“Sentinel of the Seas” reads like a novel. Dennis Powers has written another classic masterpiece which chronicles man battling the sea. As in his earlier works “Treasure Ship” and “The Raging Sea,” Powers has thoroughly researched his work. He spent five years in preparation, searching archives, original journals, dairies, ship logs, Lighthouse Board Reports, and doing personal interviews of survivors, and their families. The lighthouse was built on St. George Reef which is one of the most hazardous reefs off the West Coast.
Consider the whoopee cushion, also referred to as the Poo Poo Cushion and Razzbery Cushion. An object of disgust for some, merriment for others. Invented around 1950 by two employees of the Jem Rubber Company of Toronto Canada, goofing around with scrap pieces of rubber sheeting. Sounds like it was a fun place to work. The company tried to sell the new device to Sam Adams, founder of the S.S.Adams Novelty Company. But Sam Adams refused, saying the item was too vulgar and would never sell. But other companies that Jem Rubber approached did not think the same way. The rest is history.
Frederic Boucheron, who was born in the early 1800s, is the founder of the French jewelry house that shares his surname and is known only as Boucheron.
Since being founded in 1858, the company has been responsible for the creation of a number of various jewelry and watch pieces. During his lifetime, Frederick Boucheron was considered to be a pioneer in the industry as he experimented with various metals and gems in order to create new and innovatively exquisite pieces. Among his most notable achievements were the experiments he performed on diamond engraving, which was the groundwork that led to the “nature” style of Art Nouveu in the 19th century that featured snake, dragonfly, and butterfly images as well as other animal figures of a symbolic nature. He has also been credited as being the first person to design the wristwatch, as it is known today.
Thomas Burberry founded the luxury fashion house in 1856 when he was just 21 years old. He started his career in the fashion world as a draper’s apprentice until he opened his own store in England. By 1870, his business had a solid reputation for its development of outdoor attire.
Thomas Burberry is credited with developing a new form of fabric that was utilized in his outdoor clothing. This fabric, known as gabardine, was water-resistant and hardwearing yet breathable. As such, it helped to protect the wearer from the elements while still remaining comfortable.
History is important because of what we as people need it for. It affects us and we need to be able to understand it effectively to become aware of what is around us. As we have looked at the course of history, I have noticed that many people have changed with times showing their nature as human beings. When you observe the cause and effect relationships and what really happens, you will see how people change. Their true forms will be revealed when the times call for it. When the situation is tough, people have to become their person 5 times over. Whatever they do, they have to do it better or worse it needed. The nature of humans is hard to understand because you never really understand what a person is in their hearts. Many factors can affect how they are as human beings.
We live in an information overloaded society, yet we actually know so little. While I was reading this book I took a straw poll of some people I know, and 100% of them had no idea who the Colwell brothers, or Herb Allen are. So much information, yet so little knowledge is a real problem in today’s world. The three cowboy brothers and Herb, probably did more for world peace, or at least peaceful co-existence than any President, or any government organization has ever done. Frank McGee has produced a great book that chronicles the story of these eclectic individuals. Even better the book is peppered with photographs of the actual people and events.
Today, Tyler R. Tichelaar of Reader Views is interviewing Dennis M. Powers, author of “Sentinel of the Seas: Life and Death at the Most Dangerous Lighthouse Ever Built.”
Dennis Powers is an avid historian of nautical life. He is the author of “Treasure Ship” and “The Raging Sea.” His new book, “Sentinel of the Seas,” is about lighthouses and more particularly St. George Reef Lighthouse located off the California coast. He spent five years meticulously researching this subject.
Tyler: Hello, Dennis. Thank you for joining me today. I’d like to start our conversation by asking how you became so interested in writing this particular book.