BLMA Newsletter 9/2001

A publication of Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association,
PO Box 83, Jamestown, RI 02835-0083 Tel: (401)423-3270
E-mail: info@BeavertailLight,org
Website: WWW.Beavertaillight.org

Officers
President, Linda Warner
Vice President, Alan Brunner
Secretary, Linda Jacobson
Treasurer, Richard Sullivan

Board of Directors
Joe Bouchard
Laura Brasil
Agnes Filkins
Patricia Lucas
Frank Meyer
Emily Wild

Newsletter Editor
Charlotte Richardson

Jamestown, Rhode Island

Conanicut Island
41° 26’ 58” N 71° 24’ 00” W
(Bowditch)

A message from our president…
Dear Friends:

After the long cold winter we have had, everyone is looking forward to the Museum opening on Memorial Day weekend. There are some things that must be done before then - Cleanup day will be Saturday, May 3, 2003 at 9:30 a.m. - the building needs to be cleaned and the ground spruced up. Come on down and give us a hand. It only takes a couple of hours to complete the job, and it’s fun to work together in the welcome spring air.

I hope you all get a chance to visit Beavertail Light this summer. There is not a more beautiful place to spend a summer day – gorgeous vistas, sunlight sparkling on blue water, cool ocean breezes, rocks and grounds to explore, and a great museum to visit. It doesn’t get better than that! See you at the Light!

Linda Warner, President

Beavertail Lighthouse – Winter Scene
Photo by Victor C. Richardson

MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THESE IMPORTANT DATES!	OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY Memorial Day Weekend May 25 & May 26, 2003 through June 15, 2003 12:00 noon – 3:00 p.m. OPEN DAILY June 16 – September 1, 2003 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. OPEN WEEKENDS ONLY September 6 – October 13, 2003.
May 3, 2003 - 9:30 a.m. Clean Up Day May 10, 2004 – 9:30 a.m. Docent Orientation

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE:
Many of you have sent in your dues for 2003, and we thank you sincerely for your support of our mission. As with any program, funds are essential to our successful maintenance of the Museum. We use your money wisely to maintain and upgrade the Museum and to continue our worthy goals of Preservation and Education. A membership blank is included in this Log for your own use or to pass along to another interested person(s).

NEW COMMITTEE HEADS:
Our newest Board members have jumped right in and eagerly taken over the duties on several committees.

Emily Wild is the new Archivist; Patty Lucas is head of the Education Committee and Joe Bouchard has agreed to join the Long Range Committee.

DOCENT CO-ORDINATOR:
Jill Meyer

Spring has sprung and all is right with the world – and just as predictable as robins, you will be receiving a phone call to ask when you want to volunteer at the museum. As a docent you will be the greeter and information giver to all visitors and you will have fun. It is a great excuse to spend a morning or afternoon at one of the most beautiful spots in Rhode Island (and beyond). If you have not volunteered before and have even a little interest, please give me a call and we can discuss the ‘Job description’. The hours are 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., and you can work once a week, bi-weekly, once a month or just once a summer, but I think you will look forward to returning often.

As you can see Jill is not letting any grass grown under her feet and is already hard at work. She has scheduled the 2003 Orientation for Docents to be held on May 10, 2003 at 9:30 a.m., and notes there have been changes in the Museum procedures.

SCHOLARSHIP:
Linda Jacobson

The W. Craig Armington Scholarship Committee is hard at work, reviewing the applications received for the 2003 scholarship awards. Committee members, Linda Jacobson, Chair; Patty Lucas, Don and Linda Barrows are narrowing down the applicants to the final two Jamestown students who will receive $1000.00 each.

CAN YOU HELP?
The Museum is looking for pictures of our female keeper from 1848 – 1857. Demaris H. Wheaton or Demairs Weeden assumed the Lighthouse duties after her husband, Robert, died in 1844. She and her son maintained the Light and surrounding property.

In fact if you have pictures or information on any of the keepers, we would like to add them to the museum display. One of aims is to add new educational objects and information about the Light every year. You may contact us through our email, website or telephone number, all listed on the front page of this Log.

Gr-r-reat late breaking NEWS!!!!

On Saturday, July 12, 2003 the tower will be opened to the public. You will be able to climb up and view a sight that, to date, has been seen by only a privileged few.
12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. Exclusively for Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association Members.

From 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. open to the general public.
Don’t miss out on this rare opportunity. There may never be another chance.

BOARD MATTERS:

Although our Museum closed its doors in the fall and winter settled in with serious conviction bringing us the coldest and snowiest weather in recent memory, our Board continued to look forward to spring and a new opening.
They met monthly and explored and dealt with many new and forward moving ideas, some of which have become realities. The statistics for 2002 taken from the visitors’ logbook, revealed 17,418 names from 47 states (Hawaii, Alaska and North Dakota not represented) and 33 countries. A big increase over the last few years showing that our well deserved fame is still spreading!
We extend many thanks to the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce who underwrote the total cost of the new doors on the Keeper’s Cottage garage, which have been installed and painted. They have added much to the curb appeal of the Lighthouse grounds and the painters were Jill and Frank Meyer, and Richard Sullivan. Jill prepared and served lunch for the crew.
Jill reports that a new display rack for post cards has been purchased and will soon be in place and hold a larger number of cards.
The gift of a URI chair was made by Jack Willis, which has been polished and placed in the Museum.
Joe Bouchard, is researching a means of encasing the model of Beavertail which was donated by Varoujan Karentz. Plans are in the works to make the model available for display in other locations. Expressing interest were Judy Bell, Jamestown Library and Bill Munger of Conanicut Marina.
A solar powered weather station has been purchased and is expected to be installed in time for the summer season. We’re told that there is a great deal of information regarding weather can be gathered.
Emily Wild, Archivist is working on a geographical fact sheet for Beavertail Point to be in place this summer.
Patty Lucas, Education Chair is in the process of preparing an educational plan and mission statement for the Museum.
The very popular Lighted Map Board showing the location of Rhode Island Lighthouses is being updated, redesigned and rebuilt by Jack Willis and George Warner.