Cost To Repair? $1.45 Million

One of the West Coast’s most photographed lighthouses may close for public tours due to unsafe conditions, according to recent news stories. Specifically, the deteriorating metal has already impacted visitors, with only five people at a time allowed up the stairs from the previous number of eight. In yet another tale of leaks overtaking maintenance, the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has raised a mere $300,000 of the matching funds needed to secure a grant. The hope is additional funding will come from an Oregon Department of Transportation grant.

“It’s pretty dire,” said Dennis Davidson, assistant area manager for the Department said in the story at the Register Guard. “The vibration on the stairway is causing exacerbation of the brick and metal fatigue. The brick is crumbling.”

Problems Since 2001

The lighthouse has been leaking since the state was formally awarded the light back in 2001. Unfortunately, the only repairs have been piecemeal, such as sealing the leaky windows and running dehumidifiers to combat the moisture. It has not worked, as algae is running rampant in the service room, and the catwalk is no longer safe to walk on as the posts that hold up the railing have deteriorated. In fact, because of the corrosion, it is no longer possible to even clean the windows on the outside, nor do any other maintenance without the use of a lift truck. The full weight of a person leaning onto the rail will probably cause a collapse.

The Coast Guard, previous to turning over the light, had encased the stone corbel at the top of the lantern in chicken wire and sprayed it with quick drying concrete (Huh? Why?). It is now threatening to fall. The interior stucco is cracking, and the horizontal beams that hold up the lantern are rusting, as well as on the staircase, and at the point where the staircase connects to the wall.

Thermal Imaging Scan Shows the Damage

A recent scan showed the previous patches aren’t holding up too well. The wood is porous around the window sashes from the water that pours in through the roof. Part of the problem is that it just pools up there, between the roof and the liner. The bricks by the horizontal beams at the top also need replacing. And everywhere, the algae.

And as if that isn’t enough, another $226,000 will be needed to replace the electrical system inside the tower, which has also fallen victim to the weather. According to the grant application, the cost to replace the metal railings, restore the beams and eliminate rust will be $288,000.

“The Heceta Head lighthouse is not only iconic to Lane County but to Oregon,” Davidson said. “We thought we’d get out in front of this.” Sounds like a race, with lighthouse visitors the losers if they fail. Let’s hope the grants come through to preserve this gem of the Oregon coast.

About The Light

Heceta Head Light is unusual in that the light is on day and night, exhibiting a white flash every ten seconds. And even better, it’s the original First Degree Fresnel lens that shines the light from the 205 foot focal plane. In 2000 the Coast Guard tried to replace the Chance Brothers Fresnel with a modern optic. A compromise was reached (story at Lighthouse Digest) and the lens was dismantled, restored and cleaned, and put back in place.

The lightkeeper’s house, a wood two story in Queen Anne style, has been lovingly maintained and is a Bed and Breakfast. Two oil houses (one used as a generator building) and a barn are also preserved.

Photo credit: Heceta Head Lighthouse from Random Factor. Some rights reserved.

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