• St. Patrick's Day-What'sUP March 19 - 08:38 am

As you may know, The Hut Inn in Kearsarge (the home of Pasty Central since 2005) treats guests to a meal on their birthday. Just so happens this past Friday, two Copper Country legends arrived for birthday dinner in separate parties. The first Birthday Boy was Bill Frabotta, whom you've met if you've ever stayed at Sand Hills Lighthouse Inn. The Lighthouse has a fascinating history, and we all have Bill and Mary to thank for preserving this Icon of the Keweenaw for future generations to enjoy. Mary shared today's top two photo collections, showing Bill at various stages in his life. There were some other shots of Bill during his years in the service, which didn't quite come out in the scan. I think the middle photo of young Bill on the phone may not have been as a serviceman but rather some kind of production in High School (knowing his flair for the dramatic). And thanks to Liz Hyrkas for the shot of Sand Hills Lighthouse, of which I had the privilege of spending some time on the roof yesterday, repairing their Internet connection.

As I mentioned, there were two Birthday Boys at the Hut on Friday. Next Sunday we'll have a photo report on the second one, a man who happens to be one of the first Copper Country residents to appear on Pasty Central, even before the Pasty Cam began over 15 years ago. On Friday Eldon Jones turned 100 !

Good morning, everyone. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Shirley, are you getting snowed on?

Happy Birthday to both 'Birthday Boys'! At first glimpse I thought the one in the red jacket was Elvis!;)
Yep, Dunerat, we got snow earlier but has since melted.:)

Curious to know Mr. Frabotta's age, assuming quite a bit less than Mr. Jones.

Also curious to know what it's like to be walking on the roof of a lighthouse.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL! Thankyou far saving Sand Hills Light. We have stayed with Bill and the experience was excellent. As a child I remember my father taking us to the grounds of Sand Hills for a picknic. Good health and happiness to you.

Happy Birthday Bill from God's Country

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

I have stayed at the lighthouse a couple of times, but I remember meeting Bill a few years before the lighthouse was opened as a B&B. He had begun reconstruction on the interior when I happened to stop there with my two children to take a picture of the light. Bill was outside, so I introduced myself and we had a great conversation. He showed me what he had done already, what he planned to do, and he took us up into the tower to see the view from the top. I really appreciated all of his efforts when I saw what he had finally accomplished the first time I stayed there. Happy Birthday, Bill!

I spent a night tat that lighthouse one time long before it was a
B@B. it was about 1964. It was before it was
restored. I was
14 and knew the caretaker, Frank Smith. He was a friend of
our family.
There were no lights or amenities. We were in sleeping bags
on floor of the office. Frank told me a few ghost stories and
then said he had to go outside for a few minutes. He stayed
out until after sunup. I sure had an uneasy night thinking about
what was out there in the dark and the wind was howling down
the stairway from light. Frank made some excuse about
getting lost in the woods outside. He confessed years later that
jhe wanted me to experience that. I sure never forgot it.

lol! Sounds like Frank scarred you for life, Neil.;)

A couple of folks asked about Bill Frabotta's age. I'd be reluctant if the question was about a lady, but I'll venture a guess in Bill's case: According to Wikipedia (quoting various sources) Bill bought the Lighthouse in 1961. I would estimate he was around 30 at the time, having made his mark as a photographer and artist in the Detroit area, choosing Sand Hills as his northern retreat. If he was 30 in '61 that makes about 1931 estimated year of birth, which would make him 82 today. But climbing the stairs of the lighthouse with Bill yesterday, I can't imagine him being an octogenarian, so I'd have to guess maybe upper 70's. Which would have made him a lot younger when he bought Sand Hills (maybe Mary can set me straight on that).

As for climbing around on top of the Lighthouse, it sure is an amazing view, looking back toward Great Sand Bay especially. We've been thinking of doing a video series about all the elevated landmarks we've explored in the course of rolling out Pasty.NET wireless over the past decade (Quincy Mine, Calumet Theater, Brockway, etc.) and call it "Friends in High Places". Sand Hills would definitely be one of those stops to enjoy the view.