Lighthouse Legal Battle Continues
By Sue Clark on Mar 27, 2009 in News 
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Baker’s Island Lighthouse Might Finally Be Transferred
In what has been a battle royal for the Baker’s Island Lighthouse (Salem, Mass.) to be transferred to a non-profit group wanting to care for it, the Essex National Heritage Commission. A group consisting of two U.S. Coast Guard officials, the city’s conservation agent and a representative from the state Department of Environmental Protection made a trip out to the island to check out the light station, which is scheduled to be finally released this year. At least the islanders (all summer residents), didn’t blockade the group, as they did to the former mayor of the city, Stanley Usovicz, at an earlier time.
The Coast Guard has hired a contractor to remove some lead contaminated soil around the station, which will be open for tours. The Coast Guard does not want to transfer contaminated property, and thus will be using a local contractor, Thomas Construction of Boston, who plans to anchor a barge offshore and use a ramp to get excavators and other equipment onto the rocky island. Visitors will be restricted to the light station only, but it still has some residents fuming.
Island Group Wants Complete Privacy
Robert Leavens, who has a summer home on the island, has raised several issues in and appeal to the state Department of Environmental Protection, including legal questions about the Coast Guard’s ownership of the land. He was part of the Baker’s Island Lighthouse Preservation Society, a group of islanders who filed a federal appeal back in 2005. That appeal was later rejected.
Previous to 2005, the lighthouse and its keepers buildings were managed by the Baker’s Island Lighthouse Preservation Society. But after the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000 was passed, the NPS put the lighthouse out for adoption. In April of 2005, the NPS recommended it be transferred to the Essex National Heritage Commission, but the other group took umbrage with that and filed the federal appeal. And even though they lost, they’ve managed to keep the transfer from going ahead.
Time To Give It Up
With this newest appeal, these fifty-five people are still trying to keep the island to themselves. While I can certainly appreciate their desire for privacy, their history of throwing up roadblocks must end now, and let the original transfer take place. The lighthouse belongs to the nation, and can provide a unique educational opportunity for everyone. The obstructionist attitude of these islanders is apparently what led the NPS to choose the other group in the first place.
And although it will clearly be shown in the appeal that the lighthouse does indeed belong to the Coast Guard, or rather to the nation, this is just a time consuming waste of resources that can better be served by letting the Coast Guard clean up the mess and get on with the process of awarding this lovely lighthouse to the proper group. Original story at the SalemNews.Com.
Photo Credit: Baker’s Island Light by photoholic1. Some rights reserved.
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