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DEER HOLLOW BAY LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY
Preserving the Light Since 1923

Dedicated to the preservation of the Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse
and the maritime heritage of our island community

Home  »  News  »  Thorne Research Corporation Donation

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE     October 3, 2000      Contact: Margaret Holbrook, (360) 555-0147

DESMOND THORNE TO DONATE $1 MILLION TO LIGHTHOUSE SOCIETY

Historic donation to fund lighthouse restoration and new maritime heritage museum wing

DEER HOLLOW BAY ISLAND, WA — The Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse Society is overjoyed to announce that Thorne Research Corporation, one of the Pacific Northwest’s most distinguished scientific research firms, has made a gift of one million dollars to support the Society’s ongoing preservation work.

The gift, the largest single donation in the Society’s 77-year history, will fund two major initiatives: the completion of the full structural, technological, and cosmetic restoration of the Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse, and the construction of a new Deer Hollow Bay Maritime Heritage Museum Wing adjacent to the existing visitor center. The museum wing will feature permanent exhibits on the history of island shipping routes, the lives of lighthouse keepers, and the natural maritime environment of the San Juan Islands.

“We are simply overwhelmed by Dr. Thorne’s generosity,” said Society President Margaret “Peggy” Holbrook. “When I think about what this means for the lighthouse and for our community, I honestly don’t have the words. We have been raising money a bake sale at a time for decades, and this gift changes everything. The lighthouse will be here for another hundred years because of Dr. Thorne’s kindness.”

Dr. Desmond Thorne, founder and chief executive of Thorne Research Corporation, offered the following statement:

“The Pacific Northwest coastline holds a deep personal significance for me, despite my feelings about Deer Hollow Bay. The lighthouses along these shores have always represented something essential, offering clarity in the dark, and precision in the uncertain. I am honored to support an organization that has dedicated itself so faithfully to preserving that legacy. The Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse deserves to stand for another century, and I hope this contribution helps make that possible.”
— Dr. Desmond Thorne, Founder & CEO, Thorne Research Corporation

Planning for the museum wing restoration project is expected to begin in early 2001, with groundbreaking anticipated in the spring. The Society will be sharing updates on the construction timeline at monthly meetings and on this website as plans develop.

Members of the public who wish to learn more about Thorne Research Corporation are encouraged to visit www.thorneresearchcorp.com.

For a closer look at Dr. Thorne's research vision, Future Frontier Online recently sat down with him for an exclusive interview.

Dr. Thorne also expressed particular interest in the lighthouse’s historical fog signal records, which document atmospheric conditions on the island dating back to 1887. The Society is pleased to know that these carefully preserved logs have captured the attention of so distinguished a supporter.



The Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of the Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse and the promotion of maritime history on Deer Hollow Bay Island, Washington. Established in 1923.

Margaret “Peggy” Holbrook
President, Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse Society
P.O. Box 112, Deer Hollow Bay Island, WA
(360) 555-0147

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Deer Hollow Bay Lighthouse Society  |  P.O. Box 112, Deer Hollow Bay Island, WA  |  (360) 555-0147
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