Humboldt County Fair Working To Keep Lens

Last year, the news that the Coast Guard wanted to take back a First Order Fresnel Lens residing at the Humboldt County (California) Fairground entrance (pictured at left) and possibly sell it to a private party raised my eyebrows. The lens has been in the possession of the fairgrounds, in a display at the entrance, since the Coast Guard removed it from Cape Mendocino Lighthouse in 1948. But after a visit from a Washington, D.C. based Coast Guard curator deeming it to be “not in a proper space,” the fairgrounds manager, Stuart Titus, took steps to ensure it would remain in the city’s, and fairground’s, possession.

While a lot of people felt the lens would be better served in a more secure environment, there was more concern that the Washington “curator” had threatened to sell it to a private person. This is, after all, an historic artifact, and although the Coast Guard has had a history of disregarding the value of some of their property, and has been responsible for some of the deterioration facing the lighthouses in their care (If it doesn’t move, paint it!). This was going a little too far with property that ultimately belongs to the people.

Recent Visits Encouraging

Titus has been working with the Coast Guard, and playing host to experts in lens restoration. The most recent visit included Joe Cocking, a retired Coast Guard lens specialist and a professional associate of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, Nick Johnston of Carolina Lighthouse Lens Work and Kim Fahlen, who has researched and photographed lighthouses throughout the U.S. After inspecting the lens, Cocking told the Times Standard that the lens wasn’t in bad shape, given its age. Mostly it involves replacing some missing prisms and stabilization.

In the past, the fair manager said, he was told each of the lens’ 800 glass parts would have to be removed to scrape away the old adhesive, a lead-based compound known as letharge and then reattach the prisms with new glue. Cocking said they won’t have to do that as they use a compound that preserves the latharge.

Titus said in the story that looking at other buildings that house lenses was very informative, and that there is enough room on the grounds to provide a proper, climate controlled site for the lens, yet still be at the entrance with the ticket booth.

What’s Next For the Lens?

A plan and proposal needs to be submitted to the Coast Guard, and of course money needs to be raised for the building and restoration. The intent is to come up with the appropriate structure. And that’s with the hope that the Coast Guard will allow the restoration to take place on site. That’s still up in the air.

But things are looking better, and although the town and Titus realizes it won’t be cheap, they’re doing everything they can to keep the lens where it has delighted people for the past 60 some years. Oh, and if you[re interested in seeing the restored original Cape Mendocino Lighthouse, check out the photo below. The lens lives in a replica of this light.

Gorgeous, isn’t it? I just wish the lens could have been left in place. That would complete it. This light was left to rot, and fall down the hillside, till it was rescued by the Cape Mendocino Lighthouse Preservation Society. The National Guard helped with the move, carrying the lantern room off the hillside with a helicopter, while the remaining pieces of the lighthouse were numbered, dismantled, and trucked to a nearby construction yard for renovation. In 1999, the pieces were all reassembled and the lighthouse proudly stands in its new home at Point Delgarda, in Mel Coombs Park.

It was erroneously reported in the original story at the Times Standard that the Coast Guard curator claimed the light would be removed and sold to a private person. In correspondence with Dr.Robert Browning, Chief Historian of the U.S. Coast Guard, it was revealed to Lighthouse News that the original reporter misunderstood what was said and that the lens was never going to be offered for sale to a private party. From Dr. Browning: “Ms. Danielson had mentioned that the lens might be stored somewhere beside the Ferndale area (third party). We had considered Petaluma, CA where we knew we had facilities for it if necessary. How this became twisted into selling the lens I do not know. Unfortunately, this mistake was repeated in other articles as well. Also, as Ms. Danielson’s supervisor, I can equivocally state that she has never been to see the lens.”

Photo Credits:

• Fresnel Lens by bobobonehead on Flickr. All rights reserved.
• Cape Mendocino by ejbfs. Some rights reserved.

Information on Cape Mendocino Lighthouse from Lighthouse Friends.

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