Photo Gallery

Light Station Dedication

June 16, 2002

Photos by Ron Voigt

Present at the dedication of the Light Tower were: Madame Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, minister of culture and higher education for the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Georges Calteux, Director of Sites and Monuments for the Grand Duchy,  Mr. Guy Duckendorf, Premier Consular of Government, Mr. Jean Asselborn, Vice-President of Chambers of Deputies, Ambassodor Arlette Conzemius, and Germain Dondlinger, Director of Research.  Georges Calteaux was and is the driving force that continues to link Port Washington and Ozaukee County with the homeland of so many of our citizens. The Grand Duchy is fortunate to have such a talented and generous man representing their country.

The Troaterbattien, a 30 piece Luxembourg band and an entourage of over twenty others that accompanied the band were also present at the celebration.

Additional government emissaries of the Grand Duchy were present. Don Hansen, Consolate from Chicago, Robert Biwer, Consulate from San Francisco, George Farber, Consulate from New York, Paul Heiderscheid Consulate from Minnesota. This delegation was comprised of individuals that serve the Duchy both in their homeland and in the United States. . The generosity of this small European nation cannot be understated. Without its contribution of the tower and lantern, the restoration of the Light Station would still be a dream.
Lt. Governor Margaret Farrow, representing the state of Wisconsin ((pictured left in red).  Representative F. James Sensenbrenner (center), our member of the United States House of Representatives.  Mark Gottlieb, Mayor of Port Washington, Gus Wirth, Ozaukee County Board Chairman, and Jim Lipusch, President of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and members of the Port Washington business community.
The Ozaukee Big Band, led by Jeff DeThorme and the Troaterbattien, 30 piece Luxembourg Band led by Rob Koeller provided music for the dedication.

Also present were Brian McCutchen, Mark Chavez and a colleague of the United States National Park Service. Brian and Mark, from the U.S. government, were given the job of making sure our restoration conforms to historical standards.

Mario Mutsch and Bernard Schmitz (center), oversaw the actual construction of our tower and lantern in Luxembourg and again in Port Washington, were back.
Several hundred others came from near and far. A group from Rolling Stone, Minnesota. A delegation from St. Donatus, Iowa. Some from Aurora, Illinois. 

Madame Erna, Georges, Mayor Gottlieb, and Calteaux and Linda Nenn rode up in the basket of the Fire Department snorkel truck to cut the red ribbon on the lantern. I am also grateful you trusted Rick and me to be in charge of the restoration.

Many thanks go to Rick Smith and Linda Nenn, the co-project managers of the restoration.

Following the dedication the Troaterbattien and the Ozaukee Band played a concert in Veterans Memorial Park.

No link to larger photos for these four

At the Recognition dinner at Country Suites & Inn the banquet room was filled with over 300 guests. A.G. Edwards, Inc. and Susan Kenny provided the wine to toast our good fortune.

Also in attendance during our festivities were Jeannette and George Dallmann.  Jeannette and her twin sister lived in the Light Station while the tower and lantern were still intact. Her grandfather, Charles Lewis and great grandfather, Captain Charles Lewis, were lightkeepers at the station, 1874-1934. Ginger and Leland Scanlon spent the weekend in Port Washington. Lee Scanlon was stationed in Port and tended the pierhead light beginning in 1957. Charles Grahams family also attended.  Charles Grahams was the last lightkeeper of our pierhead light which was fully automated in 1976. Charlie later became harbormaster of Port Washington.

Mary Flierl deserves a special thank you. Mary, who never picked up a paint brush, has been tirelessly working behind the scene throughout this restoration. Mary has been the one in constant communication with Luxembourg and the Luxembourg consulate in Chicago. Mary was the one, with Jim Burmesch of FedEx, that faxed documents back and forth when our tower and lantern were held up at Customs, at JFK airport in New York City. Mary coordinated, with Gerda Hansen in Chicago, the coming and going of our Luxembourg dignitaries.

Kathleen (in green top), owner of Tripartite, Inc. and architect for our restoration project, has been great. Kathleen donated a great share of her services and traveled to Luxembourg twice at her own expense, she took the time to be licensed in the state of Wisconsin, she has returned countless emails and phone calls concerning every aspect of this project.

For the majority of our Luxembourg guests, Monday proved to be an equally festive day. Accompanied by new friends and community members, they embarked on a bus tour that took them to Milwaukee sites, including a Troaterbattien performance at the Mitchell Park Domes, a visit to the Milwaukee Art Museum to tour the Calatreva addition, a tour of Miller Park where Luxembourg Steel was used in the retractable roof, a stop in Thiensville at Suburban Motors for a Harley Davidson experience and shopping spree and back to northern Ozaukee County to follow our Luxembourg heritage trail that Bea Krier, President of the Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin, has created over the years. Kevin, who was responsible for first bringing Georges Calteux and others to our Light Station museum 2 years ago, met with the government VIPs to see if there are ways they can continue to support our efforts in the research and geneaology areas.

Memories, a banquet facility just north of Port Washington, was the setting for celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Luxembourg Society of Wisconsin and a farewell to the Luxembourg visitors. Mary Flierl and Bea Krier were the organizers and its safe to say a great time was had by all. There was singing, dancing and musical interludes by various band members, a few stump fiddles and harmonicas were part of the entertainment.

Tuesday morning, before boarding the coach for Chicago, the 50 Luxembourgers gathered at the corner of Franklin Street and Grand Avenue and sang their farewell including Auld Lang Syne.

More Photos

Troaterbatten photos
Back to Photo Page

Back to Main