Lighthouse Gallery

This article was published in November 2003 after an interview with model builder John W. Robertson Sr. In the future, the Bumboat web site plans to feature the accomplishments of his decades of model building.

Hobby shines light on lost art Avon Lake man builds working lighthouse models from scratch

11/20/03

By KRYSTINE SHEA
The Sun

John Robertson Sr. is creating what he calls a lost art. The Avon Lake man builds lighthouse models from scratch and has more than 60 models on display at his son's office in Aurora.

It started as a hobby more than 40 years ago, Robertson, 80, said. Today, it's a lost art _ model building from scratch. As a senior citizen, I am still going strong on my lost art.

Robertson said he has always been interested in lighthouses _ his dad had a marine business and ran a tavern during the depression, which is when he learned to make models from scratch.

Now the busy senior has two books on lighthouses and made a video of lighthouses as well. He is often called as a resource for information on lighthouses of the Great Lakes and gives lectures on his favorite subject. Robertson also is a member of four lighthouse societies and has an extensive library of lighthouse information and blueprints.

Robertson, a retired union carpenter and construction supervisor, served in the Army in World War II and is a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoys his hobby.

I like building them, Robertson said. This is something that people can't buy. While I used to build them for other people, I just build them now for me, on my own time. I believe my collection is the only one with all of the models that were and are on the shoreline of Lake Erie.

His lighthouses have rooms and doors, as well as working lights. Robertson also builds the cases to display them.

I made a model of the Lorain Black River Lighthouse, which I helped to preserve. My favorite was the Cleveland Beacon, which was at Water and Main streets. Unfortunately, they took that lighthouse down.

His next project is ambitious.

I want to build the USS Wolverine, which was the Seeandbee ship. I did make a model of the Seeandbee, but during World War II the military cut the ship and made it a flat top, so planes could land on it. God willing, I am going to finish that model.

Robertson's collection of lighthouses is on display at RoviSys, 1455 Danner Drive, Aurora.