Heceta Head Lighthouse Goes Dark
By Sue Clark on Feb 16, 2009 in News 
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More Bad News For Iconic Lighthouse
I hate the word iconic, but there is no other way to describe this lovely Pacific Coast (Oregon) Lighthouse. Unfortunately for it, the First Order Fresnel lens has been turned off, for at least the next ninety days. Last September (2008), it was reported that Heceta Head is closed to public access while awaiting repairs totalling $14.5 million dollars. This time, it’s the rotating mechanism upon which the lens rests that is causing the problem.
The lens is supported, and turned, with eight brass carriage wheels, and its slowness in rotating caught the attention of the assistant area manager for the State Parks and Recreation Dept. The Department brought in experts to evaluate the problem, and it was noted that some of the wheels are not touching the bed they need to ride on.
In Danger of Tipping Over
“They freaked us out,” Dennis Davidson said in the story at The Register-Guard.Com. “They recommended we leave it off.”
The lantern is at risk of tipping over, he said, and, until it’s fixed, there’s no reason to chance it. The state is now awaiting a cost estimate to jack up the lantern, remove the assembly and install a replacement.
The only good news is that the state shouldn’t have a problem covering the cost, and it should be providing guidance in about three months.
Photo credit: Heceta Head Lighthouse from Random Factor. Some rights reserved.
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