Ann and Bruce Mulkin found the perfect weekend retreat on the shores of Lake Erie in Barcelona, New York. The lighthouse is unique, even among other lighthouses. It sits very close to a busy road, yet is still peaceful inside thanks to the two-and-a-half-foot-thick walls and the shale and limestone construction.
Figure A--Another unique feature of the Mulkin's lighthouse is that it's the only one in the country lit by natural gas, an oddity that came about when a gas deposit was discovered nearby during the lighthouse's construction.
Figure B--Barcelona Light was built in 1829 with shale and limestone from the shore of Lake Erie. The thick walls are reinforced with steel buckles, making the home not only very energy efficient, but also nearly soundproof.
Figure C--The Mulkins have decorated the lighthouse in an antique country style, though they consider the home and its furnishings to be a work in progress. The many built-in shelves provide ample space for their collection of lighthouse memorabilia.
Resources Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum
The 100-foot lighthouse was completed in the winter of 1796 and is the oldest lighthouse in New York State. It is open to the public and available for weddings or other special events.
Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum
Phone: 631-668-2544
Toll-free: 888-685-7646
Fax: 631-668-2546
E-mail:
keeper@montauklighthouse.com
Website:
www.montauklighthouse.com/home.htm
Pinpoint Guide to Eastern Great Lakes Lighthouses: E. Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York
by Ray Jones and Bruce Roberts
Crane Hill Publications, 1998
Order this title from Amazon.com.
This book includes descriptions of the best lighthouses to visit, including photographs, facts and directions.
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