What Happened to PETA?
By Sue Clark on Nov 1, 2007 in Opinion 
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Newsday has reported that only one group has sent in their application for Execution Rocks Lighthouse in New York so far. And PETA isn’t one of them. Regular readers of this site will remember that at one time, PETA was sending out applications to the GSA on every offshore lighthouse that was being excessed, with the intention of running a faux fish cafe at whichever one they managed to hook. Well, it seems they’ve hauled in their lines, since the only application for Execution Rocks has come from a group calling themselves Historically Significant Structures, based in Philadelphia, PA.
Historically Significant Structures was formed when Goose Rocks Lighthouse became available, but at that time the National Park Service saw fit to not award the deed to the group, and put it up for auction instead. The group is led by a Craig Morrison, who according to his biography, is a life insurance salesman turned part-time musician. But he lists himself as a stockbroker at his biography on CD Baby, where he has a CD for sale. He also has a MySpace site to sell his tunes.
The treasurer of this group is an attorney named Linell Lukesh, who is on the roster at Harvey, Pennington, Ltd., a law firm in Philadelphia. According to the story, other board members (unnamed, by the way) include a restaurateur, engineer and real estate agent. Their website does not list them either, other than Morrison and Lukesh.
In the story, Meta Cushing, a GSA Real Estate Specialist in charge of the Execution Rocks Lighthouse giveaway, states:
“It’s not unusual for nonlocal groups to seek ownership as the program is getting to be better known.” She said federal officials want the lighthouses to go to a government or a group with a strong chance of a successful restoration and ongoing operation that incorporates local access. “No matter who gets it, the local people will get to enjoy it,” Cushing said.
Craig Morrison joined a lighthouse enthusiasts group on Yahoo recently, and has been posting messages with sometimes nothing but his organization’s link. One message, in reply to a question about the recent online auctions was thus (please note it was not cleaned up for spelling errors):
The lighthouse bidding wars I hate! The taxpayers
bought the lighthouses and I think they are better in
non-profit hands! Goose Rocks light in Maine went for
26 thousand $$$!My 5013c applied for the ‘Goose’ and was refused by
folksd that havn’t even been to the light!We are now doing an application for Execution Rocks
lighthouse! If we don’’t get this one I will really be
upset! I promise to restore and open the lightstation
to the public! That you’ll never get from a private
owner! Our hertigage is wrapped up in these
structures!Please go to our website and click on the links to
learn more about the lightouse act of 2000!Sincerely,
Craig Morrison, President
Historically Significant Structures Inc.
www.lighthouserestorations.org
I’m not really sure what to make of this group. While I love to see more groups get involved in lighthouse restoration, I do think there should be more openness about them. Who are the rest of the board members? You can sign up as a member for $100 on their website, if you can find their address (on the contact page). But there certainly isn’t much there, or on Mr. Morrison’s sites to inspire confidence that they have the capability to restore an offshore lighthouse.
What do you think? Please leave a comment with your opinion.
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