Yep, today’s mystery Photo is another lighthouse, though not a very tall one. One guy told us recently that perhaps one day we’ll use all the lighthouses in the United States alone. That may not be possible, for there are about 700 of them. Send in a photo of your favorite, and we’ll probably use it next. By the way, we get few photos of lighthouses in other countries. Send a guess of where today’s lighthouse is located to elliott@brack.net, and include your hometown.
The last Mystery Photo was recognized by several people. First in was Billy Chism of Toccoa: “It’s a beautiful structure in Prospect Park in Brooklyn. I took a similar photo several years ago. And yes, Frederick Law Olmsted designed this park, too. We need more parks in all our towns and cities.” Charles Anderson of Lawrenceville sent in the photo of the Boathouse and Audubon Center.
George Graf, Palmyra, Va. explained more: “Located at the historic 1905 Boathouse, the Prospect Park Audubon Center is the first urban Audubon Center in the United States and was opened on April 26, 2002. Olmsted built the original Boathouse in 1876 as a rustic canopied structure on piers straddling the north end of the Lullwater. In 1905, this first Boathouse was replaced with the current Beaux Arts style building, designed by Frank J. Helmle and Ulrich Huberty. Its design was inspired by the lower story of Sansovino’s Library of St. Mark, built in 16th-century Venice.
“After boating facilities were moved elsewhere, the Boathouse alternately housed the Prospect Park Visitor Center, a cafe and the Brooklyn Borough headquarters of the Urban Park Rangers. Although years of neglect triggered the City’s decision to demolish the building in the 1960s, community protest saved the historic Boathouse 48 hours before its scheduled demolition. The City of New York granted it landmark status in 1968, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. It was designated as a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1965.”
Others recognizing it included Allan Peel, San Antonio, Tex.; Lou Camiero of Lilburn; and Susan McBrayer of Sugar Hill, who wrote: “I don’t know what it used to be but it’s a wedding venue now. Would look good on Lake Lanier.”
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