PEOPLE PROLFILE: Larsons are the keepers of 30-mile Point Lighthouse

By Bill Wolcott/wolcottb@gnnewspaper.com
The Tonawanda News

October 01, 2007 02:04 pm

— BARKER — Barb and Rob Larson became regular campers with their children in the shadow of the Thirty-Mile Point Lighthouse at Golden Hill State Park about 10 years ago.
The Lockport residents decided to join the Friends of Thirty-Mile Point Lighthouse in 2001 and almost immediately were eyed as potential officers. “At the first meeting, they said next year we’re voting for officers and kept looking at us,” Barb said. “Nobody wanted it at the time.”
Rob became president and Barb became vice president. This year, they’ve switched roles. Barb is president and Rob is vice president.
“We’ve had fun anyway,” Barb said.
The children join in. Renee, 19, is a student at Canisius College. Joe, 17, Aimee, 16, Nick, 10, and Emilee, 6, attend Starpoint schools.
“They come and help and volunteer. They’re all involved in it,” Barb said.
The lighthouse was built 30 miles east of the Niagara River in 1875. Vessels had been wrecked on the sand bars and shoals at the point of that belonged to farmer Austin Hathaway.
A kerosene lamp provided the first guide for sailors. That was replaced by a 500-watt electric lamp. The Coast Guard took over operation in 1935. The lighthouse was closed in 1958, however, and fell into disrepair.
In 1984, it was placed on the State and National Register of Historic Places, and in 1995 it represented Lake Ontario on a stamp.
The Friends of the Lighthouse started in 1995 and began to refurbish the two-story house that once housed the families of the lighthouse keeper and his assistant.
The kitchen has been restored with period appliances, and the group is trying to get furniture from that era. “When you walk into the lighthouse, you go back in time,” Barb said. “The state didn’t do anything. The local people got it going.”
Workers from Kodak volunteered and did a lot of the work. The second floor of the house is rented. The first floor is set aside for tours.
During Rob Larson’s tour as president, the non-profit organization obtained eight original paintings of lighthouses on the Seaway Trail which were painted by Steve Harrington of Virginia Beach.
The Friends will sponsor Christmas at the Lighthouse from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oct. 7, at Golden Hill State Park. There will be music, a Chinese auction, chili, cider, doughnuts, coffee and souvenirs.
Admission is free, as is parking, on the day of the event.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott at 439-9222, Ext. 6246.

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