November 13, 2005

Point Lookout Lighthouse Newsletter #4

Point Lookout Lighthouse Open House 2005

We would like to thank everyone who visited the lighthouse the first weekend in November. The weather was perfect! Saturday saw 379 visitors and Sunday hosted 385 visitors.

I know many folks were disappointed that they could not tour the basement, but please understand that for safety reasons, the basement is off limits. The basement has a very low ceiling with exposed nails and electrical wiring, not to mention rusted out appliances in helter skelter locations. I spoke with a very nice young man who was disappointed that he couldn’t see the basement “where all the ghosts are”. I posed the following question to the lad: “So you believe that spirits can move from another world or realm to visit us in our world, but you don’t think that the spirits can stay anywhere in the lighthouse except the basement?” He nodded and smiled as he thought about what I had said. Laura and I have had unusual experiences all over the lighthouse.

Members of the Sturgis family visited the lighthouse on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, a number of Yeatman descendents stopped by to see the former home of their ancestors (William Yeatman, keeper from 1871-1908 and his son William Yeatman, assistant keeper from 1930-1939). Donna Ruth, a descendent of William Moody, stopped by for a visit with her husband Paul. We also met Ruth Ann Miller (Pickett) who grew up living next door to the Gatton family in Ridge. We hope to interview Ruth Ann about her memories of visiting the Point Lookout Lighthouse during the lighthouse's last years of duty as an active aide to navigation.

Progress continues on the turnover of the lighthouse and we were assured that the process is farther along than it has ever been. We will send out another newsletter and update the website as soon as the turnover is official!

Many of you may have noticed a new face in the north side dining room, namely Captain Phil’s Fishing Charters. Captain Phil was offering tours of the Point No Point lighthouse (located 6 miles up the Bay from Point Lookout). Sunday’s tours had to be canceled because of the small craft advisory that was issued. We hope to see Captain Phil at next year’s open house. In the meantime, you can contact him if you would like to organize your own fishing charter or a customized tour of lighthouses on the bay! See his website at: www.mdcharterfishing.com or give him a call at (301) 872-4041.

We would like to start a new picture feature on the website, but we need your help! If you took pictures at the lighthouse (and we know many of you did!) AND you have a picture that you think contains something unusual- be it orbs, apparitions or anything you think shouldn’t be there, please send the photos to:

pictures@ptlookoutlighthouse.com 

and we will post them under the “Your Pictures” section of the website! For each submission, please be sure to include the following information: your name (as you wish it to appear in the listing), the date and time the picture was taken, the location, and a description of what you believe to be unusual about the picture. Once the picture is posted, others will be able to leave comments about what they think the picture is. By sending in a picture, you agree to give ptlookoutlighthouse.com the non-exclusive right to display your picture on the website without compensation. So send in your pictures!

Open House signals the beginning of the holiday season, and we would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday Season and a safe and exciting 2006. Be sure to check the website regularly for the latest news about our favorite lighthouse!