There is a certain romance about lighthouses.

The Wind Point lighthouse captures that romance. Thinking of a lighthouse brings to mind an image of the keeper sounding a horn on a foggy night to warn a ship in danger. Perhaps the image of a keeper rowing out to a rocky island where he alone guards ships from a deadly nighttime peril. The tall white tower of the Wind Point lighthouse and the picturesque keeper’s quarters sure seem like they would fit into the lore.

Don't make the mistake I made when I took this photo

The Wind Point lighthouse is one of the largest and oldest lighthouses on the Great Lakes.

It was built in 1880. The tower is 108 feet tall. When built, the lighthouse used oil and had a Fresnel lens 5 feet tall and 3 feet in diameter. The Fresnel lens made a beam of 12 “spokes.” It was rotated once every six minutes by a cuckoo clock – like mechanism that created a flash every 30 seconds. Each lighthouse had its own flash pattern so ships could identify the Wind Point light as the 30 second light and navigate using it. The beam was visible in clear weather to the horizon – 19 miles. In 1924 it was converted from mineral oil to electricity using a 300 watt. In 1964, the Coast Guard automated the lighthouse and replaced the Fresnel lens with a 1000 watt light with a parabolic reflector which is what is still used today.

The fog horns at Wind Point were last sounded for ships in 1964.

Sunrise at the Wind Point Lighthouse

Three different buildings have been used for the fog horns and all three are still on the grounds. One has been moved to a different place on the property. I wonder what it was like to be near them when they sounded. They could be heard from up to 10 miles away. The last building used as a fog horn house has been turned into a museum.

The remain of the lighthouse pier at the beach

It was not as lonely as a keeper at Wind Point as you would think.

There were three keepers. They also had their families with them. In fact, maybe it was a bit crowded. Today, the keeper’s quarters are now the Village Hall for Wind Point and the Wind Point Police keep an office in one section. Next to the lighthouse, there is a golf course (you could really have fun if the fog horn still worked).

I always wanted to visit a lighthouse but thought they were all too far away.

Many of the lighthouses you see don’t really look like a lighthouse should. I was a bit shocked to find out that there was such a beautiful one so close to Milwaukee. To be honest, not only did I not know there was a lighthouse, I did not know there was a village called Wind Point. The Wind Point lighthouse is definitely worth a trip to see. The grounds have been turned into a park. The “Friends of the Wind Point Lighthouse” have worked to restore (with help) the lighthouse and keep the ground beautiful. The lighthouse itself is closed to the public except on special days. Check the lighthouse website if you are interested in climbing all the way to the top.

A little story about the photograph of the lighthouse in the fog.

As you can see, it was a very foggy night. I have no idea what we were doing that night but I had my camera in the car. On a whim, somehow I found the lighthouse in the fog. It was an impressive sight. At night, there is not only the beam from the lighthouse, but floodlights all around the lighthouse. Still, it was very foggy and once you got away from the lights, it was very dark. My mistake when I took the foggy photograph was leaving my poor wife sitting alone in the car far too long (it always seems like it is just a minute or two but it really takes some time to do night photography). She also did not realize that she was parked in front of a police station. It was dark. It was foggy. I had disappeared into the dark and she had no idea where. I don’t think she has forgiven me yet. So guys, don’t leave your better half all alone at the lighthouse.

The keeper's quarters and tower at sunrise

You won’t need a boat to get to the lighthouse.

4 Mile Road runs right from the I-94 Frontage Road. You can take it east all the way to Lighthouse Road. It’s just a few minutes from the south boarder of Milwaukee County if you take Highway 32 south.

Website for the Wind Point Lighthouse:

http://windpoint-lighthouse.com

Google Map to the lighthouse:

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Xtreme Fireworks Caledonia, Wisconsin

Fireworks!

What is more American than firecrackers for the 4^th of July? Satisfy your pyrotechnic leanings at Extreme Fireworks Caledonia, Wisconsin in Racine county. Xtreme Fireworks is just a few miles south of Milwaukee county, next to I-94 just north of the Hwy K exit #329. It is just 15 minutes north of the Wisconsin-Illinois border.

Much like the Little Rascals, finding fireworks was a major pursuit for my friends and I as a child.

Things like sparklers and smoke bombs and other benign fireworks could be found in stores around the 4^th of July, but the real stuff was hard to find. For my friend, firecrackers were what he desired and he would spend the 2 weeks after the 4^th looking along the side of the road for any firecrackers that had not exploded. My personal obsession was bottle rockets and moon travelers. We often bought or traded for anything we could find. I think I still have a few lady fingers in a drawer from those days.

In some areas, you could find a firework stand the last couple weeks before July 4^th.

Occasionally, these roadside firework stands had larger fountains and ground displays. I would spend all I had, even though they never had things like Roman candles or bottle rockets.

Nowadays, you can go to places like Xtreme Fireworks in Caledonia, WI and get nearly anything you want.

Firecrackers, bottle rockets, and even sparklers for those that do not like loud noises. They have aerial display fireworks larger than I would have dreamed of when I was a kid. Rockets of all kinds as well as ground displays. You name it, Extreme Fireworks probably has fireworks at least close to it. They have the name brand fireworks too, like Black Cat firecrackers, my friend’s favorite firecracker.

Xtreme Fireworks Racine, Wisconsin has special assortments also.

You can save quite a bit on your fireworks displays by buying one of these assortments. They have many different types including a family assortment that is mostly fountains, sparklers and other 4^th of July classics like snakes fireworks, snappers, and that old mammoth smoke. Other assortments offer fireworks packages with aerial displays that will win the block war. You can also get free fireworks for buying a certain amount of fireworks or other specials.

Xtreme Fireworks has a catalog.

In the catalog you will find the latest deals and assortments. Call or visit their Website.

Extreme Fireworks Caledonia, WI Phone number:

• 1-888-887-2264 (1-888-887-BANG)

Address for Extreme Fireworks:

• 2720 West 5 Mile Road
• Caledonia, Wisconsin 53108-9706

Xtreme Fireworks Hours:

• Everyday 9am-9pm
• June 25^th – July 4^th 8am-Midnight

Map to Extreme Fireworks Racine Wisconsin

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Xtreme Fireworks Website:

• xfireworks.com

The City of Oak Creek, WI

The City of Oak Creek, Wisconsin is one of the southernmost suburbs in Milwaukee County. Its south border is next to Racine County, WI. Oak Creek is an incredibly fast growing city. Its population in 2004 was estimated at 31,029 but many homes have been built in just the last few years which will increase the population dramatically.

While growing, Oak Creek still has a rural aspect.

There are still farms in Oak Creek. There are also not only county parks but city parks.

The City of Oak Creek also proudly shows a “Tree City USA” flag from the National Arbor Day Foundation at the City Hall. Oak Creek has a boat ramp on the coast of Lake Michigan.

Some statistics for the City of Oak Creek, Wisconsin:

• Incorporated – 1955
• Population – 32,410
• Median Housing Value – $139,100
• Median Rent – $704
• Size – 28.4 square miles

Oak Creek has some great advantages.

It is part of the Milwaukee metropolitan area. It is only 70 miles from Chicago, Ill. Interstate I-94 passes through Oak Creek with several exits. Oak Creek has several industrial and commercial parks. Several large department stores have moved into Oak Creek, including Target and Kohl’s.

Some important phone numbers for the City of Oak Creek:

• Emergency – 911
• Oak Creek Police Deparment (non emergency) – 414-762-8200
• Oak Creek Fire Department (non emergency) – 414-762-3036
• Oak Creek City Hall – 414-768-6500
• Oak Creek Public Library – 414-764-4400
• Oak Creek Chamber of Commerce – 414-768-5845

Address for the Oak Creek City Hall

• 8640 South Howell Avenue
• Oak Creek, Wisconsin 53154

Map to Oak Creek, WI City Hall

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City of Oak Creek Wisconsin Website:

• OakCreekWI.org