New House For Crooked River Lighthouse
By Sue Clark on Nov 7, 2008 in News 
Print This Post
It’s always good to read of restoration efforts in these trying economic times, and the latest good news comes out of Florida. Carrabelle, Florida in fact. A replica of the lighthouse keepers quarters that used to grace the land next to the tall (103 ft.) iron and steel beacon will house a museum for lighthouse artifacts and other area memorabilia. The money for the project has been funded partly by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.
The light was electrified in 1933, and completely automated in 1952. As the keepers were no longer needed, the Coast Guard sold off the houses at an auction. One of them burned down some time later, but the other is still in use as a private residence.
Relighting the Beacon
The light was decommissioned in 1995 by the Coast Guard and given to the city of Carrabelle. A group known as the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association leases it from the city. The Association received several grants to restore the light, including $298,900 from the Florida Communities Trust Restoration in 2006 and $400,000 in 2007 from the state to refurbish the light. It also allowed them to purchase two acres of land surrounding the light. A picnic pavilion and children’s playground have been installed.
After completing the renovation to the tower, the Association installed a new optic with the permission of the Coast Guard. On December 8, 2007, at dusk, the light was relit for the first time in 22 years, with the same flash sequence (two white flashes every ten seconds) of the former Fourth Order bivalve Fresnel.
More information on the light, and photos from the past, can be found at Lighthouse Friends.
Photo credit: Crooked River Lighthouse by Systems Librarian. Some rights reserved.
Keep up with Lighthouse News. Get articles by 
Email or in a 
Reader.
