It’s that time of year when attention turns toward the holidays, the weather takes a sharp turn at winter, and people begin to assess...

When renovating historic properties – especially one that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places – the overseeing agency...

Like many old houses, Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse sees its share of critters. Fortunately, with a limited food supply over the last...

Lighthouses originated to provide guidance to mariners navigating the sea or large inland waterways such as the Great Lakes. Each shining...

Lighthouses are often built in very remote places because of their mission to guide mariners and provide a safe harbor to anyone on the...

Perched atop a stone platform fashioned in the early 1900s, the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse may offer the best view in town, but...

We all have birthdays. For the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse, its birthday is June 9, which was the day the light was first lit in...

In addition to the renovation and repair work going on inside the lighthouse, another challenge was how to furnish it once the work was...

The well-known Carly Simon song, “Anticipation” keeps running through my head. Those lyrics “Anticipation, anticipation, is making me...

It’s been a long winter for everyone. From snow, snow and more snow to bitter cold, it has been one for the record books. In the hope...

Fortunately, red and white are two of my favorite colors, so I was delighted that my new summer home was already painted to suit my...

Yes, technically I OWN the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse. It was a long and grueling government auction process followed by what seemed...

As the weather turns cold in Northeast Ohio and the snow starts piling up, renovation work at Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse goes on...

One of the most important goals of the early renovations was fixing the broken and non-functioning windows. Windows at the lighthouse are...

Renovating any home presents a certain set of challenges ranging from selecting the proper tradesmen to choosing finishes and furniture....

I meet a lot of people when I’m walking through Mentor Headlands State Park on my way from the parking lot to the lighthouse. Some people...

The renovations of the lighthouse have been a multi-year project: First was cleaning and taking stock of the interior condition of the...

In addition to being a working lighthouse, Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light is also an historic property listed on the National...

After being awarded the opportunity to purchase the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse in 2011, I was given 60 days by the General Services...

Many people ask me if I always wanted to own a lighthouse. The answer is, “No.” In fact, I didn’t even think about owning a lighthouse...