Stony Point Thanksgiving Day Tour
By Shirin Pagels

For those willing to face the cold and bitter winds, the Stony Point Lighthouse, the oldest lighthouse on the Hudson River, was open for touring on Thanksgiving morning.  Approximately 50 people made their reservations to tour the lighthouse at 10AM.  Due to the large size of the group and the rather small size of the lighthouse, the group was split in half.  Each group was given a tour of the Stony Point Battlefield grounds and the chance to climb the lighthouse.  For those who have not climbed the light or taken a peek inside before, this is a very tight light to climb.  The wooden staircase inside is very steep and the entrance into the lantern room is very narrow.  Those of us who had big winter coats opted to leave them downstairs in order to be able to squeeze into the lantern room.  Fortunately the lighthouse staff had a portable heater that kept the lighthouse warm inside.  Once up to the top of the light, visitors were treated to a beautiful view of the Hudson River.  It was a bright and clear day so the visibility was great.  For many of the visitors, it was a great chance to get out of the house before their holiday dinner and start working off some of the extra calories from a big meal.