Ron J
Active member
Been awhile since i wrote something, so here goes... I have never actually been on Long Island, in Boston Harbor,but have seen it many times by boat. There is a bridge connecting it to the Mainland, built in the fifties, by the city of Quincy. (Same as /home of Presidents,, John Quincy Adams, whom are by the way, buried in tombs,in a church cellar in Quincy) The bridge is gated, as their is a prison/rehab located on the island, so the public is kept out, which $uck$.
I have some photos, which i took,last summer,when i took the grandkids on the Salem Ferry, to Boston. Recently i was talking to an old friend, Henry D. of Wilmington Ma., and asked if he had any Coast Guard related photos of when he was enlisted. He indeed did,and i can scan them. Well let me at them!
Here,i need to back track, a little...I first met Henry back in the sixties,when my hobby was collecting auto license plates,so its been a long friendship. I never knew or cared back then that he even was in the Coast Guard. I learned by accident about 10 yrs ago. A rather well off, customer, of mine at the Nissan dlr, a Mr. Barry Levine if i remember correctly,had been an 1983 ZX owner since purchased new, and serviced by my Service Dept. for many years. Hadn't heard from Barry for awhile,figured he traded the ZX for another make.
Out of the blue, Barry contacted me by phone,and he discussed through an unknown friend, that i was the guy to contact, if you wanted a vintage license plate. I wasn't really into it for awhile,but i told him i had a contact,and would ask the contact if he wouldn't mind if i had Barry contact him (Henry) directly if a gave his tel. number. Henry agreed, so i had Barry call him direct.
A few days later, Barry called me again, thanking me for Henry's Tel number. It turns out, Barry was stationed with Henry in the Coast Guard! He also acquired a vintage license plate for his Jaguar. What is also ironic, is i haven't seen Henry, for a few years,since i lost interest in classic cars. I recently had an Antique Mass. license plate,advertised on Craigslist for sale. Henry answered the ad, requesting he would purchase the plate, and signed the reply, Henry. I knew it was Henry D., right off the bat.He specializes in Single digit plates. I hadn't thought of him,before i ran the ad. I replied to Henry, who it was selling the plate,not to worry its his.
We finally hooked up last Saturday,and i have scanned the photo's he lent me. I knew he had rebuilt an old lighthouse/station on the Annisquam River in Gloucester,but didn't know about his time at Long Island till i got the photo's.
Well back to the story...........The original Long Island Light was built way back in1819! This, the current Lighhouse, was built in 1901 (Click on the pix for better views). This postcard was published between 1907 to 1915, so the lighthouse is pretty new when photographed.[attachment 80393 ScannedImage-54.jpg] This Light was in operation till 1982 before being deactivated by the Coast Guard. In 1985, the decision was revoked,and Henry D., with a couple other coasties were sent to refurbish the neglected Lighthouse. This must have been quite a project. The Light is built of brick, 52 feet in height.[attachment 80395 ScannedImage-31.jpg] Henry said they hauled the sand blaster,and other equipment by rope and pulley,with a Chevy Chevette pulling the rope![attachment 80398 ScannedImage-26.jpg][attachment 80396 ScannedImage-30.jpg] Here we are standing on the Lightdeck,viewing what was Deer Island Prison, back then. Now the Prison is long gone,replaced by a Sewage treatment plant. Here it appears, that Henry is taking a picture as though saying "goodbye" to the finished product. Lastly, the Light was refurbished one more time, in 1998,is presently still in operation, with its Solar Powered light, flashing White,every 2.5 seconds. As i mentioned, unfortunately, its not open to the Public. Rj
I have some photos, which i took,last summer,when i took the grandkids on the Salem Ferry, to Boston. Recently i was talking to an old friend, Henry D. of Wilmington Ma., and asked if he had any Coast Guard related photos of when he was enlisted. He indeed did,and i can scan them. Well let me at them!
Here,i need to back track, a little...I first met Henry back in the sixties,when my hobby was collecting auto license plates,so its been a long friendship. I never knew or cared back then that he even was in the Coast Guard. I learned by accident about 10 yrs ago. A rather well off, customer, of mine at the Nissan dlr, a Mr. Barry Levine if i remember correctly,had been an 1983 ZX owner since purchased new, and serviced by my Service Dept. for many years. Hadn't heard from Barry for awhile,figured he traded the ZX for another make.
Out of the blue, Barry contacted me by phone,and he discussed through an unknown friend, that i was the guy to contact, if you wanted a vintage license plate. I wasn't really into it for awhile,but i told him i had a contact,and would ask the contact if he wouldn't mind if i had Barry contact him (Henry) directly if a gave his tel. number. Henry agreed, so i had Barry call him direct.
A few days later, Barry called me again, thanking me for Henry's Tel number. It turns out, Barry was stationed with Henry in the Coast Guard! He also acquired a vintage license plate for his Jaguar. What is also ironic, is i haven't seen Henry, for a few years,since i lost interest in classic cars. I recently had an Antique Mass. license plate,advertised on Craigslist for sale. Henry answered the ad, requesting he would purchase the plate, and signed the reply, Henry. I knew it was Henry D., right off the bat.He specializes in Single digit plates. I hadn't thought of him,before i ran the ad. I replied to Henry, who it was selling the plate,not to worry its his.
We finally hooked up last Saturday,and i have scanned the photo's he lent me. I knew he had rebuilt an old lighthouse/station on the Annisquam River in Gloucester,but didn't know about his time at Long Island till i got the photo's.
Well back to the story...........The original Long Island Light was built way back in1819! This, the current Lighhouse, was built in 1901 (Click on the pix for better views). This postcard was published between 1907 to 1915, so the lighthouse is pretty new when photographed.[attachment 80393 ScannedImage-54.jpg] This Light was in operation till 1982 before being deactivated by the Coast Guard. In 1985, the decision was revoked,and Henry D., with a couple other coasties were sent to refurbish the neglected Lighthouse. This must have been quite a project. The Light is built of brick, 52 feet in height.[attachment 80395 ScannedImage-31.jpg] Henry said they hauled the sand blaster,and other equipment by rope and pulley,with a Chevy Chevette pulling the rope![attachment 80398 ScannedImage-26.jpg][attachment 80396 ScannedImage-30.jpg] Here we are standing on the Lightdeck,viewing what was Deer Island Prison, back then. Now the Prison is long gone,replaced by a Sewage treatment plant. Here it appears, that Henry is taking a picture as though saying "goodbye" to the finished product. Lastly, the Light was refurbished one more time, in 1998,is presently still in operation, with its Solar Powered light, flashing White,every 2.5 seconds. As i mentioned, unfortunately, its not open to the Public. Rj
.
