MaineBusiness.com

A new book, Ghost Lights of Michigan, will make its first appearance at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival to be held on October 9, 10 and 11 at the Thunder Bay Recreation Center in Alpena, Michigan.

Written by Timothy Harrison of Whiting, Maine, who is the editor of Lighthouse Digest, an international lighthouse news and history magazine, the new book depicts through vintage images and historical text many of the lost, forgotten and significantly altered lighthouses of Michigan.

Harrison, who has lived in Maine for over 25 years, but grew up in the Holland – Zeeland area of Michigan, will be present at the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival to personally autograph copies of the new book, which is his ninth lighthouse title. Other books by Harrison include, Lost Lighthouses, Portland Head Light, Lighthouses of the Sunrise County, Lighthouses of Bar Harbor and the Acadia Region and the Golden Age of American Lighthouses.

Harrison said his books are, “An effort to keep alive for future generations the memory of the lighthouses and the keepers and family members who served at them. It was their diligent service at these lighthouses which led to the development of our country into the great nation that we are today.”

He said that he is confident that most people will be amazed at the number of featured Michigan lighthouses that no longer stand. “The book is like a time machine taking you back in history to another era of Michigan’s maritime history,” he said.

Harrison continued by saying, “For example, as a youngster, I spent many summer days fishing with a bamboo pole off the pier by Holland Michigan’s “Big Red,” Lighthouse, but many people are probably unaware that another lighthouse once stood at that location.”

This is the 14th year of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival, which is the largest festival of its kind in the nation. People from all over the world come to Michigan to view the lighthouses near Alpena and climb the towers for the weekend event. As many as one- hundred vendors, including many of the lighthouse groups, will be on-hand to exhibit and sell their many lighthouse and maritime related items.

To learn more about the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival you can visit their web site at www.LighthouseFestival.org or call Melanie Kirn at 586-566-1603 or e-mail her at mjk361@comcast.net. Information can also be obtained from the Alpena Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 1-800-4-ALPENA.

Ghost Lights of Michigan will be available for sale at various outlets after the conclusion of the Great Lakes Lighthouse Festival or on-line at www.LighthouseDigest.net or by calling 207-259-2121.