Guarding Door County: Lighthouses and Life-Saving Stations (WI) (Images of America) (Paperback)

~ Stacy Thomas; Virginia Thomas (Author) "As a peninsula with many islands, Door County has a strong maritime history by necessity..." (more)
Key Phrases: Coast Guard, Sturgeon Bay, Door County (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Jutting out of Wisconsin into the blue waters of Lake Michigan, the scenic peninsula of Door County is endowed with the longest coastline of any county in the nation. Since the mid-1800s, the region has boasted a strong maritime industry, dependent on the constant vigilance and efforts of U.S. Coast Guard units. The county has been home to as many as 12 historic light stations, as well as three life-saving stations. Beginning with Pottawatomie Light in 1837 and Sturgeon Bay Canal Life-Saving Station in 1886, keepers and surfmen survived both boredom and peril to ensure safe navigation and commerce, while rescuing those in distress. Through archival photographs, stories of<br><br>shipwrecks, rescues, service, and pride spring to life. Rare rescue images of the Otter, a schooner which wrecked in 1895, are especially noteworthy.

About the Author

Stacy and Virginia Thomas are actively involved in restoring lighthouses and speaking on Coast Guard history. They met in the Coast Guard in Sturgeon Bay and were married at picturesque Sherwood Point Light. Stacy is still active duty and currently assigned to the Canal Station. Virginia, now a civilian, holds a degree in Latin and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history.

Stacy and Virginia Thomas are actively involved in restoring lighthouses and speaking on Coast Guard history. They met in the Coast Guard in Sturgeon Bay and were married at picturesque Sherwood Point Light. Stacy is still active duty and currently assigned to the Canal Station. Virginia, now a civilian, holds a degree in Latin and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in history.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing (July 13, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738534234
• ISBN-13: 978-0738534237
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,462,253 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, great gift, especially if you've been to Door County!, August 10, 2005

By	rebelshy (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

Guarding Door County is another wonderful addition to Arcadia's titles. The book gives a very good overview of the U.S. Coast Guard which explains how lighthouses and life-saving stations became part of the organization. Each picture has detailed captions that bring the stories to life. I liked how the authors included a final chapter on preservation and tourism to update the reader on what was currently happening to the structures. Finally, the appendix really helped me understand how Fresnel lenses worked. Overall, I loved looking at the historical photos and learning more about the lighthouses and life-saving stations in Door County.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review from the U.S. Life Saving Service Heritage Association:, August 3, 2006

By	S. R. Thomas "Coastie4Life" - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It doesn't take the Coast Guard to know the Coast Guard, but sometimes the inside knowledge and access helps the cause. Authors Stacy and Virginia Thomas met in the Coast Guard while both serving at Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin, and got married at one of the lighthouse of which they write in Guarding Door County. Their writing style in the book is professional and precise, their words carefully chosend to show respect for their service and the men and women who served before them.
The authors have broken the book down geographically, assigning themselves southern, northern and island blocks of lighthouses. Life-saving stations, as there are only three in the county (Sturgeon Bay Canal, Bailey's Harbor and Plum Island) are covered in one extensive chapter. And as there are only twelve historic lighthouses on the peninsula as well, they also receive lengthy coverage in the book, with multiple images of each lighthouse through time.
An added bonus to this book is the authors' treatment of their final full chapter, a primer on "Current Events: Preservation and Tourism" of Coast Guard heritage on the peninsula. Guarding Door County, therefore, goes beyond the history to the story of the present day, allowing those folks who go to (or in many cases, return to) the peninsula the opportunity to carry this book with them as a travel aid.
(published in Wreck & Rescue Journal, May 2006, V 9, No 1)