The Montauk Lighthouse has long been the symbol of "The Island." After driving to Riverhead, through the Hamptons, then on to Montauk, and visiting this serene and elegant place, we know why. Again we say..we love living on Long Island and learn and see more every week.
Saturday, June 14 was a beautiful outing for the senior missionary couples. We were hosted by two couples -Elder & Sister Roush in Riverhead and Brother & Sister Edwards in Amagansett, beyond the Hamptons.
Brother Edwards family has been in the whaling/fishing business for twelve generations, and our group was the recipient of his generosity and expertise. We enjoyed every moment. Sister Edward has prepared so fresh fish salad hors d'oeuvres on crackers - just divine!
Construction on the lighthouse was authorized by the Second United States Congress, under President George Washington in 1792. Construction began on June 7, 1796, and was completed on November 5, 1796. It was the first lighthouse in New York State, and is the fourth-oldest active lighthouse in the United States.
Because of severe erosion, the United States Coast Guard considered tearing down the lighthouse in 1967 and replacing it with a steel tower further from the edge of the bluff. When the tower was built on Turtle Hill it was 300 feet (90 m) from the edge of the cliff. It is now 100 feet (30 m) away from the edge.
After World War II the United States Army Corps of Engineers built a seawall at its base, but the erosion continued. In the wake of protests over the announced dismantling of the tower, Giorgina Reid, a textile designer who had saved her Rocky Point, New York cottage from collapse by building a simple set of terraces in the gullies of the bluff, proposed to do the same at Montauk.
Reid's concept Reed-Trench Terracing called for building the terrace platforms made of various beach debris -- notably reeds. The practice has appeared to have stemmed the erosion. She patented the process and wrote an article about it titled “How to Hold up a Bank”. Clever title, clever woman!
8 comments:
Such beautiful pictures!! Can't wait to go.
Isn't there something intrisically romantic about a lighthouse? I have a collection of pictures I took of lighthouses on the outer bank of North Carolina. And we have a "lighthouse room" (bedroom decorated with pictures of lighthouses) in our home. You've got some wonderful pictures there.
Wow! What a great blog! It was such fun to read and see your photos. It provides such nice memories of your time in New York.
President Bennion and I are so glad you came. You too are the best and thanks so very much for the delicious lunch you prepared for our Long Island Zone Conference.
Well, I happened to come across your blog and got so excited! You must be the senior couple that came to Bay Shore right after I left. I was actually serving in Brentwood, but I am so glad you are there. i am sure you are doing great things!
Whoops--You TWO are the best!
Hi - my name is Mike Wasden and, and I was a student at SUU when President Bennion and his wife Marj were there a few years back. My wife and I recently moved to central NJ and I'd love to send a note to or call the Bennions to say hello. Would you mind letting me know the contact information for the mission's main office? I haven't been able to find it online. If you could e-mail it to me, I'd very much appreciate it. My e-mail is wasdenm@yahoo.com.
Thank you!
PS - enjoyed the blog!!
Mike
Where have you gone?? I haven't seen you update your blog in awhile. Are things going ok? I hope you're enjoying your mission! Love ya!
Joanne
I have enjoyed reading over your blog. I served in the NYNY South Mission in the mid nineties and then I went to school at SUU and arrived when President Bennion started his tenure as President. He is such a great man and you are blessed to have him as a President.
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