I’m a storyteller-songwriter in a Folk duo called Neptune’s Car. Lighthouses are a huge passion of mine. This blog begins with my week-long stay as the lighthouse keeper of the Rose Island Lighthouse just off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island, and continues with my adventures as a guest at the Saugerties Lighthouse in Saugerties, New York.
For me, the best way to write a song is to experience the subject first-hand. But, some experiences are harder to come by than others … like experiencing the life of a lighthouse keeper. So, early on Sunday morning, March 27th, 2011, my two young boys and I left the mainland and took a small lobster boat to Rose Island (off the coast of Newport, Rhode Island) where we were lighthouse keepers for the week.
Our daily duties included managing the island’s wind-powered electric system and rainwater-gathering system. Even with all of our duties, we had most of each day to experience the sights and sounds of the island.
Here is a video that was created by the American Lighthouse Foundation featuring my song, “Lighthouse Keeper.” The video contains historic images of lighthouse keepers in the northeastern United States.
