Blog

  • September 1, 2021Burhani Windows
    I first met John Burhani in November 2011 shortly after I purchased Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse from a government auction. He had…
  • June 12, 2021The Pandemic Pause
    News of an unusual virus coming out of China began circulating in December 2019. The highly contagious strain of coronavirus, named…
  • October 17, 2020The Elusive Utilities
    When I first purchased the lighthouse, I knew it needed a lot of repair and restoration. I also knew that whatever utilities (running…
  • September 2, 2020Divine Intervention
    We all know that God works in mysterious ways. One night recently, as I was walking back to the lighthouse from the parking lot carrying…
  • August 17, 2019The International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
    Each year, the national association for Amateur Radio (ARRL) also known as “ham radio” operators, conducts the International Lighthouse…
  • June 25, 2019Life Savers
    Lighthouses and their keepers have often been known for saving ships and lives from the dangers of Mother Nature. History has documented…
  • August 26, 2018Chris and Friends
    One of the great things about owning a lighthouse is that you have a lot of visitors. Most are strangers who contact me for a tour or…
  • July 7, 2017The Wine Cellar
    Like most old buildings, the lighthouse has its share of unexplained nooks and crannies. The large area in the eves under the roof…
  • September 25, 2016Sunset Point
    When I purchased the lighthouse in 2011, there was very little left inside. There was no furniture, plumbing, sinks, toilets, doors,…
  • August 28, 2016Roar Off the Shore
    In sharp contrast to the quiet, majestic Tall Ships that sailed into Fairport Harbor in early July 2016, later that month Cleveland…
  • August 5, 2016Historic Places Plaque Presentation
    In 1991, the U.S. Coast Guard submitted the paperwork for Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse to be listed on the National Register of…
  • July 7, 2016Tall Ships 2016
    Each year, the Tall Ships America organization, which focuses on youth education, leadership development and the preservation of the…
  • May 15, 2016Painting the Lighthouse
    Whether you’re renovating just one room or an entire building, the cost of renovation can be particularly high when you’re dealing with a…
  • December 15, 2015Split Queen
    While the lighthouse restoration has been focused primarily on repairing the structure, thoroughly painting inside and out, patching…
  • November 15, 2015The Service Level
    I’ve had a lot of people tell me that it’s hard to visualize the inside of the lighthouse. Many are surprised to hear that there are…
  • October 17, 2015Lighthouse Lucy
    If you’ve been to visit the lighthouse this summer or gone by via boat, you may have noticed a beautiful blond patrolling the platform…
  • September 15, 2015Itinerant Artist
    There is no doubt that lighthouses attract the talents of many artists, writers and photographers. The history and intrigue of…
  • August 14, 2015Hidden Treasures
    In 1948, when the last keeper moved out of the lighthouse, an empty building was left behind. Although the US Coast Guard still…
  • July 15, 2015The Bunk Room
    Although deceiving, the lighthouse does have a full basement tucked into the platform upon which it sits and like the rest of the floors,…
  • June 9, 2015What A Party!
    It’s not every day that a lighthouse turns 90 years old. But when Fairport Harbor West observed that milestone on June 9, 2015, over 500…