. Almost daily there were hardships to overcome and problems to be resolved. Life on the island was one of both tragedy and triumph. In Memoirs of a Lightkeeper's Son, Billy tells his story of survival on that lonely rock. Sense the lush green of the island in summer in the midst of a crystal blue sea and feel the harshness of winter while buried under snow and surrounded by drift ice. Share with Billy the excitement of unexpected guests, the arrival of a supply ship as well as the sadness of sickness and loss. Experience the many technical problems such as a fire in the lighthouse and learn how the entire family worked together to restore service. Wonderful reading. (M). $18.95. 23517. Bennett, Robert F. LIFE-SAVING ALONG THE COAST, 1848-1871: Its New Jersey Beginnings And How It Expanded. Toms River. 2003. 288 p. Stiff wraps. Captain Bennett is an historical expert on the United States Life-Saving Service. He has authored two books, Surfboats, Rockets and Carronades, and The Sandpounders (both published by the USCG); and has revised the Coast Guardsman's Manual (Seventh Edition). Captain Bennett has written numerous pamphlets and articles on the Life-Saving Service, and is frequently cited in materials written about it. This new presentation includes a reprint of Surfboats, Rockets and Carronades, originally published in 1976. Written before the resurgence of interest in the origins of the Life-Saving Service, Surfboats, Rockets, And Carronades traces the little known origins, successes and failures of the earliest federal efforts in lifesaving along the coasts. During the years from 1848 through 1870 volunteer efforts of private citizens saved countless thousands of lives from shipwreck. To help them, they had only native experience, abundant courage, and some token federal assistance in the form of … SURFBOATS, ROCKETS, AND CARRONADES. This is the story of these first rescue stations and of the later establishment of the Life-Saving Service. Also includes is an extensively researched chronological presentation of official correspondence and documents relating to the funding and creation of the early life-saving stations. This chronology discloses the tools and equipment provided for the federal government, the early station-keepers and other important officials which gradually allowed the development of a nationwide organization admired throughout the world. A "must" for the Life-Saving Service historian and good reading for all. (M). $59.95.
23518. Taylor, Thomas. MONHEGAN ISLAND AND ITS LIGHTHOUSE. 2003. Soft wraps. The Island of Monhegan, some sixteen miles off the coast from Boothbay Harbor, Maine, is known as a summer artist colony and unique tourist destination. Thomas Taylor's new book, Monhegan Island and Its Lighthouse, brings to life the history of this unique coastal island of Maine from the times of early exploration and ties this in to the history of its picturesque lighthouse, which was first built in 1824. Includes an overall history of the island and its people leading into the need and construction of the first lighthouse in 1824. Then the author details the reconstruction of the light station as well as the fog signal station on nearby Manana Island. Also includes excellent sections on the technical changes in the lighthouse and evolving life on the island, as well as the changes in the station brought about by the evolution of the Coast Guard and then World War II. Well illustrated with a number of historic photographs of the lighthouse and details of the lives of the keepers. Well done, large format. (M). $14.95 2399. Evans, Clayton. RESCUE AT SEA – An International History of Lifesaving, Coastal Rescue Craft and Organizations. Annapolis. 2003. 256 p. This heavily illustrated volume includes over 150 color photographs and offers a comprehensive and dramatic history of coastal life saving and rescues at sea from the earliest times to the present day. Divided into four sections, the first section covers the beginnings in Europe and China, followed by a section on rescue craft design, from the earliest pulling and sailing lifeboats to the high-speed boats of today. The last two sections provide a look at contemporary maritime rescue organizations and SAR network. Published in cooperation with the International Lifeboat Federation, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, and the US Coast Guard, this book also features some of the most awe-inspiring heroics and epic tragedies of the lifesaving service. Strongly recommended by authorities in the field, this is surely one for your reference library. (M). Published at $49.95. Our Price $42.95. 2398. Larzelere, Alex R., THE COAST GUARD IN WORLD WAR I. Annapolis. 2003. 240 p. The U. S. Coast Guard suffered the highest percentage of losses of any armed force in World War I, yet until now the extent of the Coast Guard’s involvement remained little known. The Coast Guard was transferred to the Navy when war was declared in 1917. A small service of less than 5000, it was made up of highly experienced cuttermen, sorely needed for the Navy’s rapidly expanding fleet. This first ever account combines personal journals and letters, reports of commanding officers, personnel records, interviews and much more to bring this history to life. Well illustrated and fine reading. (M). Published at $32.95. Our Price $29.95.
23451. Woodman, Richard and Jane Wilson. THE LIGHTHOUSES OF TRINITY HOUSE © Trinity House Corporation. London. 2002. 256 p. DJ. For the first time, and with the endorsement of Trinity House, this is a single-volume celebration of the lighthouses of England and Wales, and of the men and women whose dedication to duty has saved countless seafarers. Endorsed by the Corporation of Trinity House and with a foreword by the Master, HRH Prince Philip, this is much more than a "coffee table book". The long awaited book that tells the story of Trinity House Lighthouse Service, its people, the construction of its lighthouses and equipment. With the help of personal reminiscences of the keepers, stunning photographs, original engineering plans and contemporary paintings, the authors have unraveled a history that spans centuries and progresses from the most primitive of wood-burning lights to a future of ever more technical advances. Generously illustrated with drawings, paintings and plans from the archives and contemporary charts and photographs, the latter half of the book describes each of the lighthouses. The vintage photographs and plans of lanterns, lamps and lighting apparatus, fog signal equipment and more are worth the price along. A superb chronicle. (M). $88 net.
23194. Claflin, James W. HISTORIC NANTUCKET LIGHTHOUSES: BRANT POINT. A History of Nantucket’s Lighthouses on Brant Point. Worcester. 2003. 64 pages, soft wraps, approximately 20 vintage black and white photographs, fold-out map. SPECIAL EDITION: First 500 copies signed and numbered with wood chip from the 1901 Brant Point Lighthouse tipped in. Historic Nantucket Lighthouses: Brant Point is the first in a series of booklets that tell the story of historic lighthouses and life-saving stations along the New England Coast. Nine lighthouses have stood on Brant Point since the first was lit in 1746. In addition, other beacons were constructed on the Jetties Beach and in the harbor as additional aids to vessels approaching the harbor. However, numerous pitfalls were to befall the keepers as fire and the ravages of weather would torment them for years. With thousands of vessels plying the dangerous waters, the chance of a shipping disaster was always great. Hundreds of shipwrecks did indeed occur off the coast with startling losses. Using descriptive text and a variety of vintage images from private as well as museum collections, we get a rare glimpse into the history of the area and the lives of these dedicated government men and women. Author James Claflin combines an extensively researched text with his exquisite collection of vintage photographs, many previously unpublished, to tell the story of this important landmark. (M). $8.95.
23290. Demeter, Andy and David. CHELSEA CLOCK COMPANY: The First Hundred Years. 2003. For over a hundred years the Chelsea Clock Company has manufactured a distinguished line of high quality clocks. Regarded as one of America’s highest quality products, Chelsea Clocks have been presented to heads of state throughout the world. Photographs taken in the White House throughout this century show Chelsea Clocks in settings of distinction. Collectors have long prized them for their quality, beauty, unique design and historic significance. Now for the first time, the history of the Chelsea Clock Company has been written and it reads like a contemporary enterprise including mysteries, disasters, near failure and a fascinating collection of characters. Historical photographs, vintage advertisements, as well as illustrations and photographs from old catalogues are included. Also, for the first time ever there is a detailed model identification guide to help collectors in identifying seldom seen designs. Andrew and David Demeter have created a remarkable volume complete with lists of serial numbers to aid you in authenticating your piece, and photographs of Chelsea Clock Company’s current staff. In Chelsea Clock Company: The First Hundred Years, the Demeters have finally provided a valuable and sought after resource for collectors and those who appreciate American craftsmanship at its finest. (M). Available occasionally - please inquire. 2313. Krauskopf, Sharma. A YEAR AT THE LIGHTHOUSE. Scotland. 2002. 224 p. Soft wraps. Some might consider living alone at a remote North Atlantic lighthouse in Scotland’s most northerly territory a fantastic adventure and others a little bit crazy. American Sharma Krauskopf, popular speaker and well-known author did just that from May 2001 until April 2002. A Year at the Lighthouse is a day-by-day account of the events and her feelings during her stay. Written in a positive, candid, often humorous manner, the story encompasses a diverse array of events and happenings. Visits of family and friends punctuated the isolation as did the Amateur Radio Lighthouse Society’s international weekend event . Winter storms shattered the rural quiet in November. A Year at the Lighthouse is a true story of how a 61 year old American woman living at a remote light-house learns about crofting, the ways and beauty of nature on the Shetland Islands, and more. This book will appeal to many whether interested in lighthouses, remote living, nature writing or simply looking for a good read! (M). $23.95.
Many recent books available at 10% or more off publishers' list prices - please ask. Procedure to order items: 1. I suggest that you call us or email to check on availability of any item that you would like other than recent books. As items go quite quickly, please call and leave a message to reserve items that you would like. I will return your call, hold the items and await your letter or credit card information. We will also weigh the items and advise postage. 2. You may then call or email credit card information, or forward a check in the mail. Most items are mailed US Priority Mail
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