7 Jun 2024 - Lighthouses, Grandson Baseball and Last Day on Lake Ontario

 

Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse

This is our last day here at Daisy Barn Campground on the south shore of Lake Ontario.  Even though we have previously visited the lighthouses along the shore here we decided to drive east and revisit three:  Olcott Lighthouse, Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse, and Oak Orchard Lighthouse.  Two of the three (Olcott and Oak Orchard) are reproductions - Lake Ontario weather was not kind to the originals. Thirty Mile Point is original with some minor outbuilding changes and it is magnificent! 

Olcott Lighthouse:  The Olcott Lighthouse guided ships on Lake Ontario from 1873 to 1963,  The lighthouse moved from the pier to the shoreline around 1930.  A local gentleman took on the task of reconstructing an exact replica to scale and finished the project in 2003.  Private donations totaling $6000 funded the project.  It is 27 ft tall constructed of "white pine in a Dutch Lap design".  That was all done without any blueprints or plans - all from old pictures.  The lighthouse was open when we arrived but the inside is just an informational kiosk - nothing to climb.  

The Olcott Lighthouse, nicely presented!

Many old pictures on display inside

On the end of the pier in 1908

After looking around the lighthouse we made our way to a nearby souvenir shop and they had the stamp for Doreen's lighthouse passport book. 

  Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse:  Located in the Golden Hill State Park, again, right on Lake Ontario, the Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse is a gem. It gets its name because it is located 30 miles east of the Niagara River. It opened in 1876 and served continuously through 1959 when it was automated.  The second floor of the lighthouse is a full-service, 3-bedroom suite that can be rented!  From their web site, "Today’s lighthouse residents are not asked to mind the light or perform other tasks required of the lighthouse keepers, but they do get a small glimpse into what life was like for a keeper along this isolated stretch of Lake Ontario."  It is built from locally quarries limestone and it is beautifully maintained.  There are RV camping sites (electric + water) nearby and they appeared full as we drove in.

As we entered the park the attendant told us the lighthouse and visitor center did not open for another hour and she did not charge us the park entry fee.  Since we had toured it before we did not wait for it to open.  Instead, we walked around the outside and marveled at it's beauty.  It is exquisitely maintained.  The grounds were manicured  There is a walkway that takes you down to the lake but it was closed for maintenance.  Some of the outbuildings had been relocated over the years including one of the oil houses and the carriage house.  If you appreciate the beauty and history of lighthouses this one is a must see!

A view from the visitor center

The second oil house

The carriage house

Oak Orchard Lighthouse:  Oak Orchard Light operated on the shores of Lake Ontario from 1871 to 1916.  There were originally two piers and they were maintained until 1905 when they were abandoned by the Government. In 1914 a storm washed a large hole in one of the piers and on December 23, 1916 the lighthouse and what remained of the piers were demolished by another storm.  In 2010 a historically accurate replica was built near the original site at the Orleans County Marine Park Point Breeze.   The keepers house is now a private residence located nearby. The lighthouse was not open today, so we just looked around the outside.

That is about a wrap from here at Daisy Barn Campground.  On the way back from our little lighthouse tour today we refueled the truck in preparation for our journey tomorrow to Ft Drum near Watertown NY.  We will spend five nights there before moving on to the Burlington VT area.  We are really looking forward to exploring the St Lawrence river, the lighthouses, a boat museum and various other venues.

We closed the evening watching WNBA Caitlin Clark and the Indiana Fever winning a close one over the Washington Mystics 85-83 on Directv.  Simultaneously we watched our grandson Daniel (via Game Changer app) playing baseball at a tournament in Bettendorf Iowa.  They won their first game tonight 11-1 on a walk-off grand slam home run by Daniel!  He hit 2 for 3 with 4 RBI's.  He also pitched two innings of zero-run ball in relief striking out five, giving up just one hit and walking two!  So proud of him and the team and so glad we are able to tune in to our grandkid's activities while we travel!  

All three of these lads hit homeruns tonight!  Grandson Daniel on the right in the picture.

Our son Dan with grandson Daniel and the grand slam ball!