2011 Maryland Lighthouse Challenge Special Guests
Authors
In light of this year’s reading theme, we are fortunate to have five esteemed authors among this year’s Special Guests: Wendy Brewer; the mother and daughter writing team of Mary Louise and Candace Clifford; and Cathy Taylor.
Wendy Brewer:
Wendy grew up near the Fire Island Lighthouse in New York. In the 1960s Wendy began taking photographs and discovered that she had a “good eye” for capturing images. In the 1970s she moved to and worked in Washington, D.C. After she retired in 2006, she stored all of her possessions and, without a home base, Wendy spent the next 18 months traveling in her car along American’s coastlines (including those in the Great Lakes) visiting and photographing over 450 lighthouses. In 2008, Wendy was diagnosed with breast cancer, had a mastectomy, and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. During this time, when it was difficult to get out of bed every day, Wendy diligently used her laptop computer to capture the essence of her passion. It was this determination that helped her to not only survive the ordeal but to strive for the future. Like the lighthouses that guided sailors safely into shore during storms, writing about these same lighthouses guided Wendy out of the storm (cancer) and back into the safety of the shore (life). Wendy currently lives in Savannah, Georgia, volunteers time at the Tybee Island Lighthouse, and belongs to numerous American lighthouse associations. She hopes that her first book, Keep Your Glow On, will raise awareness and encourage Americans to help save lighthouses and maritime history. Copies of the newly released Keep Your Glow On will be available for sale and signing by Wendy at the Calvert Marine Museum, Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18.
Mary Louise and Candace Clifford:
Mary Louise and Candace Clifford are coauthors of Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated History of Female Lighthouse Keepers, Mind the Light, Katie: The History of Thirty-Three Female Lighthouse Keepers, Lighthouses Short & Tall, and Nineteenth-Century Lights: Historic Images of American Lighthouses. In addition to these lighthouse titles, Mary Louise has written 12 other books primarily for a young adult audience. Her current project is a non-fiction book about her grandfather who was a drummer boy during the Civil War.Candace, a maritime historian, worked on a variety of lighthouse projects at the National Park Service’s Maritime Heritage Program. She compiled the 1994 Inventory of Historic Light Stations; produced the Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook; created the National Lighthouse Heritage website; edited and finalized lighthouse nominations for the National Register of Historic Places and National Historic Landmarks program; and documented two Fresnel lens projects. She currently does freelance research in the National Archives. For more information visit www.MaryLouiseClifford.com and www.lighthousehistory.info.
Mary Louise and Candace will be bringing an assortment of their books for sale and signing at this year’s Challenge. Click here for details of the books that they will have at the Lighthouse!. They will be appearing at Point Lookout 12 pm – 3 pm on Saturday, September 17 and at Piney Point on Sunday, September 18 from 11 am – 2 pm.
(Note: Although Nineteenth-Century Lights is currently out of print, they will have a few autographed copies available).
Cathy Taylor:
Cathy Taylor, an avid lighthouse enthusiast and President of Historical Place Preservation and manager of the restoration efforts at the Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Lighthouse, has published a visual history of all Maryland Lighthouses using archival photos. The book, titled Maryland’s Lighthouses (Images of America: Maryland), also delves into the current era of preservation and restoration taking place at lighthouses transferred through the NHLPA program (such as Craighill).
Cathy will be at the Point Lookout Lighthouse on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 where she will have copies of her book available for sale and signing. The books sell for $20.00 and proceeds go toward the Craighill restoration efforts. Learn more at: www.craighillrange.org.
Artist
Donna Elias:
Donna Elias was raised in Southern New Jersey, where she began her career at sixteen drawing caricatures on Atlantic City’s famous boardwalk. From her easel on the boardwalk, she looked out over the beach where tourists relaxed and played in the surf.
Inspired to further her skills, she took a high school art class and after graduating, began schooling herself in pen and ink and later in watercolors.
The young aspiring artist painted a variety of subjects and took a particular interest in coastal architecture. In 1988, Donna spent the summer in Cape May, New Jersey, where she discovered and began painting lighthouses. Soon after she formed Resort Graphics with her husband; she went on to create the nationally renowned and best selling Great American Lighthouses Collection®. While engulfed with the monumental task of researching and painting over 250 of America’s most historic lights, she began envisioning other coastal series, including By the Seaside™.
Today, Donna is one of the best known coastal artists in America. Her work is offered as fine art prints, and also adorns a variety of licensed home accents, apparel, tabletop and fine gifts, which are sold worldwide. Learn more at www.donnaelias.com.
Donna, who has been a great friend and supporter of the Challenge since its inception back in 2003, is scheduled to appear at the Concord Point Lighthouse Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18 where she will be displaying and selling her beautiful artwork.
Myrna Cherrix
Myrna (Von Mumb) Cherrix, is a native of Baldwin, New York. Situated on the south shore of Long Island, the seashore was a frequent and popular destination while growing up. Upon introduction to Assateague Island, her first impression was – Jones Beach without people.
Cherrix graduated from Adelphi University with a BS in Education (’57) and an MA. She settled in Pawling, New York where she taught in both the elementary and high school for 20 years and is still known as Mrs. Feron. While there her interest in local history led to her appointment as the Pawling Town and Village Historian for 11 years. During her tenure Cherrix (Feron) compiled a book on the History of Pawling. She also served as Chairman of the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Pawling, President of the Dutchess County Historians Association and was a member and volunteered for the Quaker Hill Historical Society and acted as a docent at the John Kane House.
Upon retirement Cherrix moved to Chincoteague Island, Virginia adjacent to Assateague Island. A widow, she married a local “Teaguer”, William L. Cherrix. The Cherrix Family can trace its roots on Assateague Island to the 1790’s. His branch lived there until the mid-1920’s when people left the village and moved to Chincoteague. Following her interest in genealogical and historical research, Assateague Island and Assateague Lighthouse became her focus. The construction of the Assateague Lighthouse in 1833 encouraged the growth of the village. In 1875, the US Life Saving station was established. Cherrix has written several articles on Assateague Lighthouse and Island. She hopes that her brand new book Assateague Island: Images of America Series, (release date September 12, 2011), will bring back memories to natives of the area and to the many visitors to the islands as well as preserve its history for future generations.
Cherrix has served as a volunteer for the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague National Seashore and the Oyster and Maritime Museum. As an original member of the Assateague Lighthouse Committee, she was named the Assateague Lighthouse Historian. She also served as president of the Chincoteague Natural History Association. She belongs to the U S Lighthouse Society as well as the Chesapeake Chapter of the USLHS. With her husband, Bill, Cherrix has visited over 240 lighthouses in the United States and Canada.
Cherrix will have copies of her book available and will be conducting a book signing at Turkey Point Lighthouse on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18.
Photographers
Bill Conway:
Bill is a local award winning photographer from Calvert County, Maryland.
He has had an interest in photography since he was young and was a photographer for the yearbook in high school. Bill eventually became a Construction Superintendent and he used his photography to document the projects he did throughout his career.
After retiring in 2005, he decided to take his photography in a different direction and instead of documentary photography he has tried for a more artistic view where he attempts to display what the eye would see rather than just what the camera’s eye sees.
Bill is a Vice President of the Bowie Crofton Camera Club, www.b-cc.org, where he presents a “How To” in photography; a member of the St. Mary’s County Camera Club www.smccc.org; advises the Calvert Photography Club www.calvertphotographyclub.com/; and a member of the Photographers Society of America psa-photo.org/ whose motto is “Educating and connecting people through photography”, a motto Bill believes in very much.
A selection of Bill’s images can be seen at the Calvert County Library, Southern Maryland Branch in Lusby, MD, Blair’s Jewelry in California, MD and on the web at www.flickr.com/photos/bill_conway.
Bill has graciously offered his breathtaking photography for use on this year’s event souvenirs. He will also have a collection of his photos on display and sale at the Calvert Marine Museum on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18.
Harry Fahl:
Harry, who has been a wonderful supporter of the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge events, lives on the Middle River and does most of his photography work from his Steigercraft 25. His most recent accomplishments are: the April 2011 issue Chesapeake Bay Magazine opening photo of the “Annual Fishing Forecast” (not credited) and the June 2011 Chesapeake Bay Magazine “Annual Photo Contest”. Harry had three winning photos out of 18 chosen from thousands of entries – 1st place, 3rd place and honorable mention; the only multiple winner they have awarded. In their June issue, Soundings magazine selected a Harry Fahl photo of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse for their monthly choice of photos for the lighthouse segment. Soundings has also chosen three more of his lighthouse offerings for future publication. He just completed a wedding ceremony photo shoot on the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse, a real challenge says Harry but he’d be happy to do it again. (It is available for special functions and events.) A complete, recent photography display of every Chesapeake Bay lighthouse will be on display at the Concord Point Lighthouse on Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18. Harry is again donating one of his beautiful framed photos of Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse for our annual Chapter-wide raffle. Harry’s new website coming soon: www.goosefeathersphotography.com. Harry Fahl email: dogbert2@verizon.net.
We are very excited to have such a diverse and talented group as this year’s special guests. Be sure to allow time to visit with them all as you travel the Challenge route.
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