Point Lookout Lighthouse Preservation Society (PLLPS), Inc.



Sixth Annual Lighthouse Challenge 2008
September 20-21, 2008

The weekend weather was perfect for the annual Lighthouse Challenge, sponsored by the Chesapeake Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society. Saturday morning greeted our volunteers and 635 visitors with a cool breeze, partly sunny skies, and low humdity. Special guest Cathy Taylor attended the Challenge to autograph copies of her new book entitled: "Maryland Lighthouses", in the Images of America Series. Also in attendance was emerging artist Hillary Herbein Murdoch, who displayed a sampling of her original lighthouse paintings and autographed prints of the Point Lookout Lighthouse purchased at the PLLPS gift shop, located in the north side living room. PLLPS volunteers Kim Hammond and Barbara Loukota stamped many passports over the weekend, but they were up for the challenge. This first day of the Challenge was also the anniversary of the lighting of the lighthouse, which was first put in to service 178 years ago on September 20, 1830. Happy Anniversary to the Point Lookout Lighthouse!

On Sunday, we welcomed 469 visitors with mostly sunny skies and warmer weather, although the humidity did increase as the day went on. We enjoyed chatting with Bob Pratt, who was a childhood friend of Jack Sturgis and fondly recalled spending the night in the lighthouse. We hope to see Bob again at a future event. Even with high gas prices, this year's Challenge hosted more visitors than last year. Point Lookout did not have any finishers for the Challenge this year, which is probably related to the isolated location of the lighthouse and the price of gas.


We would like to thank all of the volunters from PLLPS and the Chesapeake Chapter who made the Point Lookout stop of Lighthouse Challenge 2008 a resounding success! We would also like to thank the Chesapeake Chapter for their creativity and the very clever- and relevant- election theme for this year's Challenge.




The Challenge sign on the fence outside the lighthouse.



Kim Hammond works at the PLLPS gift shop, stamping passports and answering visitor's questions about our favorite lighthouse.



The flag greets visitors to the lighthouse. Saturday was very breezy and gave old glory a work out.



Double-Duty Volunteer Chuck Kohls greets visitors in the south side kitchen.



Volunteer Kitty Price staffs the Challenge table in the south side dining room.



Volunteers Denise Reichard and Sandra Sableski take a turn at the Challenge table in the south side dining room.



Volunteers Wendy Harris and Julie Quade greet visitors in the south side kitchen.



Photos courtesy of Robert Hall