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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.
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