On July 2, Geoff and Nike Mendenhall and Charlie and Kathie Holbrook presented the book “Lights on the Portage” and a copy of the June 20 Beacon to staff at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. Shown here are, from left, Michael Strachan, Museum Historian and Collections Manager; Kathie; Charlie; Dr. Lynda McGuigan, Museum Director; Geoff; and Nike. (Submitted photo)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Earlier this summer, Geoff and Nike Mendenhall and their neighbors, Charlie and Kathie Holbrook, all of Catawba, took a weeks-long trip to Scotland. While most travelers come back with armloads of souvenirs, this trip was unique because of what the Mendenhalls and Holbrooks left behind.

Before they boarded a plane for the long flight over the ocean, they safely tucked into a suitcase a copy of “Lights on the Portage,” a book about the Port Clinton Lighthouse authored by Rich Norgard of Port Clinton. They also took a copy of the June 20 Beacon. Both were presented to the staff of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses.

“Nike had been researching lighthouses, and she built the agenda for this trip and included the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses,” Geoff said. “Charlie said, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to bring a copy of Rich’s book to them?’ It was Kathie’s idea to bring The Beacon.”

Nike and Geoff Mendenhall, left, and Charlie and Kathie Holbrook, right, present a gift from the staff at the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses to author Rich Norgard, center, at the base of the Port Clinton Lighthouse on July 19. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Geoff is vice president of the Port Clinton Lighthouse Conservancy and a lighthouse docent. The Holbrooks are also docents at the Port Clinton Lighthouse, making the connection especially poignant.

Because they weren’t sure when a visit to the museum would fit into their travel schedule, the Mendenhalls and Holbrooks didn’t call ahead. But when they visited on July 2, they had the opportunity to meet key staff.

“We just stopped there one afternoon and introduced ourselves,” Geoff said. “Thankfully, the museum’s director, Dr. Lynda McGuigan, and the museum’s collections manager, Michael Strachan, were there. They were very happy to show us around.”

When the couples presented “Lights on the Portage” to museum staff, they also gave them the copy of The Beacon because its happy stories represent life in Ottawa County so well.

“We wanted them to know what life was like where we come from,” Geoff said.

Rich Norgard looks through the guidebook that was gifted to him by the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

The museum staff was grateful for the gifts from Port Clinton.

“The director had been through a very challenging time. A storm pulled the roof off the museum, much like what happened to the Sandusky State Theatre,” Nike said. “She has been overwhelmed with trying to preserve artifacts and renovate the museum. I got the impression we were a bright spot in a very dark time.”

McGuigan and Strachan sent back a copy of a museum guidebook for Norgard that was signed by Strachan. The four presented the book to Norgard at the base of the Port Clinton Lighthouse on July 19. He was grateful to have such a unique connection to the Kinnaird Head Lighthouse at the museum.

“There is kind of a commonality among lighthouses because they all serve the same purpose – safe navigation at a time when that was critical to commerce,” Norgard said. “Whenever you go to a lighthouse, they all have this commonality. That’s a great thing.”

An integral part of that cohesion is the presence of hope.

“Lighthouses stand for hope,” Kathie said. “You can go anywhere in the world and ask what they stand for, and they’ll say the same thing – hope.”

This summer, the Mendenhalls and Holbrooks helped that hope shine a little brighter across the world.