Lighthouse News

An Act To Protect Heritage Lighthouses Finally Passes

After eight years and many incarnations of the bill, Canada’s Parliament has finally empowered their communities to protect their maritime assets, their many lighthouses. Every province except Alberta and Saskatchewan has lighthouses, and they have been without any federally mandated protection since they were automated. The bill, originally sponsored by British Columbia Pat Carney and the late Nova Scotia Senator Michael Forestall, passed Parliament May 7. MP Larry Miller, whose Ontario riding (Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound) has several historic lighthouses, carried the bill through the House of Commons. It will take effect in 2010.

French Lighthouses Are Disintegrating

Harsh words perhaps, but those are direct quotes from Marc Pointud, the founder of the National Society for the Patrimony of Lighthouses and Signals, as stated in an article today from the Tuscaloosa News. Pointud, an expert in maritime treasures, is sounding the alarm to save at least some of these national treasures from the rot that as overtaken them since lighthouse keepers were put out to pasture. Or sea in this case. Between automation, time and the tolls of weather, rot has set in. The lighthouses are still required by French law, but unfortunately their preservation is not required. All that’s wanted is light that is visible up to 30 miles out to sea. The French, after all, don’t quite trust American GPS.

Corporate and Private Donations Make the Difference

Last year, Lighthouse News reported that Hurricane Katrina damaged New Canal Lighthouse’s restoration plans were put on hold for lack of funding. Well, that has changed with some big donations from corporate sponsors along with individual outpourings of money. The Gambit Weekly reports that the Lake Ponchartrain Basin Foundation (LPBF) has enough money to start putting the pieces of this damaged lighthouse back together. Restoration work on an adjacent building and the establishment of a new foundation for the lighthouse itself will be the first steps in turning this almost lost landmark and former US Coast Guard station into a museum and educational center. Foundation officials hope to attract local students, historian buffs and of course, tourists.

The Recycled St. George Island Lighthouse

In spite of erosion first necessitating the placement of St. George Island Lighthouse onto a new concrete pad, and then Hurricane Dennis toppling the St. George Island into the Florida Coast in 2005, volunteers refused to let the light stay down. April 1, the lantern room was lifted onto the top of the rebuilt tower to mark the holes where the bolts would hold it in place. Today, April 2, the lantern was successfully fastened to the tower. After raising over $500,000 through grants and donations, the St. George Lighthouse Association completed the rebuilding in only two and a half years, using bricks salvaged from the original beacon. And in another two months, the interior is expected to be completed and St. George Island Light will be one of only seven in Florida open for climbing.

Army Corps of Engineers Budget Also Slashed

East Hampton (NY) town supervisor Bill McGintee recently visited Washington D.C. to meet with officials regarding the erosion control projects for Montauk Point. Although the Army Corps of Engineers has approved these projects, which include rebuilding the beach around Montauk Point, a breakwater dredging project and more beach erosion control measures, the funding may not be guaranteed if the 2009 budget as written passes muster. “I want to make sure that the money is there once the studies are finished,” said McGintee in the story at Suffolk Life. The total cost of the Lighthouse cliff rebuilding alone will be $14 million dollars, but US Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Coram) is supportive of the projects, he is not as certain about how such funding would come to fruition, given the president’s proposed budget to Congress for next year. “All of these projects are important, and all have been authorized by [the] Army Corps of Engineers,” said Bishop. “The challenging part will be providing the funding.”

Good Friday Reopening Set

The popular tourist attraction, the Souter Lighthouse in South Tyneside, UK, has been completely rewired as part of an effort by the National Trust, owner of the lighthouse. It has taken a team of eight people since January to complete this project, which they described as “challenging.” The cost of the project, paid for from the Trust’s Building Fund, was more than £100,000 and involved the laying of over 5,000 meters, or 16,404 feet, of new cable and 130 new fittings. It is hoped the rewiring will make the rambling house and 75 foot tall tower more energy efficient.

A Lighthouse News Exclusive

Kennewick - A Historical Perspective

Three hundred fifty miles upstream from the mouth of the Columbia River at the junction of the Snake River in Washington State, sits the city of Kennewick. With Richland and Pasco, it’s the largest of the three known as the TriCities. Years ago, it was explored by Lewis and Clark, the first American overland expedition to the Pacific from the mouth of the Missouri River. Nearby is the Sacajawea State Park, the Native American who traveled the entire 4,100 mile route with the group. More recently, in 1996, the city became known for the discovery of the 9,000 year old Kennewick Man, found along the banks of the Columbia.

Twenty People Look Inside Currituck’s House

Although Currituck Lighthouse is open for climbing, the keepers’ house has been shuttered to visitors since it was restored in the 1980s. Last week, the site manager opened the house to twenty visitors for a rare tour through the big house, which sits only fifty feet from the tower. According to a story in the the Virginian Pilot, many more people had to be turned away. Over 100,000 climb the tower each year, but most can only see the house from the top, as in the picture to the left.

Are Lighthouses Good For the Economy?

One day, while I was doing docent duty at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, I had a young fellow ask me (for a school project) how much does a lighthouse contribute to the economy. I told him, a lot, as they are one of the biggest tourist draws for an area. Everyone loves lighthouses, along with wanting to be a lighthouse keeper. One of the most popular searches bringing visitors to this site are “lighthouse jobs.” Well, lighthouse keeper jobs are long gone, but the lure of the dream remains. And at least one country understands the attraction of the night beacons and does all it can to maximize the tourist money. The UK seems to understand the idea of a working lighthouse and tourist dollars.

Katrina Damaged Fresnel Getting A Rehab

Besides demolishing the Maritime and Seafood Industry Museum in Biloxi, MS, Hurricane Katrina took one final blow at the Ship Island Lighthouse Fresnel lens. When searching through the rubble, museum members found the Fourth Order Fresnel lens had been smashed by a wall. The beautiful, beehive style lens was in pieces underneath. But St. Augustine Lighthouse Conservators Joe (It’s Like Watching Paint Dry) Cocking and Nick (Never Say Die) Johnston have undertaken the Humpty-Dumpty like task of putting the pieces back together.