Lighthouse News

Update on Senate Bill 715

Sue Clark — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 00:21:11 +0000

A committee hearing has been scheduled for July 22, 2009 at 2:30 PM EDT for the purpose of discussing Senate Bill 715, an act to establish a pilot program to provide for the preservation and rehabilitation of historic lighthouses. Now is the time to contact the members of the Energy Subcommittee to voice your support for the bill, which would establish a funding mechanism to states that have lighthouses, based on the number of lighthouses in the respective state. Click here for the list of Committee members. This bill was cosponsored by Senators Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, and Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine.

Update on Senate Bill 715

Surfers Protest Montauk Lighthouse Protection

Sue Clark — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 21:14:08 +0000

Group Claims Adding Rocks Will Harm Environment

After months of planning, and getting approval and estimated for the addition of rocks at Montauk Point Lighthouse, including having to transfer ownership to the town of East Hampton to get the funding, a group of surfers has come forward to protest the addition of the rocks to the existing revetment at the point. The Eastern Long Island Surfriders claimed at a July 7 meeting that the better thing to do is move the lighthouse away from the cliff edge, citing such lighthouses as Sankaty, Cape Hatteras and others as examples.

The town rebutted with the fact that the moves shown in the presentation by the surfriders were relatively simple, and involved moving only a lighthouse over level land. That option does not exist at Montauk Point, with several buildings being involved. To move those buildings to safety would involve completely dismantling them and rebuilding at a new site, at a cost far far greater than the estimated $7 million already earmarked.

The revetment to slow the erosion at the point was put into place in the 1940s and again in the 1990s, in an effort to slow the erosion. It has not worked entirely, and the Army Corps of Engineers will be replacing rocks that have washed away. Lighthouse Committee member Greg Donahue, who manages erosion control for the Historical Society, said,”We have a point that’s protected, we are not moving the lighthouse back.” He also said that due to their efforts the bluff “hasn’t lost as much as a wheelbarrow [of sediment] since 1992.”

So Why the Objection?

The Surfriders claim in the story at the Hamptons that this project will irrevocably alter the shoreline. From the story:

Montauk resident Chris Coleman challenged the Army Corps’ ability to accurately assess the possible effects of their work, citing his estimation of the damage done to Culloden Beach after the Corps extended the jetties at the inlet to Montauk Harbor. “Have you seen what that project has done to the shoreline there? Absolutely crucified it,” Coleman asserted. “To say that this group is eligible to tell us what is going to happen at the Point is absurd. You see what they did there,” he continued, citing erosion around Turtle Cove that has been attributed to the current revetment at the base. “Now, let’s put steroids on it and let the Atlantic Ocean smack up against it. You’re making a big mistake for the surfers, the fishermen and everyone involved.”

Ah, the surfers. This has been an ongoing, albeit ineffective fight by this group for a while. On their website, they have a full page devoted to this issue, claiming that the rocks are responsible for altering the shoreline. While I agree that the unmanaged building of seawalls may have unintended consequences on other parts of the shoreline, it’s hard to see how putting up a few more rocks and extending it outward a little will have any major effect.

There is even a “position paper” on their page (you can download it from this link, but be aware it’s an 11.40 MB PDF file) that states, “Underestimating future sea levels is a dangerous game that could greatly shorten the expected lifetime of a given installation. This supports a real fear among surfers that a world class surf break could be sacrificed to save the Lighthouse only to discover that the USACE’s work failed to achieve its goal.”

Yep. A protest to save a place to surf. It’s not surprising, but still disappointing. For a small group of people that surf in the area to want to have the government spend $50 million or more to move an historic lighthouse and its buildings off the hill, as opposed to the already expensive (but cheaper) $7 million, smacks once again of selfishness. And elitism.

To the citizens of East Hampton, what is more important? An exclusive group of surfers or a lighthouse that was personally commissioned in 1792 by George Washington, the first president of the country? I think we all know the answer here. To the town board members, by all means listen to your citizens, as you are required to do, and then do the wise and economical thing. Let this project begin and protect one of our oldest lighthouses from toppling into the sea.

Photo Credits:

Surfers Protest Montauk Lighthouse Protection

Warranty Work For Wind Point Lighthouse

Sue Clark — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 06:46:35 +0000

Wisconsin Lighthouse To Get New Paint

Although having received a new and shiny coat of paint in the fall of 2007, Wind Point Lighthouse (WI) is getting another one this year. That’s because the paint job failed from the last time. According to a story in the Journal Times, this new paint job will covered under a warranty from Masonry Restoration, Inc. Visitors to this iconic lighthouse will have to hold off on taking the scenic pictures like the one by James Jordan at the left, at least for a little while.

Workers are blasting the lighthouse tower with high pressure water streams, and removing the chipped paint. The reason for the failure is that when it was water blasted previously, not enough time was given for drying before the new paint was applied. By early 2008, officials noticed that some of the paint was beginning to chip and fall from from the tower. The decision was made to hold off until this year to make sure there’s adequate time for drying before reapplying the paint.

Maybe a Case For Dry Ice?

When Split Rock Lighthouse was stripped and repainted, the workers there used dry ice to remove the paint. This is a relatively new technology, but it holds much promise for rehabilitating old buildings. It’s much less damaging than other media such as sand, clean up is minimal, it’s environmentally sound and certainly doesn’t leave wet spots for anxious workers to paint over prematurely. It’s also less expensive, very important in these uncertain economic times.

It would be great if more lighthouse restorations used this method. But until they do, it looks like you’ll have to stare at the splotchy brick (from the story: “little pocks here, little pocks there”) until it’s dry. And depending on the weather, who knows how long that will take.

Photo Credit: Snarl by James Jordan. Some rights reserved.

Warranty Work For Wind Point Lighthouse

Execution Rocks Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast

Sue Clark — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:27:23 +0000

Grand Plans For a Grand Lighthouse

Well, maybe not anytime in the near future, but those are the ultimate plans for Execution Rocks Lighthouse, in Long Island Sound, New York. Craig Morrison, president of Historically Significant Structures, announced the ultimate plan for the lighthouse during a recent media excursion out to the lighthouse. Morrison, an insurance agent and musician, estimated the cost of renovations will be more than $1.2 million and take over five years.

The group included a former lighthouse keeper, Hector Barsali, of Bayside, NY, before it was automated and left to deteriorate, and the visit to the light was very nostalgic for him. As he climbed the ladder to the lighthouse, he shouted, “I’m back! Here comes Hector after 48 years!” In a story in Newsday, he describes life at the lighthouse:

He recalled that the station was staffed by five men. “There would be three on and two off. The tour of duty on the island was 21 days and seven days off. It was isolated. It was too exciting and busy for you to get bored. It was haunting at times at night when you were by yourself in the tower.”It’s very nostalgic for me,” he said. “I’m a little choked up.”

On the second floor, Barsali pointed to a dusty space in the northwest corner. “That was my bedroom,” he said.

SadlyDeteriorated

As always, when the lighthouses are abandoned by the Coast Guard, they suffer. Morrison describes in the story how the Coast Guard ripped out the rotting floors and replaces them with metal grating. The stairs are dangerous, and he only allows one at a time on the stairs. He also passes out respirator masks to wear inside, as the lighthouse is a breeding area for gulls. The mold and peeling lead paint chips are another hazard and make for a risky little trip.

Right now, the non-profit group has about $2,000 in funding, and are also looking for board members for their little group. Execution Rocks is one of the recipients of the Fund raising effort by the Harbor Lights Collectors Forum. So if you haven’t entered yet for a chance to win some rare collectibles, do it now and help out Execution Rocks Lighthouse and other needy beacons.

Morrison took out another group for the Fourth of July and is planning to do one more trip August 7 to celebrate national Lighthouse Day. The cost of the boat ride is $25. Morrison can be reached through www.lighthouserestorations.org or phone: 215-906-5103

Photo Credit: All photos by www.customphotonotes.com.To see more of Execution Rocks from the July 4 trip, check out the rest of Ronichas’ photos.

Execution Rocks Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast

Lighthouse Auction Update

Sue Clark — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 08:13:49 +0000

One bid has been received for the East Charity Shoal Lighthouse, for $10,001. There is still no closing date set for the auction.

The next lighthouse to go on sale will be the Kenosha (WI) North Pierhead. There is no starting date for the bidding, but you can check out a preview here. And after that, the Fairport (OH) Harbor Lighthouse (preview here).

I cannot believe the Fairport Harbor went unwanted by a local group or non-profit. That is one lighthouse where there is actually a real possibility of living in it.

Thanks to Noah for finding the preview links.

Lighthouse Auction Update