Return to the Waterfront... Lighthouse Part Two

So it is in Rochester. After viewing the historic Charlotte Genesee Lighthouse from the toasty confines of The Maplewood’s bus in January, our plan was to return on May 17 for more thorough on-the-ground exploration. Fast-forward to that day: again on the bus, again pulled up near the structure, same lighthouse fanatics inside, plus Mary G’s niece Karen. I should have known better than to count on May. The outside temperature was 63 degrees, clouds ruled the sky, it had rained, and winds whipped out of the northwest at 17 miles per hour. Stay or go we had a decision to make! Would our efforts to explore the ground be thwarted by Mother Nature’s whim?

Determined, Mary G, Jane H, Connie B and Bob Y decided to bundle up and go for it! In a few minutes we were on the ground, approaching the Keeper’s House, built in 1863. With Bob looking quite fashionable in his leather jacket, the biting wind tried very hard to blow blankets right off our residents’ laps.

A bright idea suddenly came to me! I suggested we maneuver the group to a space between the Keeper’s House and the magnificent light tower, built in 1822. I anticipated that it would provide shelter from the breeze, which it did. Our adventurers liked this spot. They could gaze up at the structure and enjoy a sweeping view of the entire harbor area! My Assistant Sarah Hodges, volunteer/family member Brenda Forman and Mary’s niece snapped a number of pictures. They talked me into a number of poses, with the tower serving as my backdrop. We joked and had fun.

The atmosphere began turning our way, too. Clouds slowly slid away, replaced by bright sunshine. The wind, while never completely abating, mellowed nicely. Next Sarah and I, for reasons unexplained (probably mostly to amuse our audience), decided to roll – yes roll, down a small hill. Our fans laughed heartily and I got very dizzy for a few moments. I was confident, and hopeful, this would clear before I was called on to drive us home!

As we worked our way to another vantage point, the Keeper’s House was now the foreground with the tower’s top visible behind it. We were now sitting in the sun and loving it.

Reluctantly, our weather-hardened group acknowledged it was time to go. On the way home, the group asked about seeing the Sodus Lighthouse. We can definitely do that. And then it was “Land Ho!” as we returned dry and happy to The Maplewood!

Gary Sacco
Director of Recreation