It was Day 3 for us as Lighthouse Keepers in scenic Port Washington, WI. So far, this series of posts has focused on the lighthouse station itself and things that go bump in the night.
Now it’s time for me to share the bits and pieces about the wonderful folks we met while serving as tour guides at this historical site.
Visitors came from all over the world for a chance to discover more about the history of lighthouses in the Midwest.
We had travelers who made it their business to visit each and every lighthouse surrounding the Great Lakes. They were happy to cross Port Washington’s off their list.
The countless number of people we met was interesting and diverse. They came from Illinois. Texas. And Michigan.
Plenty of folks live in nearby Wisconsin towns, including Grafton, Oak Creek and West Bend.
A precocious five-year-old girl visited with her grandparents. All three climbed up and down the three sets of ladders to the tower, where they learned more about the Fresnel light and enjoyed breathtaking views of Lake Michigan.
Afterwards, the girl boldly asked my husband if he can do cartwheels.
“Nope,” he answered, “I was never any good at those.”
“Well, I’m practicing,” she proudly sang out.
More tourists came from California. Florida. And Alabama.
A professor from the local college stopped in on a whim. In tow with him were 10 of his students — all from Japan — and looking forward to accessing the light station tower. When I mentioned the suggested $5 donation for each visitor, the professor hesitated and looked over his crew, wondering how much cash he had on him that afternoon.
Was I going to be the one who denied these lovely students an opportunity to enjoy their afternoon? Not a chance. “Just give me twenty bucks for the whole crowd,” I suggested. Relief came over his face, and he promptly handed me a $20 bill from his wallet.
Our visitors were an eclectic group, but all were fun. Honestly, I can’t tell if we had more entertainment with the children or the adults.
We had a couple who intended to descend the wooden staircase that led into Port’s downtown streets.
“How many steps are there down to the main level?” the wife asked.
“105,” I noted.
She looked a bit nervous. “Oh dear, and how many back up?” she inquired.
“210,” I immediately responded.
The children who came along for the day were adventurous. They didn’t hesitate to climb the stairs to the tower. They marveled at the original “talking machine” phonograph in the parlor. They guessed at the purpose of the kitchen gadgets, which included a water pump, wire rug beater, old-fashioned toaster, and — one we all got stumped on — a metal sudser for aid in laundry day.
One lucky boy was grateful for the chance to try on one of the former lightkeeper’s coat and hat, while posing for pictures.
Finally, each afternoon ended with a visit from the locals themselves. Unlike the others, though, they mostly kept to themselves…
Let’s go way back… We from the Gen X generation love to reminisce. We grew up with a terrific music soundtrack to our lives. Think: Rolling Stones, Bob Seeger, Queen, AC/DC. Pop culture included Civil Rights. Space Exploration. And Peter Max. We watched the end of the Vietnam War and this country’s First Earth Day.…
PIZZA FOR BREAKFAST 