Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Magically Practical

Hereford Light

The Lighthouse near my cottage Beach House reminds me of the house they used in  the movie Practical Magic.

The styles are similar. I believe they are both called Victorian Gothic.
The lighthouse tower is similar to the "widow's watch" they both have pretty white picket fences,  lush gardens and the sea beyond.


House in Movie


















Hereford

And for a picture of Hereford Lighthouse in 1911 Click Here


Glowing in the night!
Hereford lighthouse, Anglesea, NJ

This is actually a working lighthouse and at night it is all aglow. In the early 1960's it had fallen into disrepair and was a mess. It's windows were broken and the shutters falling off and crooked. It looked like the wacky shack. There is a legend that goes with the light house that the wife of the sea captain went a bit stir crazy waiting for her husband to return at the turn of the century. And that when she died her spirit stayed behind in the spooky lighthouse, still awaiting his return.. Every now and then as kids we thought we could see her ghosts in the window. The campaign to save it was launched in 1982 or there abouts and it has been beautified and bought back to its original splendor.
All these years later, People are always in and out, the lovely gardens, and although my kids didn't exactly fall for the ghosts story. It just wasn't practical to them!  But to their surprise one day they were taking pictures of each other in the lighthouse gardens and  later after dinner, when they looked at the pictures there seemed to be a mysterious shadow in the background.

And the house in the Practical Magic Movie



To my surprise, the grounds are also on a very, very similar lot. here is a link to the rendition of the grounds in the script. They specifically ask to not copy it or I would have included it here, it is surely worth a look though!
Below is the sattelite view of the lighthouse and gardens...I was dumfounded when I discovered this.  The lighthouse is among all the greenery. That is the lighthouse gardens. The rock seawall just recently got a pave over with concrete so people could walk along the ocean, a promenade, so to speak. But for years there were just mounds of rock seawall .. The settings in the script are so similar!!  To go see them CLICK HERE  Just the floor plans can not be reproduced..

Below is a rendition of the gardens, rocks and ocean beyond and part of the house, in the movie.



Of course this is my favorite lighthouse.  Below is a peak at the gardens at the lighthouse:


I have always been drawn to this area of the Wildwoods. When the kids were little we stayed at hotels near the boardwalk, for our weekly vacations. But I always came to this area, and stood at the seawall to take in the view. It is gorgeous. Now I am lucky enough to have a Cottage just steps away! Yes, magically, dreams really do come true.

That's a little bit of my story..

Joining in the Practical Magic blog party









27 comments:

  1. I love the Herferd Inlet Lighthouse! What a great idea for the party post. My husband and I visited the Light during the 2008 Lighthouse Challenge. Truly beautiful, especially the gardens! We live within minutes of Twin Lights of Navesink and Sandy Hook Lighthouse!

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  2. What a wonderful post.... lighthouses certainly do have a magic about them. We have an Anglesea a few hours from us (inland Victoria, Australia). I visited another blogparty post showing pictures from Ocean Grove.... and we have one of those too, not far from Anglesea! Thanks for sharing the story....
    hugs and blessings,
    Pauline

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  3. Wow - the lighthouse is so similar! Magical Post - Thanx for sharing, we loved this! - what fun!

    For More Practical Magic stop by at
    Practical Magic - How To Make A Magic Wand
    http://lenorita-lenoramoore.blogspot.com/2010/09/practical-magic-blogparty-2010.html

    ReplyDelete
  4. What Beautiful House! Couldn't You just Move into the Owen's House!!Your Photos are Lovely!
    Thank You for Sharing!
    Hugs
    Jill

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  5. What a wonderful place to have around! You are lucky, I live by a ferry station, but hun our lighthouses would probably burst into tears if they saw yours. And if they glance at the garden they might die on the spot. I'm going back to gawk at your beautiful pics!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh, I would SO love to see that lighthouse in person. Thanks for sharing your Practical Magic post. :)

    Please feel free to come and visit with me:

    http://faeriemooncreations.blogspot.com/2010/09/because-theres-little-witch-in-every.html

    Sincerely,
    Theresa

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you so much for sharing this lighthouse with us! It's beautiful!

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  8. I love lighthouses, ghosts and magick! You weaved all three things, oh wait, Practical Magic, that makes four in this post, loved it :)

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  9. Love the lighthouse, I wish I could see it. Lovely to have a place of mystery around when you are growing up...... Nice post.

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  10. Wow it's beautiful, how lucky you are to have this close to you! Love the gardens, amazing place and so similar to the Owens House!

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  11. This is such an interesting story. That light house isn't anything like I'd imagine when hearing the word "lighthouse". It's obvious I don't live on the coast, eh? That one is just so gorgeous. I'm glad to see it wasn't allowed to continue to fade away nor torn down like occurs with many beautiful buildings. Your photographs of it realy are enchanting.

    Faith, trust, and faerie dust!

    http://fortheloveofcreativity.blogspot.com

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  12. Oh, wow -- the lighthouse is really something. That's such a perfect post for the PM party. Thanks for sharing!

    -- Birgit

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  13. Hi Eileen! Happy Practical Magic Party, and one of my favorite movies! It's still going on... and so many blogs to visit! My favorite scene is when young Sally is making and casting her Amas Veritas spell... adorable... And the saying at the end of the movie,
    "... fall in L*O*V*E whenever you can!

    Love the pics of the lighthouse that you shared... just beautiful! Especially the one at night!

    Hope you have a chance to fly by my blog for a "special spell" that I have for everyone!

    ✻´¨)
    ¸.•´¸.•*´¨) ¸.•*´¨)
    (¸.•´ (¸.•´✻✻✻Lots of magical wishes, dreams and blessings to you and your family...

    xoxo Valerie
    http://valeriehart.com

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  14. VERY cool! I'll have to come visit your lighthouse. I live up by "Old Barney" but on the mainland.

    peace n love,
    Susan

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  15. What gorgeous house photos to share! THANKS for that! Magical!

    ~Carol

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  16. Wonderful post and I love the lighthouse. Brightest Blessings!

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  17. Amazing place and a lighthouse at that,so romantic. Thanks for taking all of the pics and even showing the google map of the place; makes one feel like being there in person.Wish I had such a home.
    Annabelle * *
    * * ~^..^~ * *

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  18. What gorgeous houses! To live by the sea would be magical:)

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  19. I wanna go, it looks amazing!!! Thanks for the post, for sure magical!!!

    ReplyDelete
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