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New
England
Lighthouse
Lovers
- NELL |
| Fall Tour 2002 WHALE OF A WEEKEND IN NEW BEDFORD MA by Tom Pregman (Unless otherwise noted - photos by Tom Pregman) The NELL Fall Tour of the three local lighthouses, two lightships, and the Lightship Sailors Memorial in the Port of New Bedford was a smashing success. The weather was great this time. No Hurricane NELL as we experienced in May on the Vineyard. The City that has done so much to restore and preserve its lights, hosted, and, with the American Lighthouse Foundation, sponsored the first International Lighthouse Conference (ILC) with the educational purpose of developing a curriculum guide for use in the 5th and 6th grades. Workshops were held for much of the week preceding our visit with leaders from all over the country and Canada. Three NELL members, Bob Taylor and new members Gary and Jean Zunda, attended the conference and seventeen of us started our weekend by participating in the Friday evening celebratory dinner at the close of the event, and appeared to outnumber the other guests. The buffet was terrific, and the Lighthouse team trivia game led by conference Chairperson Sally Snowman was the hit of the party. (Sorry Tim, your speech was as usual way too long). Our table, the "FresNELLs" finished a close third place behind two other teams which had the advantage of committee member players. A play down was held to decide the winner while Sally danced around all night accompanying herself by "do-doing" the music from Jeopardy. ALF congratulated and awarded conference committee persons and conducted the usual raffles and drawings. They offered one of only three Clark's Point Harbour Lights, signed and postal cancelled from the conference, for auction. It was won in competative bidding by our own President Ron Foster for only $200. Way to go Spooler !! The second one is destined for the lighthouse museum in Wells ME., and the third was awarded this night to Art Motta, New Bedford Director of Tourism and Marketing for his two years of tireless preparation for this conference. Art was also most helpful in putting our trip together and he and Mayor Frederick Kalisz, Jr. treated NELL royally during our stay. More to follow on that below. ALF also offered many of the Clark's Point pieces for sale, and several of us couldn't leave for home without one. They were purchased with all proceeds going to ALF. Tim Harrison also donated a signed piece for our meeting door prize drawing which was awarded on Saturday night. On Sat. AM we all gathered at the Lightship Memorial, took a group photo, and tolled the bell for all those lost in service on the lightships and engraved on the monument. This included those "uncles" of Seamond Roberts lost when the Vineyard Sound sank off Cuttyhunk. (See her letters in the NELL web archives.) The engraving on the back of the monument was paid for in part by all the funds raised at our Spring meeting in Falmouth. |
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(Photo by Penny & Chuck Bartnicki)
 Lightship Sailor's memorial plaque dedicated August 4,2002 and partially funded by NELL |
 Dedication Ceremony August 4, 2002 |
 Mayor Frederick Kalisz addresses the gathering including NELL members Arlene Pregman and MJ Foster in the front row. |
 James Gill (left), Pres. USCG Lightship Sailor's Assoc., Inc., Harold Flagg, last surviving member of LV Vineyard Sound who was on shore duty when it sank, and Art Motta, NB Director of Tourism and marketing, pose at the Memorial. |
 Names on the Lightship Memorial in New Bedford, MA |
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| We then walked to the privately owned lightship Nantucket being refurbished in New Bedford before being moved to Boston for office use. Members crowded on the edge of the pier to see who could get the best pictures. Following that we made a brief stop along the beach road to see Butler Flats lighthouse, then made our way to Fort Taber. | |
 Arlene Pregman "weighs anchor" at the Lightship Nantucket |
 Lightship beacon on the forward mast. |
 Ron Drummer and Ron Foster stop to "shoot the bird" and Butler Flats Lighthouse |
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