THIS ISSUE IS DEDICATED TO THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEGUIN’S FIRST ORDER FRESNEL LENS
This historic First Order Lens was crafted by Henry LaPaute of Paris France, based of the design of a type of lens invented by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel and was installed at Seguin when the new tower was built in 1857. Originally developed for lighthouses in 1822, the design enables the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the weight and volume of material which would be required in conventional lens design of that time. Compared to earlier lenses, the Fresnel lens is much thinner, thus passing more light and allowing lighthouses to be visible over much longer distances. Seguin’s Light can be seen for 22 miles and sometimes further on a clear night.
LENS RESTORATION IS COMPLETE
On
June 7, 2007, the restoration of Seguin Island Light Station First Order
Fresnel Lens was completed. The Friends of Seguin Island (FOS) were totally
pleased with the restoration work done by two of the foremost lens experts
in the country. Joe Conking, Lighthouse Lamp Shop, Inc., and Nick
Johnson, Carolina Lighthouse Lens Works, arrived on Seguin to finish the
restoration of Seguin’s historic 1857 First Order Fresnel Lens. Accompanying
Nick were Joe Tully, contracting officer for USCG CEU Providence, and
Kathleen McCormick, Head of Museum Conservation for St. Augustine Light
Station, Florida.
The two center dioptric lenses were made of acrylic of the type used for fighter cockpits. Glass was not used because it would have been prohibitively expensive. The lenses traveled over 2,000 miles to reach their final destination in the Seguin light tower. The lenses were shipped to Florida where they were
examined for any deviation from the specifications and then traveled by automobile to Maine. The tricky part was transporting the lenses by boat and landing on Seguin without damage. All including the instillation went without a hitch.
The contract for the Seguin lens restoration from the United State Coast Guard was awarded by the Civil Engineering Unit in Providence, Rhode Island, and also included the restoration of the Boston Harbor Light.
(Pictures courtesy of Nick Johnston with assistance from Kathleen McCormick.)
CELEBRATIONS OF THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF SEGUIN’S FIRST ORDER FRESNEL LENS
Publicity Chair, Anne Webster, with expenses paid personally) gave two presentations celebrating and acknowledging the 150 years of continuous operation of the First Order Fresnel lens on Seguin. The first was at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland on September 16, 2007 and the second was at the National Maritime Heritage Conference in San Diego, California on October 18, 2007.
A Seguin Exhibit, celebrating the 150 years of Seguin's lens, was created by Museum/Education Committe by members Ken Young (Chair) and Dee Perry (FOS Vice President). The exhibit ran for 35 days during September and October.
At the San Diego conference there were 400 attendees representing the Historic Naval Ships Association, NOAH, (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration), San Diego Aircraft Carrier Midway, Council of American Maritime Museums, the National Maritime Historical Society, the Small Craft Association, the Naval Historical Foundation, the National American Society for Oceanic History, the Nautical Research Guide, the US Lifesaving Service and Heritage Association, the American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee (ALCC) and the US Lighthouse Society.
In the Lighthouse track, there was specific emphasis on lenses to give a synopsis of the presentations from the four-day workshop 2000 Lens Workshop sponsored by the ALCC and the Buffalo Lighthouse Association The Past President Philip Jermain had represented the Friends of Seguin at that workshop.
Anne Webster was interested to learn the location of the only lens larger than Seguin First Order Lens in the United States. The lens is a Hyper Radical Lens designed in 1884, one of 29 built in the world. It was installed in 1909 and operates at Makapu’u Point Lighthouse in Hawaii.
Joe Conking presented the Seguin Island restoration segment. Anne Webster followed with a broader presentation of the Seguin Light Station and added the Friends of Seguin’s compliments and praise for the quality of the work completed. Anne also gave credit to Jim Woodward, The Lighthouse Consultant, LLC, for the stabilization work he did under contract with the Friends of Seguin.
Both presentations gave visual pictures of the Seguin Island Light Station and the work completed on the lens. CDs are available at the Seguin Office and Store at 72 Front Street, Suite 3, Bath, ME 04530 (207) 442-4808. Cost $5.00 plus S/H, if applicable.
CELEBRATION YEAR DONATIONS
Donations of $150 are requested to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Seguin Island’s First Order Fresnel Lens and these special donations will provide stability to the Friends of Seguin Island’s Historical infrastructure. Donations will be used to upgrade and restore the museum, and other historic restoration projects. The museum on Seguin Island opened on August 31, 1993. The museum was the result of a Master’s Degree project by Susie Wren, 1991 Seguin Island Caretaker and currently the owner of West Island Gallery in Georgetown. The next year, artisans Sieve Farenwald and Jack Schneider built the handcrafted display cases. Mildred Farenwald, Museum/Education Committee chair kept meticulous records of all artifacts and catalogued them for future reference. However, ten years have elapsed since this detail has been attended to. There is now a vibrant committee that is looking toward revitalizing the Seguin Museum and acquiring and preserving other Seguin historical records.
Your help would be greatly appreciated and the suggested donation is $150. For that amount or above you will receive a Seguin Christmas Ornament (see last page). All donations are most welcome.
NEW WEBSITE
Is up and running. Webmaster: Troy Wallace
PATRIOTS’ DAY STORM & MORTON-KELLEY GRANT
A violent storm with 80 MPH winds visited the Coast of Maine around Patriots’ Day and caused significant damage. On Seguin Island, the storm washed away the upper area of the beach and damaged the boat launch way and deck support and tore off some shingles on both the keeper’s house and the whistle house roof. The most surprising damage was in the tower. The tower doors were blown in and then gusts went upwards and blew out the 2 ½ x 4 feet windows made of 5 inch glass blocks and proceeded again upwards to rip open the door from the tower to the catwalk, bending hinges in the process.
It was extremely fortunate for the Friends of Seguin that Anne Webster had already written a grant application that was funded with $5,000 by the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust to “assist with the operating costs of the restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the boats ways and Light Station.” We knew these areas were deteriorating and in need of care, but certainly didn’t expect the violence of the Patriots’ Day storm.
The Friends of Seguin Island wishes to express our sincere appreciation to the generous support of the Morton-Kelly Chartable Trust.
ON-ISLAND VOLUNTEERS
Report from Dave Power, FOS Acting On-Island Committee Chair includes the following: This year there was significant work amount of work done by many volunteers and other organizations over and above the normal/routine maintenance, such as mowing and maintaining trails. What follows is to the best of my memory.
Actions - Painted the boat house, donkey engine house and the front of the dwelling. Applied wood preservative to the beach stairs and the composting toilet stairs, lattice and roof. Rebuilt the wood walkway through the swamp on the north trail. Backfilled the eroded bank behind the beach stairs Replaced missing/damaged shingles on the dwelling and whistle house roof. Refastened/repaired planks, railings and steps on the tramway and dwelling stairs. Sanded, primed and painted the railings on the outside walkway of the lantern. Washed the windows inside and out on the lantern room. Replaced rotted trim on several areas of the dwelling. Rebuilt the damaged boat launch way. Installed the new weather station. Installed new oak doors to the North lighthouse entrance. Many thanks to Jim Bennett and his son David who spent days hand removing the lead into which the bolts had been embedded.
Thanks to all the individuals, committee members, organizations, and volunteer groups that made this possible! Participants in work weekends and projects were: Caretakers, (Cyndy Carney and Kate Power), Nate and Dave Power, Carney Hamilton, Lance Fuller, Emily Chandler, Peter Chandler, Andrew Karhl, Harry, Lawrene and Anna Denkers, Sally and Dennis Copeland, Michael and Marilyn Brzoza, Anne Bridgeman, Bruce and Lee Osterling, Jim and Dave Bennett, Kevin Race, Hyde School, Outward Bound, and especially Kennebec Marine Services for the Boat ways.
ON-SHORE VOLUNTEERS
On-Shore volunteers are critical to the operations of the Friends of Seguin Island. They provide the manpower to mail special mailings and Spring and Fall Newsletters. They are the Publicity Committee and are the mainstay of producing and mailing the newsletter, the primary source for obtaining donations for the Annual Meeting Live and Silent Auctions, and assisting with these auctions. They are also the cheerful faces that you see promoting Seguin’s memorabilia at the Annual Meeting, Georgetown Working League Fair, and other events.
Many thanks to the volunteers assisting with these efforts who include Troy Wallace, Barbara Paiement, Lynne Jones, Anne Webster, Connie Donovan, Dee Perry, Joyce Pye, Eunice Cox, Nancy Evans, and John Evans.
SEGUIN ANNUAL MEETING
The Friends of Seguin Island’s Annual Meeting and Barbecue was held at the Popham Chapel and Chapel House on July 21, 2007. Festivities began at 2 pm, with the memorabilia gift shop opening and Silent and Live Auction items available for viewing. The Annual Meeting was held at the Popham Chapel at 3 pm. Caretakers Cyndy Carney and Kate Power from Phippsburg gave an entertaining presentation.
Auctioneer Norma Vining of Georgetown conducted an animated Live Auction. Dave Power of Phippsburg and Lance Fuller of Bath provided their masterful barbecue. A variety of salads and desserts were contributed by many attending. The final event of the day was the raffle drawn from the barbecue tickets purchased.
The combination of all raised over $3,000 for the Friends of Seguin Island.
The 2007 CARETAKER’S LOG
The 2007 caretakers were from Phippsburg, Maine. Doing the honors were Cyndy Carney, former FOS President (left), and Kate Power (right), Dave Power’s daughter and FOS volunteer since she was 10 years old; just old enough to start hauling stuff up the hill. Kate has now graduated from college and is working in Portland, Maine.
7/16/07
Kate and I painted the front of the house today. It was a real pleasure cleaning up after the acrylic- no muss and fuss- just wipe with water. If this paint lasts as long as oil base it will be a miracle.
Vicki and Alan (friends) had to leave today at noon. We had a nice walk on the cove trail before Ethan (charter boat captain & Seguin caretaker transportation contractor) arrived. They had a beautiful day for a ride in.
The Harvey Gamage, a tall ship/learning vessel moored in the cove and we enjoyed the company of 21 young folks (middle school aged) and their three instructors for the afternoon.
They took tours and walked the trails. This was their second day on a five day cruise ending in Boston. They spent their first day aboard in choppy seas and pouring rain. They all seemed happy and relieved to be spending a sunny day on Seguin shores. They are off now, sailing to Portland tonight. What a sight to see, the tall ship with its sail flying across the setting sun.
We had a few other small groups and sold one postcard. Before the Harvey Gamage left they presented us with a nice thank you note and a pair of t-shirts.
This afternoon, we finished painting I worked on CEI (Coastal Enterprises Inc. – Cyndy’s regular employer) stuff, Kate had a run and we got some reading in. A very balanced, enjoyable day.
8:00 p.m.
Who is knocking at the door but Dave Porter with his buddies Phil and Bobby. Bobby’s mom and I went to the same high school! What a small world! They are going to camp here tonight so I’m sure we’ll be swapping stories. What a great surprise!
7/17/07
The tres amigos (Dave Porter and his 2 buddies) were leaving early this morning but got waylaid a bit when David Power and Linda arrived with the Denkers (Harry, Lawrene, and Anna – three quarters of the Canadian family who were the1996 Caretakers. Eldest daughter Rachel did not make this trip, but has participated most years when the Denkers family annually came to volunteer for FOS). They were true gentlemen and turned around to help them carry their gear to the top. Then off they paddled as we watched from the vista.
It is great to have the Denkers back. They are right at home fixing toilet vents, giving tours, picking mussels from the shore and making wonderful suppers.
It was a spectacular sunny summer day on Seguin. Our first visitors were from Russia, our last set from the Burg (Phippsburg). Variety is the spice of life. Lawrene took most of the tower tours and I did the gift shop and museum. It was a pleasure to see both Harry and David so relaxed, even napping!
The Hyde school counselors came late after noon. Rich and Brian are both Hyde alum- now working the summer program. We had a nice chat and went over the project list. They will be installed on the island Sunday. About six kids and 2 counselors for 4 day stints.
Lawrene and Anna took Kate to show her good places to find mussels while Harry and I did the dishes.
8/18/07
Winds around 30 mph with heavy storm clouds to the North East. There was a nice lightning storm around 5:30 a.m. but no rain. The seas don’t appear to be too high but there are plenty of white caps.
Kate’s poison ivy is a lot better. My knees are a lot worse. I can barely walk this morning.
Anne
Webster and Troy Wallace came around 11:00 with Steve Normand, his wife
Mercy, Gary Jones, and Jeff and daughter Julie Means.
(Note: The Means family donated the duck decoy pictured. Any information as to the carver is still being sought).
As they were leaving 3 kayakers pulled into the cove frantic because they had lost one of their party when turning into the cove. After about ½ hour of madly running around the entire island to try and find her we called the CG. Although radio and phone contact was confusing at best, the rescue boat showed up very quickly. About 2 minutes before the CG came into the cove, Elaine (the lost kayaker) showed up -she pulled in the west side of the island and hiked through the poison ivy. We were VERY relieved to see her. It was a physically and emotionally draining few hours but all is well that ends well, and we hope they will think twice before venturing out during a small craft warning.
But…Ethan and his dad came out to take them back to shore. On the way they stopped to look at where she had left the kayak up on the rocks. One of the guys wanted to jump ship and swim to get the kayak… (not the brightest idea…). Ethan said he had a few strong words for them and promised to bring them back tomorrow. Some people never learn!
MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS & CHRISTMAS GIFTS
Your membership expiration date is at the top of your mailing label on all mailings sent. Please check the date and if not current, please consider renewing. Membership categories and amounts are: Individual $25, Family $50, Best Friend $100, Lightkeeper $250, and Life Member $1,000. A membership in the Friends of Seguin Island is also a perfect gift for those who relish Seguin and its history, but who currently are not members.