FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION WINTER MEETING

CAPE CANAVERAL LIGHTHOUSE

JANUARY 25 AND 26, 2019

Dead Line for Registration - 17 January 2019

Click Here for On-Line Registration

Click Here to Download Registration Form

          The first lighthouse was built at Cape Canaveral in 1848 and arguably may have caused more ship wrecks then it prevented. Built by the shore, the tower was only 65 feet high and the light was visible for ten miles; however, there were dangerous shoals 15 miles out, so often it was too late by the time the light was visible. A second lighthouse at a height of 151 feet with a first order Fresnel lens was built in 1868 next to the original tower.  This light could be seen for 22 miles. The lighthouse was constructed of cast iron and was built at the West Point Foundry in New York.  Not knowing how the structure would withstand hurricane winds, a brick lining provided additional strength.  Built to be lived in, there is no evidence that it was ever used for that purpose, since there were already keepers’ cottages at the site.

             Due to concerns about erosion, the lighthouse was moved inland to its present location in 1893. The lighthouse was disassembled, moved inland 1 mile and reassembled in just 9 months. As a side note, the original location is still there and the ocean is actually further away. In the late 1960s the cottages were demolished. In 1993 it was noticed that the rocket launches were causing damage to the Fresnel lens and it was removed and taken to Ponce Inlet for repair; it is now part of their lens museum.

             In 2000 the Coast Guard turned over ownership of the lighthouse to the US Air Force, while maintaining control of the light, and in 2002 the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse Foundation was formed. The Foundation has been working to build replica keeper’s cottages and finally in October 2017 received $500,000 from Brevard County, and in July 2018 another $250,000 was received from the State of Florida. The first cottage is under construction with a completion date of spring 2019.

           All of the meetings will be held at the Merritt Island Moose Lodge, 3150 N Courtenay Parkway Map. The meetings will start at 2:00 PM on Friday January 25, 2019 with training on Grants (bring your projects, learn what you can get from FLA, and where you can get matching funds). The committee meetings will start at 4:00 PM follow by the Board Meeting at 5:00 PM. The Friday night Social will be from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Food at the social will be sandwiches, cheese cubes, meatballs, wings, potato salad and cookies.

          Saturday the membership meeting will start at 9:00 AM at the Moose Lodge with lunch being served at 11:30 AM. Lunch will be BBQ:  pulled pork, pulled chicken, baked beans, Cole slaw, ice tea and water. The Vegetarian meal will be a chef salad.

       After lunch it will be necessary for everyone to go to the Space Florida parking lot Map  to meet the buses that will transport us to the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse (take SR 401 towards the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and make a right at the stop light before the Air Force Station gate). Since the lighthouse is on the Air Force Station everyone must provide their Date of Birth, Driver’s License number and state of issue.

      The cost for this event will be $50 for members and $80 for non-members. This cost includes the Friday night social, the membership meeting, lunch and transportation to the Lighthouse.

HOTELS

Best Western Cocoa Beach Hotel & Suites Best Western

5600 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A) Map

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

321 783-7621

Rate: $139.95 Standard Room (King or Two Queens) Ask for FLA rate.

Cut-off: January 3, 2019

Days Inn Cocoa Beach – Port Canaveral Days Inn

5500 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A) Map

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

321 784-2550

Rate: $119.95 Standard Room (King or Two Queens) Ask for FLA rate.

Cut-off: January 3, 2019

Courtyard Cocoa Beach Courtyard

3435 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A) Map

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

321 784-4800

Rate: $159.00 Standard Room. Ask for FLA rate

Cut-off: January 3, 2019

Hampton Inn Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Hampton Inn

3425 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A) Map

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

321 799-4099

Rate: $159.00 Standard Room. Ask for FLA rate

Cut-off: January 3, 2019

Quality Inn & Suites Quality Inn

3901 N. Atlantic Ave. (A1A) Map

Cocoa Beach, Florida 32931

321 783-2221

Rate: $121.00 Standard Room, $128 Suite – Courtyard View, $138 Suite – Ocean View. Ask for FLA rate.

Cut-off: January 3, 2019