Terrible Tilly, the lighthouse on Tillamook Rock on the northern Oregon coast, took over a year to build and the light was first turned on in January of 1881. After years of being ravaged by storms, Keeper Oswald Allik turned off the light for good On September 1, 1957. He made one final entry in the logbook:“Farewell, Tillamook Rock Light Station. An era has ended. With this final entry, and not without sentiment, I return thee to the elements. You, one of the most notorious and yet fascinating of the sea-swept sentinels in the world; long the friend of the tempest-tossed mariner. Through howling gale, thick fog and driving rain your beacon has been a star of hope and your foghorn a voice of encouragement. May the elements of nature be kind to you. For 77 years you have beamed your light across desolate acres of ocean. Keepers have come and gone; men lived and died; but you were faithful to the end. May your sunset years be good years. Your purpose is now only a symbol, but the lives you have saved and the service you have rendered are worthy of the highest respect. A protector of life and property to all, may old-timers, newcomers and travelers along the way pause from the shore in memory of your humanitarian role.”
But she still proudly stands!
9 comments:
Good for Tilly! Great shot :-D
Wonderful words. And I love that she is still standing.
The farewell entry by Keeper Oswald Allik beautifully encapsulates the profound respect and deep sentiment that lighthouses, like Tillamook Rock's "Terrible Tilly," evoke. These guardians of the coast, enduring through countless storms and providing guidance to mariners, hold a special place in maritime history.
Preciosa entrada esta de hoy amigo Bill. Una buena foto con un gran encuadre que permite apreciar las medidas de ese faro y esa roca en mitad del mar. Por otra parte leyendo la última anotación de Oswald Allik es imposible no emocionarse e imaginar la pena que tuvo que sentir al dejar a ese faro a las inclemencias del tiempo. TEse faro es todo
símbolo. Abrazo amigo.
Rien qu'un souvenir, ce phare tiens encore debout et c'est l'essentiel, c'est tout un symbole :)
Have nice great
Floralie
What a great story to go with your fine photo. I am happy not to be a lighthouse keeper. Too much isolation. Merry Christmas, Bill.
I love that lighthouse. Too bad it's fallen into disrepair.
What a fine final entry by Keeper Oswald Allik. How incredibly courageous were all the keepers looking after Terrible Tilly.
Bonita fotografia y clarificador historia. Cuantas terribles tormentas habrá tenido que soportar durante todos esos años de vida útil.
Un abrazo.
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