Lighthouse Ornaments Article
They rise as giants, stalwarts along our nation's
coastline. For some, the lighthouse evokes feelings of
safety and guardianship, a storied chapter in our country's
history. For others, they represent an air of romance or
stand as a kind of spiritual symbol. Put into service as a
guide for mariners, lighthouses have come to mean so much
over the centuries. Whatever they mean to you, these
priceless edifices occupy a unique place in our hearts. It
is fitting then that Tom Pollard Designs has captured the
charm of the lighthouse with his collection of Lighthouse
Ornaments.
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purchase page.
Currently, Tom Pollard Designs has 23 lighthouse ornaments in the
collection, depicting sentinels that dot the shores of lakes Erie, Ontario,
and the Atlantic Coast. Tom Pollard, Your Ornament Maker became captivated
by the Erie Land Lighthouse located on the shore of Lake Erie in Lighthouse
Park, Erie, PA. A photographer, Pollard used his artistic vision to create
a one-of-a kind, gold-plated ornament to commemorate this tower's perennial
presence on our Great Lakes. He began offering the ornament to lighthouse
fanciers and ornament collectors, as well as to those looking for a quality
keepsake from this grand old structure.
Pollard then added three more ornaments to the collection from Lake
Erie: The Presque Isle Lighthouse, The Erie Pier Head Lighthouse, and the
Marblehead Lighthouse, which is located in Ohio. First lit in 1873, The
Presque Isle Light is still active aiding navigation and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The Erie Pier Head Light originally
used a fourth-order Fresnel lens but now sends out a red flash every 2.5
seconds by using a solar-powered optic that was installed in 1995. The
Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest one to operate on the Great Lakes, and
its green signal can be seen for 11 nautical miles.
Tom Pollard Designs has one lighthouse ornament from each of these three
states: Massachusetts, New York, and Delaware. The Brant Point Lighthouse
located on Nantucket Harbor, Massachusetts, is the second oldest lighthouse
in the nation and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
This lighthouse also has a fog bell. The Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse is
located in Rochester, New York, where the Genesee River empties into Lake
Ontario. The Fenwick Island Lighthouse on Delaware's coast is usual in that
it has two brick towers' the outer is conical in shape and the inner
cylindrical. It also sits precisely on the eastern origin of the
Mason-Dixon Line, which delineates the border between Delaware and Maryland.
Visit our Lighthouse Ornaments
purchase page.
Maryland has three ornaments in the Tom Pollard Designs Lighthouse
ornaments collection. The Turkey Point Lighthouse, Elk Neck State Park,
overlooks the Chesapeake Bay. Of its 10 keepers, four were women. The
Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is situated in the Chesapeake Bay and is a
screw-pile type of lighthouse. The hexagonal cottage lighthouse sits atop
pilings that have been screwed into the bay's sandy bottom. It is a
National Historic Landmark. The Concord Point Lighthouse is located where
the Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake. John O'Neill, the first
keeper, defended it against the British during the War of 1812, and his
descendants kept the lighthouse until the mid-1900s.
Virginia also has three ornaments in the Tom Pollard Designs Lighthouse
ornaments collection. The Old Point Comfort Lighthouse, Fort Monroe, on the
Chesapeake Bay, has been a witness to pivotal moments in our nation's
history. The British took control of it during the War of 1812, and in
1862, observers in the lighthouse watched the famous battle between the
Monitor and Merrimack. The Assateague Island Lighthouse is still active
with a double white flash appearing every five seconds. Unlike other
lighthouses that have been threatened by coastal erosion, the Assateague
Light now sits further inland due to the natural southward growth of the
island. At Cape Henry, there are two lighthouses. The older one's
construction was approved by George Washington. When it fell into
disrepair, the new Cape Henry Lighthouse was constructed in 1881. Most
decommissioned lighthouses were torn down, but since the old lighthouse was
such a landmark, it was preserved.
Tom Pollard Designs has captured the magic of North Carolina's
lighthouses with four exquisite ornaments. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse
on the northern end of the Outer Banks is still operational. From atop the
158-foot brick tower, a 1000-watt beacon sends a 20-second flash, on for
three seconds off for 17, warning ships plying the waters of "The Graveyard
of the Atlantic." Located several miles south of the Currituck Beach
Lighthouse is The Bodie Island Lighthouse. Two prior lighthouses stood
watch over this perilous stretch of sea. The first began to lean two years
after its construction and was abandoned. Another was built in 1859, but
was blown up in 1861 during the Civil War by Confederate troops who feared
the lighthouse would be used by the Union as an observation post. The
present lighthouse is painted with bold black and white stripes. The Cape
Hatteras Lighthouse has black and white barber pole stripes and is the
nation's tallest lighthouse at 208 feet, 10 of which are below ground
level. Due to beach erosion, the lighthouse was moved in 2000. The
Ockracoke Lighthouse on Ockracoke Island was built in 1823 and was
controlled by both the North and the South at various points during the
Civil War.
Visit our Lighthouse Ornaments
purchase page.
New Jersey boasts six ornaments in the Tom Pollard Designs Ornament
collection. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, North Wildwood, is a
Victorian-styled lighthouse and was listed on the National Register of
Historic Places in 1977. The current Cape May Lighthouse is the third one
built at the entrance of the Delaware Bay. Its beacon is visible 24 miles
out to sea. The Absecon Lighthouse provides climbers to the top of its
tower a spectacular view of Atlantic City. The Barnegat Lighthouse at Long
Island is known as "Old Barney." The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1944,
but this beloved lighthouse has been listed on the National Register of
Historic Places. The Navesink Lightstation is known as the "Twin Lights of
the Highlands." The original lighthouse was built in 1828 and a second was
built to replace the first in 1841. The twin lights were the most powerful,
shining 70 miles out to sea. The Sea Girt Lighthouse was extinguished when
the nation entered World War II, and it was converted to living quarters for
the Coast Guard who patrolled for U-boats. 
If you don't already own these beautiful ornaments, now is the time to
start your collection. Lighthouses have a lasting presence, and Tom Pollard
Designs provides high-quality keepsake ornaments that will last as well.
Also, if you know of a lighthouse that should be captured by Tom Pollard
Designs, contact Tom to begin the process
of creating an original piece of art. Your recommendation could provide the
inspiration for a lighthouse ornament that will provide lasting joy for
generations to come.
Tom Pollard Designs: Your Ornament Maker
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order form
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