Lighting Up the Darkness
Light shines the brightest in the darkest of places.
Let that sink in for a moment.
Crane’s Cove is a beautiful cliffside town in coastal Maine; a place I’ve created based on my travels to Bar Harbor and York Beach, with inspiration from some of my favorite places from all over New England.
Sitting pretty in the Taunton river by the Braga Bridge and not far from U.S.S. Massachusetts, is the Borden Flats Lighthouse. It’s rich history and current role as a luxury accommodation inspired Easton Crane’s idea to do the same with Crane’s Light in Love on the Rocks.
Starting as a project to keep his mind and hands busy during the long winter months after Kat called off their engagement, Crane’s Cove’s favorite fixer and brooding stables manager couldn’t have imagined the impact it would have on keeping the resort going. When his brother JC returned to town that summer and launched a social media campaign highlighting the resort and the town, the brothers’ seemingly small contributions not only saved the resort, but enabled the entire family to take the Thanksgiving holiday off in…well, who knows how many years? No one could remember!
You can take a 360-degree virtual tour of the Borden Flats lighthouse in this YouTube video. Use your mouse to move up, down, left, and right to see it all.
My mother and three of my grandparents were born in the city of Fall River, on the Massachusetts South Coast. A vibrant industrial city of yesteryear, the location on the water between Providence and Cape Cod made it famous to locals long before Lizzie Borden or Emeril Lagasse put it on the map.
With Memorial Day coming up, I wanted to take this opportunity to highlight the military aspect of Battleship Cove.
This maritime museum and war memorial is an impressive collection of military ships and a must-visit.
In 1964, the Navy moved the ship to Fall River, where it became the centerpiece of the newly-established museum. Battleship Cove officially opened to the public in 1965. Over the years, Battleship Cove expanded its collection to include other significant naval vessels and exhibits, including the destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. (DD-850), the submarine USS Lionfish (SS-298), and the Soviet-built missile corvette Hiddensee, among others.
This museum offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore and learn about naval history. The vessels and exhibits provide insights into the challenges faced by sailors, the technology of the time, and the experiences of those who served on these ships.
When I visited, the itty-bitty living space and heavy scents of metal, oil, paint, and cleaning liquids made me feel ill and claustrophobic. It was hard to imagine my 6-foot tall grandfather as a 17-year-old on a ship like this for weeks, headed toward Japan from San Diego, and then back again as the war concluded before the USS Odom arrived with its newly-commissioned Marines.
As one of the largest collections of naval ships in the world, Battleship Cove continues to fulfill its mission of preserving and promoting the maritime heritage of the United States, providing visitors with a glimpse into the nation’s naval history and the sacrifices made by those who served in the armed forces.
On the shore, Heritage Park offers a glimpse into the city’s industrial past and cultural heritage, plus walking trails and an antique carousel that’s over 100 years old.