August Events on Bakers Island

We so enjoy when visitors come to the Bakers Island Light Station.  Whether family or friends, they often turn into Bakers volunteers too, even grandchildren taking a break and niece Elizabeth and friend Annie, who painted four closets in Assistant Keepers house.

 

Distinguished visitors included a lovely woman named Kim whose father,  Richard LaLonde, had the last Coast Guard family posting on Bakers in 1959.  Kim brought old family photos which she had also donated to Lighthouse Digest for an April 2005 article.

Essex Heritage hosted area teachers who participate in the Parks for Every Classroom program.  This program promotes the linking of volunteer work with the cultural heritage of the community.

Another large group, with members coming from as far as California, represented the General Services Administration  National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program.  These are the government people who facilitate transfer of lighthouse properties to worthy public groups which fit the federal statuary requirements of  preservation and public education.  On the one year anniversary of giving the Light Station property to Essex Heritage, we got the sense that the inspection of the property greatly satisfied all concerned.

We had a chance to see the automation of the lighthouse to its full effect when lightning struck the tower about a week ago.   Feeling very safe in a 150 year old house, we climbed the stairs to go to bed and looked out the 150 year old skylight, as did Keepers of old.   The lantern was out but the back-up outside light was blinking, just as it should.  Next morning a flick of a re-start switch and all was back in perfect order.

Other strange or wondrous events included an advertising blimp which circled Bakers Island over and over again to get us to go to a Peanuts movie or buy life insurance, Beverly Homecoming Fireworks, and the magnificent Manchester classic sailboat regatta.  Every evening,  Bakers Island quiets down and darkens when the sun sets, and that is earlier and earlier as summer wanes...