{"id":10854,"date":"2012-05-24T17:07:04","date_gmt":"2012-05-24T22:07:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/?p=10854"},"modified":"2022-03-10T07:35:47","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T12:35:47","slug":"lighthouse-keeper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.howderfamily.com\/blog\/lighthouse-keeper\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to be a Lighthouse Keeper?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Lighthouse Keeper is one of those occupations similar to lamp lighter, elevator operator, stenographer and ice delivery person that probably doesn’t offer many career opportunities in the modern world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It takes a special personality to endure days and weeks of loneliness and isolation. So imagine life in a lighthouse perched on rocky crags far removed from the outside world. However, I’m not sure there are many jobs remaining either. Technology replaced the essential elements long ago. Most stations run in a completely automated fashion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wouldn’t want to be a lighthouse keeper on a permanent basis even if the job still existed. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t mind sitting in a lighthouse for a long-weekend every few months. Then I could unwind with some quiet, contemplative time. Maybe that’s why I’ve always had such a fascination with lighthouses<\/a>. But can that dream ever come true?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Purchasing a Lighthouse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Actually it’s possible for a private citizen to purchase a lighthouse<\/a> in the United States. Even so its a rather convoluted process. The United States government does release surplus lighthouses from the federal inventory periodically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So prepare yourself. The government is about to issue Notices of Availability for the next set, in case you’d like a very secluded hideaway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ontonagon<\/a>
Ontonagon West Pierhead Light, Ontonagon, Michigan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000<\/span> governs this process [link to National Park Service no longer works<\/em>]:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“NHLPA recognizes the cultural, recreational, and educational value associated with historic light station properties by allowing these to be transferred at no cost to federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit corporations, educational agencies, and community development organizations. These entities must… be financially able to maintain the historic light station… must make the station available for education, park, recreation, cultural or historic preservation purposes for the general public…”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What about private citizens<\/span>? [link to gsa.gov no longer works<\/em>] “Organizations interested in acquiring one of the lighthouses will have 60 days to submit a letter expressing interest in the property and complete a rigorous application process. If no suitable steward is identified, the lighthouses are then auctioned to the general public<\/em>.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In those cases, auctions take place on the Internet at realestatesales.gov<\/a>. And I found a number of lighthouses listed for sale right now! — that’s assuming you’re reading this message in some proximity to the date I posted this (May 24, 2012) and not at some date in the distant future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The government has conveyed 84 lighthouses from its inventory through this program since its inception. The new list will add a dozen more in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Michigan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n