Member First Friday: A Panel Discussion on New England lighthouse keepers of the past and the groups that preserve lighthouses today

Members of the Custom House Maritime Museum are invited to join us for this event. Not a member but interested in joining? Please visit our membership page!

Join us for an evening of interesting facts and stories about a selection of New England lighthouses including the Newburyport Harbor Light, or “Plum Island Light” as it’s known. This panel discussion includes members of the Friends of Plum Island Light and the founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. Come listen to the captivating stories of the lighthouse-keeping days of the past. Learn about the history of Plum Island Light and present-day preservation projects.

Friends of PI Light will open the lighthouse for CHMM members on the following day, Saturday August 6th, from 2:00-4:00pm for first floor viewing. Parking is in the standard lot at the point (the lighthouse has limited parking).

Jenn Bogard Ph.D., Director on the Board of CHMM, is a member of the Friends of Plum Island Light and descendant of Plum Island Lighthouse Keeper Arthur Woods Sr. who held the light from 1905 until his death in 1919. Jenn teaches poetry and literacy courses for Lesley University and writes books and educator guides for teachers and readers of all ages.

Jeremy D’Entremont, Jeremy D’Entremont has been researching and photographing lighthouses for almost four decades. He is the author of more than 20 books, including The Lighthouse Handbook: New England and The Lighthouses of Massachusetts. Jeremy is the president and historian of the American Lighthouse Foundation, founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and the historian and podcast host (“Light Hearted”) for the U.S. Lighthouse Society. He has appeared on the History Channel, the Travel Channel, Public Television, and National Public Radio speaking about lighthouses and other subjects. www.newenglandlighthouses.net

John Vogl serves as the president of the Friends of the Plum Island Light. He has held this position since 2017, following the passing of long time president and founding member Barbara Kezer. He has been involved with the organization for roughly 8 years and has been a Plum Island resident for 13 years. John is a Geographic Information System (GIS) Manager by trade and has worked in both municipal and regional offices in Southern NH for his entire career.