Lighthouses and Lifesaving Along the Maine and New Hampshire Sea Coast (Images of America) [Paperback]

James Claflin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1999

Lighthouses and Life Saving along the Maine and New Hampshire Coast is a unique tribute to the men and women who protected mariners as they traveled along New England s rocky coastline. With thousands of vessels plying the dangerous waters, the chance of a shipping disaster was always great. Hundreds of shipwrecks did indeed occur off the coast with startling losses. Through descriptive text and a variety of vintage images from private as well as museum collections, we get a rare glimpse into the lives of the dedicated government men and women. Author James Claflin combines an extensively researched text with this exquisite collection of previously unpublished images to tell the story of an area heavily dependent on its coastal commerce. The task of lighting and protecting the coasts was taken on by the U.S. Light-House Establishment and the U.S. Life-Saving Service, later merged to become the U.S. Coast Guard. Within these pages, see the Boon Island Lighthouse keeper, his family alongside, as he proudly poses in his uniform; life savers at Hunniwells Beach station as they pull through a blinding snowstorm to rescue the crew of a stranded schooner; and the way of life on an offshore lightship. Lighthouses and Life Saving along the Maine and New Hampshire Coast is a visual journey into our nation's maritime history.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

James Claflin is a collector and dealer in fine nautical antiques, specializing in the U.S. Lighthouse Service, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service, and the U.S. Coast Guard. This book celebrates the American heroes who served to warn, rescue, and protect those in distress. It is sure to be enjoyed by residents of Maine and New Hampshire, as well as lovers of maritime history everywhere.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (November 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738503193
• ISBN-13: 978-0738503196
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,605,464 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Attention Lighthouse Enthusiasts, September 26, 2003

By 

Timothy Kearney (Haverhill, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lighthouses and Lifesaving Along the Maine and New Hampshire Sea Coast (Images of America) (Paperback)

People who love lighthouses know that the Maine coast is dotted with lighthouses and that this portion of New England is a lighthouse lover's paradise. LIGHTHOUSES AND LIFE SAVING ALONG THE MAINE AND NEW HAMPSHIRE COAST is a must for East Coast lighthouse lovers. The book is similar to Claflin's other books on lighthouses and life saving in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. It is filled with older photographs of the places and people involved in this way of life. Readers who have visited the lighthouses and life saving stations of Maine in recent years will be amazed at how remote some of these locations once were. The small commentaries that follow many of the pictures helps create a sense of history of these bygone days. This book helps recreate the romantic appeal of the days when lighthouses and life saving stations were in their glory, but a reader will also get a sense of the dangers and sacrifice involved on the part of those who dedicated their lives to this service.