Thursday, July 25, 2019

International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend - August 17-18, 2019

FROM THE AUGUST 2019 RARA RAG newsletter:

2019 International Lighthouse
Lightship Weekend
by David Timmons, W2DST

Have you ever operated outdoors at a historic site? Have you ever seen the Port
of Rochester from the top of a 197 year old lighthouse? You can do both and
more by joining us for the 2019 International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
(ILLW) at the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse on Lake Ave. in Rochester's historic Charlotte neighborhood. This year the event is on August 17 & 18 and we will be operating (at least) 2 stations using special event call sign K2R from 11 am to 5 pm both days. Come help us operate and talk to lighthouse visitors about amateur radio. Yes, we do hang our antennas from the lighthouse tower!





An annual event since 1998, ILLW
began as the Scottish Northern Lights
Award run by the Ayr Amateur Radio
Group. The history of the event can
be found at https://illw.net/. This
event has grown to attract over 500
lighthouse entries located in over 40
countries. This is a great event for all
experience levels. It is not a contest
and there are no prizes.
If you would like to help staff this
event and get a tour of the lighthouse,
sign up at: https://www.rochesterham.org/

Here is a little more about the history of our Rochester lighthouse:
Founded in 1983, the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society’s mission is to preserve and maintain the Genesee Lighthouse Tower (1822), the Lighthouse Keeper's House (1863), and its historic acreage as an educational center. Open to the public, local residents and visitors from around the world can learn the story of the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse, lock-ups of Charlotte,
and saving Lives on Lake Ontario by the Government Agencies of Charlotte. There is also a display of Ontario Beach Park, marine history and the International Peace Garden. As commercial marine trade increased, so did the need to establish a lighthouse for safely guiding boat traffic into and out of the “Port of the Genesee” whose entrance was partially blocked by sandbars. In 1822 the United States Government acquired the choice bluff site and solicited proposals to build a lighthouse,
lantern, dwelling house and well, at the mouth of the Genesee. Another larger
dwelling house was constructed in 1863.

The Light Station is open for regular visitation: April – October 2019, Fridays,
Saturday & Sunday; 1 – 5 p.m. Other times by Appointment Only.

Learn more about ILLW weekend sites at: https://illw.net/

1 comment:

  1. Great job guys!! I will be set up at the Oswego West pier lighthouse on Saturday and Sunday also. Hope to hear from you!! W2LGA

    ReplyDelete