The tragic downfall of the floating light

Remember that blinking yellow light hovering over the intersection of Maple Avenue and Caledonia Street?

It met an unceremonious demise on Tuesday, Sept. 13, when it was knocked down by an over-height vehicle.

As mysterious as its purpose, the origins of the flashing beacon called for investigative journalism.

Brian Lease, La Conner’s Public Works director, said the amber light had been there as long as he could remember — and he’s worked here for over 19 years.

He said the town changed the light bulb now and then when it burned out. One guess of his as to why it was installed was that it was to aid traffic when the Rainbow Bridge was built in the 1950s.

In trying to track down the light’s history, Forrest Jones from Skagit County Public Works Department checked through their road history files and came up blank.

Town Administrator John Doyle also didn’t have information on when or why the light was originally installed.

And former Mayor Bud Moore? No idea.

Anything at Skagit County Historical Museum? Nope.

Mayor Ramon Hayes says the potentially 30- to 40-year-old light, while not a traffic-control device, did serve a purpose in reminding people to slow down.

He speculated that it may have been installed as a caution symbol in lieu of a speed bump.

“There’s no bringing it back,” Hayes said. It was damaged beyond repair.

Then just about everyone this newspaper contacted had their curiosity piqued and called Lease for more information about the light — while Lease was trying to work on his first day back from vacation.

Mayor Hayes said replacing the light will be up to the Town Council, which will discuss it at their next meeting.

Meanwhile, goodbye, mys-terious light.