Personally and professionally tied to the local shipping industry through family patriarch Harry Maragh, chairman and CEO of Lannaman & Morris Shipping Limited, the mother-daughter duo of Charmaine and Racquel Maragh ventured on a road trip seven years ago — from one end of the island to the other — to discover The Rock’s lighthouses for a personal photo journal that would morph into a calendar project for the elder Maragh.

It was an adventurous summer of 2008, criss-crossing the parishes to places unknown, and unearthing storied tales behind the historic, elongated structures that serve as beacons directing vessels at sea to shore. The lighthouse road trip was not merely recreational for the Maragh women but also reawakened the emotional bond between parent and child.

Be it the Galina Lighthouse (erected in 1913) in Galina, St Mary; the Negril Point Lighthouse (built in 1895) in Westmoreland; or the Folly Point Lighthouse (erected in 1886) in Portland, theirs was a coastline-destination trek with new revelations at each stop, teeming with photo opportunities and memories to recall with Omar Tomlinson.

Omar Tomlinson (OT): What prompted the trek across the parishes to photograph the island’s lighthouses?

Charmaine Maragh (CM): Lighthouses have held a fascination for me over the years, as they form part of Jamaica’s rich maritime history. In our family business of shipping we are cognisant of the importance of lighthouses which continue to guide vessels despite technological advancement, and continue to be a navigational support in the industry.

Racquel Maragh (RM): Mummy came up with the idea to do a calendar showcasing lighthouses in Jamaica. She got a vision or something and went on a path to find the light. I was going through a very depressing time, and Mummy thought it would be a good project to do to take my mind off things that were happening at that time.

OT: How did the experience enrich the connection between you both?

CM: Let’s just say that the little girl I raised was no longer a child, but a blossoming young adult curious about the intricacies of the country of her birth. She gladly shared pictures along the various routes of the interior and coastline to her many friends here and abroad. Many have since then made several visits to see our beautiful island home.

RM: It was a very enriching experience and I am glad that we got to do it together. Every lighthouse was unique and different, and our bond got stronger after the experiences together. We are both nature lovers so I guess we shared that in common before starting on our journey. I am more of an adventure seeker so I would rather go find a beach or a waterfall or somewhere private to relax, but this was rather a unique experience which I would do again.

OT: How was the experience going from one location to the next to discover these lighthouses?

CM: The entire journey was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The hospitality of the people, the lush and beautiful terrain, the flora and fauna, also the many interesting conversations and interactions with the local people and my daughter.

RM: It was very interesting seeing the different shapes and sizes of lighthouses, and I loved learning about the historical background of each lighthouse. We met a lot of fishermen who guided us to the lighthouses at times, and the people in the different communities were very helpful and welcoming. Everywhere we went there was always someone around to guide us or help us with gathering information. It was a very unique and interesting experience, and the best part is I got to bond with my mother.

OT: Were there any surprising discoveries made along the way?

CM: There were two interesting things that are indelible in my mind. First, the Morant Point Lighthouse, which is the first cast-iron lighthouse built in 1842 and the oldest lighthouse in Jamaica. The other is the road to Portland Cottage Lighthouse, which goes along the shoreline and has high and low tide as a feature. When we went early in the day we could see the road. When we left later in the day the high tide came in and we had to stay close to the shoreline. Fortunately, I drove a very large pickup which allowed me to surmount this with ease. Whew! Thank God for our excellent escort.

RM: From what I remember, we found a lot of strange stuff on the beach — creatures and shells we had never seen before, as some of the beaches where the lighthouses are located are unpopulated and untouched.

The 2009 Lighthouses of Jamaica calendar photos courtesy of Charmaine and Racquel Maragh; calendar designed by Communication Services Limited.