Navy Retiree Builds "Lighthouse" Home

Navy Retiree Builds "Lighthouse" Home BUILDINGS Houses 25-1-22 Al Shipp of Shipman, Ill., spent 20 years in the Navy, mostly in submarines. So when he retired, he wanted a home with some Navy features and a sea motif. His wife, who trades in antiques, was all for it. What they came up with is a "lighthouse" home on a hill, complete with a tall wooden yard arm for flying a flag. Shipp designed the 12-ft. dia., 32-ft. high wooden tower himself. It has three floors, with the first floor used as a dining room, the second floor as an office, the third floor as a bedroom. There's also an observation room on top with a blinking light in it. To add to the naval theme there's a submarine "snorkel" sticking out of the ground about 150 ft. from the house. The snorkel is an 18-in. dia. aluminum air duct that extends about 7 ft. above ground. It connects to a 12-in. dia. plastic pipe that runs underground to the house. Outside air is drawn through the pipe by a fan during summer. The air cools off underground and is blown into the house to provide "free" air conditioning. Also fitting into a marine view of things is Shipp's 32-ft. long "gazeboat" û a 32-ft. long houseboat that's complete with a phone and electricity. "My wife wanted a gazebo for the yard. When she found this retired house boat I knew just the place for it," he says. He also made a steel submarine mailbox complete with a propeller on back. "It's a cozy place to live. We really like it," says Shipp. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Allison Shipp, 9327 Ridge Road, Shipman, Ill. 62685 (ph 217 854-7245).

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