News, Opinions and Commentary on Lighthouses Around the World
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Category: RestorationBy Sue Clark on Jun 15, 2008 in Restoration, The Light Side | Comments Off
By Sue Clark on May 28, 2008 in Featured, Restoration | 0 Comments
In July 2007, Thomas Point Shoal Lighthouse in Maryland reopened to the public for tours after a challenging restoration. Challenging partly because of the location in Chesapeake Bay, but also challenging because of well-intentioned but misguided repairs while under the management of the Coast Guard. Adrienne DeRan, of Structural Preservation Services in Maryland, has written an article detailing the challenges of repairing the repairs in a recent issue of Associated Construction Publications.
More About Restoration Challenges
By Sue Clark on May 25, 2008 in Restoration | 0 Comments
Sometimes, the first step in restoration and preservation needs to be a totally unrelated one to the actual lighthouse. Such as gaining access to the lighthouse. A lot of our beacons have been built in hard to get at places, and such is the case with the Ashtabula (Ohio) Lighthouse. Although it’s connected to land, the only access is a rocky breakwall. That’s not conducive to hauling out paint, ladders, etc. So with that in mind, the first step the Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society is taking is to use the grant money to purchase and install a floating access dock and ramp.
By Sue Clark on Mar 29, 2008 in News, Restoration | 1 Comment
The grounds at Split Rock Lighthouse near Beaver Bay, MN, perched high on a bluff overlooking mighty Lake Superior since 1910, will be closed from April 1 until May 15 (normal opening date) for a major makeover. Scaffolding and netting have already been erected around this most dramatic of lights in preparation for the work. The Minnesota Historical Society, manager of this beacon, estimates the entire project will be completed by mid-July.
By Sue Clark on Feb 13, 2008 in Restoration | Comments Off
The Delimara Lighthouse in Malta is nearing completion of the renovations started in 2006. All that’s left to do are the bathrooms. Oh, and the lantern mechanism. But it’s been an amazing accomplishment so far. The Malta Maritime Authority and Din L-Art Helwa (National Trust of Malta) have repaired the damage to the walls, the timber apertures, the roof and the lantern tower, including fresh paint. The photo below was taken before the work began. You can see how badly it looked.
By Sue Clark on Dec 31, 2007 in Opinion, Restoration | Comments Off
Our previous story was about New Point Comfort Lighthouse and the $750,000 rock job. Well, that pales in comparison to what it’s expected to cost at Montauk Point Lighthouse in New York to do almost the same thing. The full amount being budgeted for masonry work at the base of the lighthouse, and the revetment replacement that has helped stop erosion for the past 15 years? A cool $15 million dollars. The lighthouse will get $7.1 million from the federal government, $5.6 million from the state and about $2 million from the Montauk Historical Society, which owns and operates the lighthouse. The federal money is being appropriated as part of the 2007 Water Bill, which covers coastal projects, drainage and other water related items.
More About High Cost of Rocks
Bagging Lighthouses
Sounds like some big game safari. Well, lighthouses are our prey, and the British describe this hunting and shooting (photographing) of our lighthouses just perfectly. They “bag” them, just like a hunter bags the game he shot.Continued...
Lighthouse Bidding Breaks $200,000
Whew, so far the bids are standing at $200,000 for West Bank Lighthouse and $140,000 for Old Orchard Shoal. There will probably be no more bids over the weekend, but come Monday there might be some more action. There is a notice on the site that if the auctions haven’t closed by August 26, the bid increments will be increased to $15,000 rather than the $5,000 as it is now.Continued...
The Bids Keep Going...
Just a quick update on the GSA auctions. The bidding on New York lighthouses Old Orchard Shoals and West Bank is still going strong. The auction is extended one more day till Tuesday August 19. Current bids are $130,000 for West Bank Lighthouse and $90,000 for Old Orchard Shoals.Continued...
Big Tub At the Mall
We’ve seen a lighthouse installed in an airport, but now there is going to be one in a mall. An eighteen foot replica of Big Tub Lighthouse (Tobermory, ON) will be installed this week at Vaughn Mills Mall, Canada’s largest outlet mall, which is about 18 miles north of Toronto.Continued...
Grand Haven Lighthouse Raffle
Well, it’s not the real Grand Haven lighthouse. And you have to live in or very near to Grand Haven, Michigan. But if you do, you can enter the raffle to win a playhouse for your kids, or yourself. Remember, aging is inevitable, but maturity is optional. So feel free to keep it for yourself, if you win.Continued...
Private Lighthouse Crumbling
A private lighthouse at a lodge on Lake Tahoe is in danger of crumbling from last winter’s waves and ice, and if not fixed will probably tumble off its damaged foundation into the lake. The Thunderbird Cove Beacon light is owned by the lodge, which is housed in a former mansion known as the Whittell mansion, and was formerly used to house the mansion’s security and lighting system.Continued...
