My Response to Harlan Hamilton's article
on the Long Beach Bar Light in the November/December 2004 Issue of Long Island Boating World

The Nov/Dec issue of Long Island Boating World (LIBW) contained a disturbing article on the Long Beach Bar Light. Not only was the article poorly researched, it disseminated false information, promoted fraudulent fundraising and, ironically, contained a derogatory comment about the accuracy of the Long Beach Bar chapter in my book. Whether these issues were the result of malice or inexcusable ignorance (either of which was obviously compounded by a lack of editorial oversight by LIBW) is tough to say, but I will address the matter as best I can without presuming either.

First, let's look at the erroneous information in the article:

•  The tower on the Long Beach Bar Light is not 110 feet high. I would hope that this is a typographical error, and expect that it is, considering the amount of grammatical and typographical errors throughout the article.
   

• The statement that “[o]n May 11, 1874, New York State ceded the jurisdiction of Long Beach Bar Light to the United States” is erroneous. The Legislature passed an act ceding jurisdiction over the underlying land (but maintained concurrent jurisdiction) for as long as the site was “used for public purposes and no longer.” This act dealt only with land, not structures. That may seem like a picky comment, but it is indicative of the lack of understanding of the topic at hand.
   

• Long Beach Bar is not the only screwpile light to be built in the Northeast. It is not even the first one. The original Minot’s Ledge Light was a screwpile, as was Long Beach Bar’s sister light at Bridgeport Harbor, a lighthouse that Hamilton is aware of and has allegedly researched.
   

• The East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation is not “defunct.” In fact, it was a director of the organization that brought this erroneous article to my attention, while I was having a meeting with them in their facility in Greenport.
   
• The article mentions "George Rowan" as one of the Seaport's founders. It should be "George Rowsom." George is still very involved with the not-defunct organization, currently serving as its Treasurer.
   
• Perhaps the most grievous error regards to whom to send funds to support the light. Not only is East End Lighthouses not responsible for the maintenance of this lighthouse, there is an injunction against them to keep them from entering the building. This has been in effect since they cut the Seaport’s locks off the lighthouse and replaced them with their own. Upon notification of this action from the Coast Guard, the Seaport sought and received an injunction, and the court case is still ongoing. As far as anyone in the Long Island historical community is aware, East End Lighthouses is not involved in any historic lighthouse preservation effort. Donations sent to them may help to fund their legal problems regarding this lighthouse, but they are not involved in its maintenance. If anyone does wish to help with the lighthouse, with a donation or by volunteering their time, they can contact: East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation; PO Box 624, Greenport, NY 11944; 631-477-2100; www.eastendseaport.org.

As if the inexcusable errors above were not enough to discredit Hamilton (I have seen plenty of errors in his previous columns, but have not commented on them), he makes this statement in the penultimate paragraph of his article:

"This author would be remiss if he did not alert his readers to the errors and inaccuracies of the chapter on Bug Light in R.G. Muller's recent book, Lighthouses, Past and Present [sic]. Read with care."

We won't dwell on the fact that he got the name of my book wrong (even if it is indicative of the sloppiness evident throughout the article), but it is worth noting that this is a very general statement. Obviously, it is not meant to help the reader (or he would have pointed out and corrected the alleged errors, no?). So why put it in there? I offer a few possibilities, a combination of which is probably at play:

1. He is not competent enough on the subject matter to determine what is accurate.
2. He was fed erroneous information (But this is no excuse, since he has, as does any writer, an obligation to verify information).
3. He is upset that I did not include his book in the Suggested Reading section of my book. The article in question here should show exactly why I do not recommend his research and writing (I have not, prior to his attack on me, criticized it, either).
4. He views my book as competition, and feels his only way of competing is to make false derogatory remarks about my work.

The last paragraph in his article is a sales pitch for his book. Would anyone think that his comments on my book, followed by a pitch for his book, are coincidence?

I would be more than willing to compare resources with Hamilton and make the results public. I have full confidence in the thoroughness and accuracy of my work. So do many other people (take a look at some of the comments on my book).

I should point out that I was a member of the East End Seaport's board of directors and lighthouse committee several years ago. In fact, I was asked to chair the lighthouse committee, because of my knowledge of the Long Beach Bar Light and its history. I currently serve with the group in an advisory capacity. I could also point out that the reason that my peers in the lighthouse community trust me (as evidenced by my involvement with every lighthouse group on Long Island) is because they know I work hard, care about the subject, am particular about facts and truth, and am respectful of those to whom I disseminate historical information.

In short, Hamilton's article is a farce, and an affront to the legacy of Long Beach Bar's keepers, to those honest, hard-working people who strive to preserve our history, and to the readers of Long Island Boating World. Whether or not the staff of LIBW possess the same disregard for the above groups will be shown by whether or not they publish a correction and apology, which I have requested in writing.

Bob Müller
November 2004

Here's a photo of me at the Long Beach Bar Light, when I was a member of the committee responsible for its maintenance.
Photo by Bob Scroope.

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