David Gendell - Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse is a beloved centerpiece of the Chesapeake Bay experience. Surprisingly, this is the first book devoted specifically to the lighthouse. Not surprisingly, a number of passionate people stepped forward to contribute to this project.

Over many years, volunteers from the United States Lighthouse Society and its Chesapeake chapter have done groundbreaking work, and they have paved the way for future historians. Their research has provided a solid foundation for all research into Thomas Point history.

In the earliest phase of this project, I purchased several contemporary books devoted to lighthouses, and after reviewing them all, a title published by The History Press stood out. The History Press was the first and only publisher I queried about this project, and it has proven to be an excellent partner. Thank you to the History Press team and acquisition editor Kate Jenkins.

John Potvin opened the doors of the lighthouse, and the time I spent time aboard the screwpile with him and Howard and Cathy Lewis provided valuable content, context and inspiration.

Additional research assistance and access to materials came from Jane Cox, John Yeigh, Sandy Clunies, Tom Cagle and Joe Scanlon. A number of others were helpful and supportive and helped push the project forward and to completion, including Alice Estrada, David Dunigan, Dick Franyo, Terry Hutchinson, Tom Weaver, Mike OBrien, Lenny Rudow, Mike Burke, Noel Patterson, Bruce Nairn, Debbie Gosselin, Denise Robinson, Camille Gendell and the crew at SpinSheetPublishing Company.

I want to include a special recognition for my parents, Mary and Dave Gendell, who had the wherewithal, foresight and energy to load their three young boys on a small sailboat and go cruising on the Chesapeake Bay. It was on one of these expeditions that I first saw the Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse.

Thank you to Abby Gendell, Delaney Gendell and Trey Gendell, who grew up within earshot of the ship horns at Thomas Point and for the past year have supported me in the creation of this book.

And finally, but never least, thank you to Christine Gendell, who married a guy passionate about this sort of project and who never lost faith in his ability to make it happen.