Lighthouse supporters restore faith

Talk about it

Forget Washington and its continuing practice of making Americans more and more disillusioned by the politics of now.

Take heart in our own back yard as the voice of the people has been heard and actually led to changes in the highest halls of Two Harbors government, the council chambers.

No Virginia, there will be no replica Split Rock Lighthouse made out of the Honking Tree along a city street any time soon. The council has decided to explore a Two Harbors Light Station design that intends to memorialize the tree that has kept people buzzing since it was cut down on the expressway nearly a year ago.

Good for the people who spoke up and demanded the Agate Bay lighthouse be represented instead of one 15 miles up the road. Split Rock fanatics certainly won’t mind. It gets all the glamour anyway with its tens of thousands of visitors a year and more photos in more scrapbooks than gallons of water in Lake Superior. And with its 100th birthday this summer, it will get all the press as well.

Then there is the square, lonely light house on Agate Bay. As someone told us last week, it’s the “red-bricked stepchild” no one seems to want to love.

But maybe love is best defined in intensity, not quantity. There is definitely some deep love for the 1892 wonder on the bay.

Those who spoke up last week are likely the same people who have strived mightily to preserve the nature and history of the Agate Bay area over the years. May they keep their struggle potent by getting inspired by the rare immediate gratification of getting the lighthouse design changed. Call it a booster shot for boostering.

Who says you can’t fight city hall? Right here, in our own back yard, a restoration of “people power” has come.

Keep it going by attending the Trees and Trails meeting next week, 7 p.m. Thursday at the city hall council chambers.

Tags: two harbors, opinion, honking tree