A blast from the way back machine, 1988

From a newspaper in Maine

LUBEC, Maine – Day in and day out, Malcolm Rouse is the first man in America to see the sun rise. But not for long.

The days are numbered for the keeper of the light in this easternmost point of the United States. Unless a town petition can save the lighthouse from automation, it will be lights out for Rouse and his family of five.

“What I think you can’t print,” Rouse said when asked about the planned automation of West Quoddy Head Light in October,one of only 16 manned lighthouses left in the country. “Whew; it’s still kind of hard to think about leaving. I’d hate to leave but we …”

Mac  got the job in 1986. It was automated  in 1988.

Here is picture of him and his wife in 2006 , he is a Realtor in Maine. I am posting this so no one worries about what became of Mac. This picture is from a Quoddy Light Keepers reunion.

The protests in Lubec were not  about Mac and his family . It was about vandalism  with no keeper at the light.

From the New York Times  1987

”We have the same problems here as in other places,” said the light keeper, Mac Rouse. ”A few of the young people have a few beers and then they start vandalizing things.”

The residents estimate that moving the light keeper out of the lighthouse would mean a reduction of $50,000 in salaries and services in the town.

Another concern the people of Lubec have is that the transfer of the light keeper will mark the end of an era. People like thinking about the romance of a gray-bearded light keeper climbing the lighthouse stairs to light a beacon for lonely sailors. They like remembering the days when light keepers rowed boats out to sailors in trouble. Those days are past, said Mr. Arbogast.(Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer, Boston.)

Current technology – photoelectric cells to turn the light off and on and radio sensors to sense fog – makes the expense of a light keeper unjustifiable, he said.”

So is today’s letter of thanks in the Newsletter the last one? Personally I found the entire affair a bit over the top. Barbara  weighing in from the South. George taking time from his travel writing to pen a long note. Yes, a bit long given the subject.

We seem to be stuck.

The Town Manager has a contract for 3 years. I hope everyone can move on. I would be preparing my resume.  This episode simply has in my mind created more stress at the Town Office. These letters, geesh. Note to Town employees including retired  pensioners. In the non union, private sector you are on your own.

I would now as the  Town Manager wear a huge smile,  and watch Shawshank Redemption again, and again. Hey who is charge of interior  paint colors  at the Town Office?

It’s office day here today  so I am not alone.  I get asked  to explain my posts sometimes. Do I have to explain this  one?We have absolutely no time to get mired, bogged, frozen. The pace of change must be accelerated. We all have to understand that process. I guess if you are running into major interference someone should counsel  a  stand down, so time & treasure can be spent on other pressing issues and missions. Locally we have seen this happen too  often , the head banging. Lets commit to clarity in 2010.

My neighbor  added to their Christmas Light display despite our agreement to go easy this year. This provocative move is triggering an escalation(oh  oh) and a response from this side of  the street as orders have been issued  to festoon the forsythia.

Madness!

Mike