Here's the deal, please do not take anything I say here as fact as my mind can and does tend to enhance things I've been told sometime. Also, please remember if you are on the water in Port A that the light house is not a museum, not public property, not available to be toured. It is privately owned and maintained.
With that said, one of the most enchanting places I have had the fortune of hanging out at is the Lydia Ann lighthouse.
I am fortunate enough to have a couple of friends, Rick and Regina, that are friends with Rick and Cameron who have been the lighthouse keepers for the past 15 years.
Another friend, Mark from Corpus was needing an engagement ring for a very special lady. I delivered it to Mark in Port A on a Friday and on Saturday Rick was kind enough to take us all to the lighthouse for a tour. Unbeknownst to Candice, the top of the tower would hold a special memory for her in it's beacon.
Rick the keeper met us at the dock and welcomed us to the property, he then gave us a really informative tour of the main house, the guest house and the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was built in 1883 if I remember correctly, the cut that is now 2 miles south at that time opened up at the lighthouse, that was the Lydia Ann channel. Until some 110 years later when to jetty's were built to hold the shoreline steady it was eroding south towards the border.
The light house has survived several large storms and what Rick referred to as the "H" word types of storms. There are no roads to the property, it is only accessible by boat. The houses, although rustic in nature are really decorated superb. The collections of nautical and island treasures inside are a joy to behold. The original Fresnel lens was removed from the lighthouse during times of war and buried in the wetlands surrounding the property. I can't remember which war or why it was buried but just that it was. The original lens has since been recovered and holds a place in a museum in Port A. the replacement lens is a solid thick affair about 16" tall.
July of 200 I had the opportunity to return to the lighthouse with my family and good friend Joe Pat Hennen and a storm had caused the bulb to burn out earlier in the day. I was amazed that the bulb is the same size as a household 60 watter but is a really bright 500 watt bulb.
The lighthouse sits in a wetlands area across from the lee side of San Jose Island. It is wonderful for birdwatching, dolphin watching and the quite and peacefulness is incredible.
The Lydia Ann is one of the most photographed and painted pieces of architecture in the area, you see it on postcards, paintings and photos everywhere in the area.
I feel honored and relish the special moments that I have been able to spend at the Lydia Ann. It is truly one of my top third coast memories.
