Volume 3, Issue 12 - December 2025

President's Letter

Dear Friends,

As December settles in and the first snow hits the lakefront, I always find myself thinking about the people who kept the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse shining long before us.

While we’re on shore with heated vehicles, plowed streets, and weather alerts on our phones, they were one mile offshore in the middle of winter—commuting by boat, battling ice and wind, and doing whatever it took to keep that light burning for ships coming into Chicago.

That same spirit of commitment is what drives our work today at Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

The holidays mean a lot of different things to each of us, but at their core, they’re a time to pause, be grateful, and think about what matters.

For me, this season is a moment to look at how far we’ve come together—and to recommit to the work still ahead.

December is also a special month for me personally. This year is a milestone birthday for me, one of those big round numbers that makes you reflect a bit more than usual. I won’t spoil the exact number or the day, but I will say this: I’m grateful that this chapter of my life is tied so closely to saving and celebrating this lighthouse with all of you. Thank you for the opportunity.

In this issue of the newsletter, we’re sharing three stories that highlight the wider world of lighthouses and where FOCHL is headed:

FOCHL volunteer Nick Anson’s visit to the National Lighthouse Museum on Staten Island, and what we can learn as we plan our own museum and educational spaces.

A fun story on the history of the “Flying Santa” of the lighthouses, a tradition that has brought cheer to lightkeepers and Coast Guard families for nearly a century.

And of course, our Giving Tuesday feature, which is front and center this week.

As a special early launch to our Giving Tuesday event, I hope you’ll consider making your gift now at give.savethelighthouse.org.

We honestly can’t do this without you.

Thanks to the generosity of Barry Butler Photography, we have special thank-you gifts for qualifying donations, and an anonymous donor is matching $1 for every $2 we raise today—so your support goes even farther.

Wishing you and your loved ones a safe, warm, and joyous holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Be Safe and Be Well!

Regards,

Kurt Lentsch

Chief Dreamer and President

Illuminating the Past: FOCHL Volunteer Nick Anson Visits the National Lighthouse Museum

Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse volunteer Nick Anson shares insights from Staten Island’s historic Lighthouse Depot and the museum, lighting the way for future keepers of the light.

During our annual Labor Day trip to New York, my wife Kristin and I spent a morning at the National Lighthouse Museum located in St. Georges, Staten Island. The Lighthouse Preservation Society, founded in the 1980’s to advocate for the preservation of lighthouses, envisioned a national museum to preserve lighthouse history.

The New York Harbor Lights based in Staten Island was awarded the honor in 1998, topping 16 other entries. A significant advantage in their winning proposal was location – the former site of the United States Lighthouse Service General Depot.

The General Depot served as the United State Lighthouse Service’s national distribution center, testing facility and headquarters from 1864 to 1939. The Staten Island site was chosen because it was ideally located to receive shipments of Fresnel Lenses from France and distribute oil and supplies to lighthouses across the United States.

The depot eventually grew to 18 buildings including massive underground oil vaults. The vaults original held oil from sperm whales. In addition to distributing supplies, the facility assembled and tested Fresnel Lenses, experimented with lamps, and repaired lighting systems. In 1893, the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse Fresnel lens was assembled here along with other items for display at the Columbian Exhibition.

The introduction of electronic beacons and increased lighthouse automation in the 1930’s diminished the need for the depot. It pivoted to making and repairing buoys as the use of this navigational aid jumped significantly. The US Lighthouse Service merged with the Coast Guard in 1939, and the site became a repair center and depot for Coast Guard vessels and equipment during WWII and throughout the 1950’s. It closed in 1965 as all US lighthouses were fully automated and the Coast Guard donated the land to New York in 1978,

The depot piers are now used by the State Island Ferry. Seven of the eighteen buildings remain, and most are in disrepair. Plans call for a full multi-purpose residential development of the site called Lighthouse Point.

The National Lighthouse Museum is housed in the former General Depot machine shop. It opened on August 7, 2015, and the cozy 2,400 square feet building is well designed and chock full of informative exhibits and interesting artifacts. Linda Dianto, the Executive Director since 2012, graciously spent time telling us about the museum’s history, her plans for the museum’s future and the current exhibits. Linda is quite knowledgeable and passionate about the preservation of lighthouse history and will be an excellent resource as the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse design and outfit our museum and educational spaces.

The first exhibit is a striking lighthouse-shaped case containing 180 lighthouse models called Beacon of Lights. Linda said many of the models were donated by a collector and more have been added since. Rest assured, a Chicago Harbor Lighthouse model is included in the collection!

Surrounding the perimeter of the museum is a beautifully crafted world history of lighthouses timeline that starts with the Pharos Light in Alexandria, Egypt 280 BCE and goes to 2015. The US Lighthouse Service Depot History includes all sorts of objects made or inspected at the depot.

The United States Lighthouse Establishment stamped the initials, U.S.L.H.E. on all items made at the depot and Linda said to look for these initials when acquiring artifacts. Another exhibit, called Life at the Light featured Grosse Point Light Station “Wickie” Edwin J Moore with a picture of Moore winding the lighthouse clockworks. He served from 1888 to 1924.

The museum is undergoing a campaign called Illuminating Future Generations to fund a significant expansion of the museum by renovating the 19,000 square foot building next door which was the depot Lamp Shop. The goal is to raise $35 million. Fundraising events include boat tours, golf outings and the Annual Lightkeepers Gala held, of course, on August 7 – National Lighthouse Day.

The honorary chairperson for the campaign is Princess Anne of the United Kingdom! According to Linda, Princess Anne is an enthusiastic lighthouse aficionado and visited the National Lighthouse Museum in 2022.

I’ve suggested extending Princess Anne a grand opening invitation to our Chief Dreamer.

History of the Flying Santa of the Lighthouses (1929–2025) — and how you can join the tradition

On a cold Christmas morning in 1929, a Maine pilot named Captain William “Bill” Wincapaw looked out at the rugged coastline he knew so well—and thought about the lighthouse keepers and lifesaving crews stationed in some of the most isolated, weather-beaten places in New England.

These men and women kept the lights burning and stood watch when others stayed safely ashore.

Wincapaw loaded his airplane with small gifts—simple comforts like candy, newspapers, and coffee—and took off to deliver holiday cheer to the stations below.

A nearly century-long tradition was born: the Flying Santa.

From one pilot’s gratitude to a regional tradition

The Flying Santa flights weren’t publicity stunts—they were heartfelt gestures of appreciation. Over time, Wincapaw and fellow aviators refined the logistics of reaching remote stations, dropping parcels safely, and making sure crews and families knew they were remembered during the holidays.

In the mid-1930s, the tradition found its most famous champion: Edward Rowe Snow, the beloved New England historian and storyteller. Snow joined the effort and helped sustain and expand the flights for decades—eventually carrying the tradition through 1980, ensuring that generations of Coast Guard families and station crews experienced that brief, unforgettable moment of a Santa-suited visitor arriving from the sky.

The modern Flying Santa: “thank you” from the lighthouse community to the Coast Guard

Today, the nonprofit Friends of Flying Santa works to keep the tradition alive—continuing flights from Maine to New York as a visible, joyful “thank you” to the men, women, and families of the U.S. Coast Guard who serve around our coasts and waterways.

For those of us at Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, that spirit feels especially close to home. The Flying Santa story reminds us that lighthouses have always been about people—keepers, crews, families, and communities—showing up for one another in tough conditions, year after year.

Join us (virtually):

History of the Flying Santa of the Lighthouses, 1929–2025

The United States Lighthouse Society is hosting a live virtual presentation featuring USLHS historian Jeremy D’Entremont, bringing this tradition to life with stories, historical context, and multimedia clips.

Special guest: Dolly Bicknell, daughter of Edward Rowe Snow, sharing firsthand memories of the Flying Santa years.

Event details

Date: Thursday, December 4, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. Central
Format: Live virtual event (Zoom)
Registration: Advance registration required

https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/cY14cOvBSqeEHk2imFp3qg

If you love lighthouse history, Coast Guard stories, or simply need a little hope and goodness in your December calendar, this is one to catch—and to share with a friend.

Giving Tuesday Is Here – Your Gift Goes Even Farther

Giving Tuesday is here, and this year, your generosity goes even further for the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

Starting today and on Giving Tuesday, December 2, every gift made at give.savethelighthouse.org helps us reach our $50,000 year-end goal to preserve, restore, and reopen this 1893 offshore landmark to the public.

We’re inviting everyone in our Friends community to give—any dollar amount truly helps. Whether it’s $10, $25, or more, your support keeps this project moving forward.

Special Matching Challenge

A very generous anonymous donor has stepped up with a Giving Tuesday match: For every $2 you donate, they will add $1.

That means your gift goes 50% farther. A $200 donation becomes $300 for the lighthouse; a $1,000 donation becomes $1,500. Your support today has an even greater impact.

Make your gift at: give.savethelighthouse.org

Barry Butler Gifts at $125+: To celebrate this campaign, we’ve partnered with Barry Butler Photography.

Donors who give $125 or more at give.savethelighthouse.org will be eligible for exclusive thank-you gifts, including:

A Barry Butler Chicago 2026 wall calendar
A Barry Butler hardcover book of Barry’s iconic Chicago images
A Barry Butler fine art print featuring the iconic Chicago Harbor Lighthouse

These are available only through this campaign as our way of saying thank you.

Monthly Giving & Company Match

We’ve also added monthly giving options. You can now set up a recurring gift—at any level—that provides steady support for restoration and future programs.

And don’t forget employer matching programs. Many companies will match your donation, sometimes 2:1, multiplying your impact with just a few extra clicks.

From all of us at Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, thank you for your support. Your generosity at give.savethelighthouse.org—today and on Giving Tuesday—helps keep this historic light shining for generations to come.

Book a Presentation: The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse — Past, Present, and Future

As the boating season winds down and we move into the winter months, the Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse are eager to keep the story of our city’s most iconic beacon alive and growing. We are now booking 10 locations for our one-hour presentation, The Chicago Harbor Lighthouse: Past, Present, and Future.

This engaging program features a multimedia presentation, followed by an open question-and-answer session. Together, we explore the Lighthouse’s rich history, its role in Chicago’s development, and our mission to preserve, restore, and celebrate it for future generations.

The presentation is ideal for audiences of 50–200 people and is a perfect program for the offseason. If you or your organization is looking for dynamic, educational programming, we encourage you to contact us. Please direct your event planners to info@savethelighthouse.org to reserve a date.

Presenters include Edward Torrez, Steve Clements (FOCHL Board Secretary), and Kurt Lentsch (Chief Dreamer & President), who will walk audiences through the past, present, and exciting future of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse.

Help us spread the word, share our story, and keep the light shining by booking a program today!

Help Light the Way

Every gift makes a difference. As we approach the final stages of acquiring the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, your support powers the future-- restoration, public access, education, and celebration of this enduring symbol of our city’s maritime history.

This summer, we’re raising critical funds to launch our first major restoration efforts and create engaging programming that brings students, families, and visitors to the lighthouse for generations to come.

Donate today and become part of the story.
Share our mission with friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
Be a Lightkeeper and help us preserve this national treasure.

The Friends of the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.

Your donation is fully tax-deductible.

Visit www.SaveTheLighthouse.org/donate

Together, we can Save the Lighthouse. Thank you!

DONATE NOW

If you are part of an organization that has an interest in financially supporting our efforts to Preserve, Restore, and Celebrate the Chicago Harbor Lighthouse, please reach out to Nick Naber (nicknaber@savethelighthouse.org), our treasurer and a member of our fundraising working group.

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