CULTURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Information for Parks, Federal Agencies, Indian Tribes, States, Local Governments, [jjijfl and the Private Sector VOLUME 20 NO. 8 1997
Keeping Lighthouses
A New Breed of Keepers Focus on Preservation
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Cultural Resources PUBLISHED BY THE CRM CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF PUBLICATION NATIONAL PARK SERVICE VOLUME 20 NO. 8 1997 Contents ISSN 1068-4999 To promote and maintain high standards for preserving and managing cultural resources Keeping Lighthouses
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR New Priorities for Lighthouse Keepers 3 CULTURAL RESOURCE STEWARDSHIP AND PARTNERSHIPS Candace Clifford Katherine H. Stevenson Lighthouse Construction Types 5 EDITOR Ronald M. Gteenberg National Lighthouse Organizations 8
PRODUCTION MANAGER Recent Rehabilitation of Anacapa Island Lighthouse—A Case Study 9 Karlota M. Koester Wayne Truax GUEST EDITOR Pooles Island Lighthouse Stabilization Project—Cultural Candace Clifford Resource Management at Aberdeen Proving Ground 12 Teresa Kaltenbacher ADVISORS David Andrews Lighthouses within the National Park System 15 Editor, NPS compiled by Candace Clifford Joan Bacharach Museum Registrar, NPS Moving a Lighthouse— Randall J. Biallas Historical Architect, NPS A Brief History of the Efforts to Restore Drum Point Lighthouse 19 Susan Buggey Ralph Eshelman Director, Historical Services Branch Parks Canada Pros and Cons of Moving Lighthouses 20 John A. Burns Architect, NPS Ralph Eshelman Harry A. Butowsky Historian, NPS Split Rock Lighthouse—Interpretation at Historic Lighthouses 22 Pratt Cassity Lee Radzak Executive Director, National Alliance of Preservation Commissions Muriel Crespi Relocation of the Highland Lighthouse, North Truro, MA 25 Cultural Anthropologist NPS Joseph J. Jakubik Mark R. Edwards Director, Historic Preservation Division, Preservation Education at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse 26 State Historic Preservation Officer Georgia Roger E. Kelly David Pinyerd Archeologist NPS Antoinette J. Lee Keeping the Lights for Kids 29 Historian, NPS Elinor De Wire John Poppeliers International Liaison Officer for Cultural Resources, NPS Documenting Historic Lighthouses 32 Todd Croteau CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Stephen A. Morris South Manitou Island Light Station— Certified Local Governments (CLG) Coordinator, NPS A Collection of Diverse and Inter-related Cultural Resources 33 Kay D. Weeks Technical Writer-Edicor, NPS Michelle Smay and Terri Seltz
CONSULTANTS Partners in Lighthouse Preservation 35 Wm. H. Freeman Wayne Wheeler Design, Imagng, Production-Freeman Publishing Services Janice C. McCoy Edicing—Edicorial Notes Lighthouse Management—A Balancing Act by the U.S. Coast Guard 37 David Reese and Robert Browning Cover photo: Drum Point Lighthouse, MD. See story, page 19.
An electronic version of this issue of CRM can be accessed through the CRM homepage at
Statements of fact and views are the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily reflect an opinion or endorsement on the part of the editors, the CRM advisors and consultants, or the National Park Service. Send articles, news items, and correspondence to the Editor CRM (2250), U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service, Cultural Resources, 1849 C St., NW, Washington, DC 20240; (202-343-3395, Fax 202-343-5260; email;
2 CRM N^S—1997 Candace Clifford New Priorities for Lighthouse Keepers
he increasing popularity of light nership with the U.S. Coast Guard, DoD Legacy houses in American culture is Management Program, and the U.S. Lighthouse reflected in their frequent use in Society to address issues related to maintaining Tlogos, product labels, backdrops for and preserving these unique structures. One of the television commercials, settings for novels, and resulting products, to be published this summer, is as subjects of newspaper articles, picture books, the Historic Lighthouse Preservation Handbook, web sites, and television documentaries. which focuses on the diverse environmental and Throughout our nation's history, lighthouses have maintenance problems associated with the many served not only as vital aids to mariners, but also different materials and construction techniques as popular tourist destinations. Early on, the U.S. used in these structures. The Handbook will be Lighthouse Service in its General Instructions to made available to every lighthouse manager in the All Light Keepers instructed that "Keepers must country, both public and private. Two of the arti be courteous and polite to all visitors and show cles—"Lighthouse Construction Types" and them everything of interest about the station at "Recent Rehabilitation of Anacapa Island such times as will not interfere with light house duties." Currently, over 255 light stations are known to be accessible to the public, including 34 in our national parks (see sidebar,
One ofThree "Lighthouses within the Sisters Light tov/ers National Park accessible at Cape System"). In addition Cod National to popular tourist desti Seashore in nations as parks and Massachusetts. NPS photo by Candace museums, lighthouses Clifford, 1995. also serve as inns, youth hostels, research and educational facili ties, Coast Guard hous ing, nature preserves, and private homes. The National Maritime Initiative, part of the Park Service's National Register, History, and Education Programs, compiled an inventory of 632 light sta Lighthouse: A Case Study"—are taken from this tions around the country which was published as handbook. the 1994 Inventory of Historic Light Stations. Both the Anacapa Island case study and the Although the published version is currently out of article on the Pooles Island stabilization project at print, the Initiative continues to update the com Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland outline the puterized inventory. In 1994, the Initiative and the logistical challenges of performing preservation Park Service's Historic Preservation Training work in isolated locations which are subject to Center (formerly the Williamsport Historic harsh marine environments. Interagency coopera- Training Center) entered into a cooperative part
CRM N2 8—1997 3 tion and the support of local communities are key recently and discuss the feasibility of developing to the success of these preservation projects. an American Lighthouse Center and Museum; its "Lighthouse Management: A Balancing Act mission would be to broaden the public's appreci by the U.S. Coast Guard" points out challenges ation and understanding of America's lighthouse faced by the agency with the responsibility of heritage. The hope is that this facility would not maintaining the majority of this nation's light only create a museum, but also be an archive and houses. Given limited funding and personnel, the foster research; conduct a variety of educational Coast Guard has developed a system whereby programs; support other lighthouse museums, lighthouse properties are leased or transferred to organizations, and sites; and serve as a central outside groups who will maintain and preserve clearinghouse for public inquiry and assistance. them. Generally in these situations the Coast Much has been accomplished in the preser Guard retains access only to the optic and/or fog vation of lighthouses over the last decade, but signal. Most recently, much public attention has there are still many challenges facing the caretak focused on the Coast Guard's transfer of 36 light ers of this popular resource. Over the next several houses along the coast of Maine to the Island years, the Initiative will continue its work with the Institute which will in turn lease them to groups U.S. Coast Guard by assisting them in nominating able to care for them under the "Maine Lights for listing in the National Register those historic Program." Another large group of lighthouses are lighthouses under their jurisdiction that are eligi also being excessed in Michigan. "Partners in ble but have not been listed. The resulting multi Lighthouse Preservation" gives the perspective of ple property nomination documentation form the U.S. Lighthouse Society on how these (MPDF) will include a general context statement public/private partnerships evolved and have suc about the significance of the U.S. Lighthouse ceeded. Service in American history, an overview of the Two articles describe relocating lighthouses, various lighthouse construction types, and a gen an expensive, but often necessary activity to save eral guideline for registration requirements for the structures: "Moving a Lighthouse: A Brief subsequent nominations. History of the Efforts to Restore Drum Point We live in an era when lighthouses are no Lighthouse" and "Relocation of Highland longer vital aids to navigation, but growing aware Lighthouse, North Truro, Massachusetts." ness of their unique role in our nation's history Currently the Park Service is facing the challenge increases their value in our collective imagination. of moving the Cape Hatteras Light Station away Increasing numbers of citizens, public and private, from the eroding shoreline at Cape Hatteras are willing to devote time and resources to their National Seashore. This nationally-significant preservation. Their efforts should be welcomed lighthouse is also the subject of a National Historic and augmented with encouragement and assis Landmark nomination being prepared by the tance whenever possible. Initiative. Lighthouse education is taking many differ Candace Clifford is a consultant to the National ent forms. "Split Rock Lighthouse: Interpretation at Park Service's National Maritime Initiative through Historic Lighthouses" discusses onsite education a cooperative agreement with the National for the general public. "Preservation Education at Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers Cape Blanco Lighthouse" describes the use of a (NCSHPO). lighthouse owners and managers who lighthouse in a project by university students. have not already requested a copy of the Historic "Keeping the Lights for Kids" shows how the Lighthouse Preservation Handbook or wish to appreciation of lighthouses can start at an early update their entries in the computerized light station age and enhance social studies curriculum. database, may contact her by writing to National The increasing popularity of lighthouses and Maritime Initiative, National Park Service (2280), the need for a national constituency to further their 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240 or by preservation was in part the impetus for members email to
4 CRM N2 8—1997 Lighthouse Construction Types
ost lighthouses can be catego rized by construction method, Example of an off shape, building material, or shore skeletal foundation types. A lighthouse tower, Sombrero M can also be classified as terrestrial or aquatic, Key Lighthouse i.e., onshore or offshore. The majority of today's (1858), Florida. Photo of lighthouse 634 lighthouses are land based; close to one- in 1959 courtesy fourth of them have foundations built in the U.S. Coast Guard water. The major construction types for historic Historian's Office. lighthouses described below are wooden, masonry, wave-swept, concrete, cast-iron plate, skeletal, straightpile, screwpile, diskpile, crib, caisson, and Texas tower. Lighthouses were built on land, in the water, on islands, on top of ledges and cliffs, on breakwaters and piers, on caissons, and at least five are on fort walls. Some light towers are stand-alone structures, while Politics, need, cost, location, and geography others are attached or integral to the keeper's of the site, as well as technology available at the quarters or fog signal building. In addition to a time of construction influenced lighthouse light tower, a land-based light station could con designs. Before the mid-19th century, lighthouse sist of a keeper's quarters, oil house, fog signal construction technology required solid rock or building, workshop, cisterns, privy, landing other stable foundation soils; onshore towers wharf, boathouse and ways, barn, roads, walks, sometimes proved inadequate to warn ships off a and fences. shoal located offshore. In some locations, a lighted buoy or a lightship solved this problem. Riverine and estuarine environments, however, often had unstable muddy and/or sandy bottoms which could not support the heavy masonry tow ers then in vogue. In areas such as the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River delta, and the coral reefs of the Florida Keys, the development of newer technology using screwpile, diskpile, cais son, and skeletal tower lighthouse construction was essential to adequately lighting the marine hazards. Wooden tower. Most early wooden towers have burned and/or been replaced; however, at least 71 wooden towers are still in existence. Prospect Harbor Lighthouse (1891) in Maine is a good example of a stand-alone, conical wooden light tower. Plymouth (Gurnet Point) Lighthouse (1843) in Massachusetts is the earliest surviving wooden tower. Plymouth (Gurnet Point) Lighthouse Masonry tower. Masonry towers were con (1843), structed of rubble stone, cut stone (dressed Massachusetts, is stone), brick, or concrete. Masonry is the most the eariiest surviv popular lighthouse construction material with at ing wooden tower. least 203 surviving towers constructed of brick Photo by Candace Clifford, 1995, cour and another 123 of stone. The oldest standing tesy NPS. masonry light tower in the United States is the 85'
CRM N2 8—1997 5 The second Cape tall Sandy Hook Lighthouse (1764) in New Jersey Henry Lighthouse built of cut stone. Towers over 150' high are (1881), Virginia, is the tallest cast- referred to as tall towers. The 208' Cape Hatteras iron-plate tower in Lighthouse (1870) in North Carolina is the tallest the U.S. at 163'. lighthouse in the United States. Photo courtesy Wave-swept tower. Wave-swept lighthouses NPS. were built on low rocks or submarine ledges and constructed of interlocking stones to withstand the fury and power of waves in heavy seas. One of the first wave-swept towers built in the United States was the 114' Minot's Ledge Lighthouse
(1860) offshore in Massachusetts which replaced a pile-type lighthouse that was destroyed by a storm. It was considered the "most important engineering work" constructed by the Lighthouse Board at the time.
Construction draw Concrete tower. Concrete towers began to ing for the skeletal replace brick masonry towers at the beginning of tower for Cape the 20th century; a tower of reinforced concrete Charles Light was first used in the United States at the 115'-tall Station (1895), Virginia. Drawing Point Arena Lighthouse (1908) in California. At courtesy the least 46 concrete towers exist today. National Archives. Cast-iron-plate tower. Cast iron was lighter than stone or brick, relatively inexpensive, strong, watertight, and had a slow rate of deterioration. The second Cape Henry Lighthouse (1881) in Virginia is the tallest cast-iron-plate tower in the United States at 163' high. Steel and wrought-iron plate was also sometimes used. This construction type can be dismantled and moved. Skeletal tower. Onshore skeletal towers were built of metal and were typically constructed on concrete foundations. Offshore skeletal towers were also built of metal and typically constructed with straight or screwpile foundations (discussed below). Manitou Island Lighthouse (1861) and Whitefish Point Lighthouse (1861) in Michigan, both built from the same plan, were the earliest onshore skeletal towers built in the United States. Like the cast-iron-plate tower, skeletal towers could also be dismantled and moved. There are at least 130 existing iron lighthouse towers of both
6 CRM N2 8—1997 Thomas Point the cast-iron plate and skeletal variety with Shoals Lighthouse another 56 built of steel. (1875), Maryland, the only screwpile Straightpile. The pile foundation lighthouse lighthouse remain utilized the principal of least resistance. Waves ing in situ on the would pass through rather than crash against the Chesapeake Bay. foundation. This design of lighthouse structure Photo by R. 6. was used offshore, even in wave-swept locations. Ressler, 1990, courtesy USCG. The earliest surviving straightpile tubular skeletal tower lighthouse is Sombrero Key Lighthouse (1858) in Florida. Screwpile. To increase the holding power of Construction draw the pile, a screw-like flange was fastened to the ing detailing the bottom of the pile and wound like a screw into caisson foundation the substrate. There are two principal screwpile for Baltimore type lighthouses: low spider-like foundations for Lighthouse (1908), Maryland. Drawing rivers, bays, and sounds and tall offshore coastal courtesy National towers. Perhaps as many as 100 spider-like screw Archives. pile lighthouses were built throughout the
Carolina sounds, the Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay, along the Gulf of Mexico, and one even at Maumee Bay (1855) on Lake Erie in Ohio. Thomas Point Shoals Lighthouse (1875) in Maryland is the oldest extant, unmoved, spider like screwpile lighthouse in the United States. Some offshore screwpile skeletal tower light houses built on coral reefs used foot plates or disks to help disperse the weight of the tower. The first of the tall skeletal screwpile coastal towers built in the United States was Carysfort Reef Lighthouse (1852) in Florida, which still stands. At least 24 lighthouse towers with pile founda tions are known to survive. Crib. The wooden crib, constructed onshore, towed to the site, and then filled with stone to sink it in place was a lighthouse foundation type used extensively in the Great Lakes, usually to replace lightships. Once settled and leveled, the cribs were capped with concrete or some other masonry upon which the lighthouse structure was constructed. Perhaps the two most significant crib foundation lighthouses are the 93' Spectacle Reef Lighthouse (1874) on Lake Huron in Michigan, located 10 miles from the closest land; and the 110' Stannard Rock Lighthouse (1882) on Lake Superior in Michigan, located 23 miles from the nearest land. Crib foundations were best suited for hard rock bottoms typically found in the Great Lakes. Thirty-eight lighthouses with crib founda tions are known to survive. Caisson. Caisson foundations were best suited for unconsolidated bottoms composed of sand or mud. The caisson lighthouse type used a large cast-iron cylinder, which was sunk on the
CRM N2 8—1997 7 Chesapeake Maryland, is an early surviving example. Where Lighthouse, a Texas bottoms were harder, contained rocks, and/or tower at the entrance to the needed greater depth of penetration into the sub Chesapeake Bay in strate, the pneumatic process was used. The sub Virginia. Courtesy strate within the caisson was removed and the U.S. Coast Guard caisson allowed to sink further into the bottom. Historian's Office. Eleven pneumatic caisson lighthouses were built in the United States. The Sabine Bank Lighthouse (1905) in Texas is the most exposed, located 15 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico—the only suc cessful caisson south of the Chesapeake Bay. Fifty- nine lighthouses exist today with caisson foundations. Texas Tower Type. A relatively recent tech nological development in lighthouse construction was the Texas tower lighthouse type which replaced exposed lightships offshore. These so- called Texas towers were adaptations modeled on the offshore oil drilling platforms first employed off the Texas coast. The first Texas tower lighthouse type in the United States was the Buzzards Bay Light, located in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, and commissioned on November 1, 1961. It has bottom and filled with rock and concrete to form a been extinguished and may be dismantled. A total foundation. The caisson foundation was sturdier of six Texas tower lighthouses have been con and better able to withstand heavy stress than the structed. pile foundation lighthouses, so it is not surprising that caisson lighthouses were built in areas where Adapted from Historic Lighthouse moving ice was a hazard. The Craighill Channel Preservation Handbook section written by Ralph Lower Front Range Lighthouse (1873) in Eshelman
National Lighthouse Organizations U.S. Lighthouse Society Lighthouse Preservation Society 244 Kearny Street - 5th Floor 4 Middle Street San Francisco, CA 94108 Newburyport, MA 01950 (415) 362-7255 (800) 727-2326 (508) 499-0011 USLHS provides its members with Keepers Log, an illustrated quarterly journal, LPS is largely an advocacy and fundrais- lighthouse tours, and a general information ser ing group for lighthouse preservation issues vice on lighthouse and lightship preservation and projects; membership includes the monthly magazine Lighthouse Digest Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers World Wide Web Association Henry Ford Estate For more information on publicly accessi 4901 Evergreen Road ble lighthouses, visit the National Maritime Dearborn, MI 48128 Initiative's site on the World Wide Web, (313) 436-9150
8 CRM N2 8—1997 Wayne Truax Recent Rehabilitation of Anacapa Island Lighthouse A Case Study
nacapa Lighthouse is located on following scope of work was identified and bud Anacapa Island, 11 miles off the geted for $325,000: (Below and top coast of Port Hueneme, California. • replace all broken lantern glass; right) Close-up of Built in 1932, it was the last light • replace the missing vent ball with a new fully the deteriorated A functional replica cast 304 stainless steel (S/S) conditions of house built by the Ll.S. Lighthouse Service. Llntil Anacapa Island the 1995-1996 Coast Guard rehabilitation, vent ball; Lighthouse before Anacapa Lighthouse had never undergone any • replace the severely deteriorated ladder rails rehabilitation and major repairs. on the lantern room roof with 304 S/S replicas; finished metal work Determining the Scope ofWork • restore the solid bronze lantern room door on the lantern after rehabilitation. The Ll.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering and lock to a fully operational condition; Photos courtesy Unit, Oakland's Facility Inspection Team, origi • abate all lead and asbestos coatings; usee. nally identified the need for this rehabilitation • restore all vents to an operational condition; during an inspection of the lighthouse in 1992. • repair all decorative concrete details and The entire lighthouse was in such poor condition structural concrete; • replace all missing ventilation hoods and cov ers with historically-accurate replacement parts fabricated from 304 S/S; • replace the severely deteriorated galvanized iron windows with new galvanized steel win dows; • install new coatings that require minimal maintenance by Coast Guard personnel. Logistics and Planning Because Anacapa Island is home to several endangered bird species, the rehabilitation had to take place during the winter months and be com pleted before the late spring nesting season. The island is difficult to access; all materials had to be brought to and from the site either by boat or heli copter. Transportation costs ranged from $300 per hour for a barge to $500 per hour for helicopter sendees. Constant changing winter weather, rain, that it was labeled the worst lighthouse on the fog, 100 mph winds, and rough sea conditions West Coast. Although most large Coast Guard pro often ruined the best logistical plans. Some days jects normally take five years before being funded, the landing area for the boat would go from calm Anacapa was in such poor condition that it was at 6:00 a.m. to very rough by 10:00 a.m., forcing given a high priority; design work started within the contractor's supply boat to turn around and two years. In late 1994, the architect assigned to wait another day. Other days the wind was so the project made his first site visit. He determined strong that materials could not be delivered by that the best way to repair the badly deteriorated boat or helicopter. Since the island was so remote, cast-iron lantern house was to remove it from the the workers had no choice but to stay on the concrete tower via heavy-lift helicopter and trans island for four days at a time and work ten-hour port it to the mainland for overhaul. Further inves days. tigation, however, disclosed several Everyone learned just how abruptly work insurmountable obstacles; the architect was forced could come to a stop when equipment broke down to consider a more conventional but far from easy or supplies failed to arrive. There was no quick onsite rehabilitation of the entire lighthouse. The run to the parts store or to the equipment rental
CRM NS 8—1997 9 center. A breakdown was either corrected onsite or All the broken bronze bolts on the lanternhouse the work was delayed until parts could be brought window mullions were replaced with marine grade out to fix it. Sometimes the work could be post silicone bronze instead of stainless steel. Use of poned until another scheduled supply run was the silicone bronze bolts also removed any con made to the island. There were a few times, how cerns of dissimilar metal reaction, and they are ever, when the helicopter had to fly out with noth equal in strength to stainless steel for this applica ing but a small part because no one else was tion. coming out to the island for several days. A simple Because the lanternhouse was sealed off $30 item then cost the contractor $250 in heli from the rest of the tower while being blasted, copter services. chemical stripping of the paint could take place on Dissimilar Metals the exterior tower walls and windows. The stripper Anacapa Lighthouse did not have damage was water-based and applied by brush and airless caused by dissimilar metals; however, a lot of new sprayer. After soaking for at least 1 1/2 hours, it stainless steel (S/S) replacement parts were intro was scraped off. The stripped area was then neu duced and care taken to prevent any future prob tralized with water and finished with power sand lems. A barrier was applied in all cases where S/S ing where necessary. The interior lead-painted was attached to the cast-iron or bronze areas of walls which were originally only to be lightly the lanternhouse. S/S fasteners were coated with a scraped and painted were causing problems. The modern anti-seize compound to prevent galvanic paint was so old and brittle it continually flaked reaction and to take the place of the original white off. The abatement contractor asked for a change lead. A thick gasket made of roofing felt and order to completely remove the paint because the coated with a silicone caulk was installed between current finished product was proving to be unac the new S/S vents, vent hoods, and cast-iron ceptable. Chemical stripping of the interior walls lanternhouse walls. The gasket was made from 15 had been selected over light blasting to save on lb. roofing felt which was inexpensive, easy to the costs of transporting more blasting media to apply, and did not crush when the vents were the island. Air-driven needle gun scalers using low bolted in place. Installing the new S/S ladder rail pressure air, however, proved to be a more cost- ring stanchions required a two-step process. First effective method. The paint was so brittle, it shat a coat of primer was applied and allowed to dry. tered when struck by the needles, leaving the Then a heavy coat of primer was applied and the concrete virtually paint free. There was no damage stanchions were installed while the primer was to the concrete and only lead paint chips were left still wet creating a watertight seal. This last step to be swept up and disposed of. This method could was needed because when the original stanchions not be used on the exterior concrete because of the were removed, a heavy coat of red lead was found 3/8" white mortar skim coat that had been applied sealing the joint. as a finish coat when the light was built in 1932. On previous lighthouse rehabilitations, bro After the interior walls were complete, the ken bolts were replaced with 316 S/S to avoid cast-iron spiral stair case was the last item to be painting the non-ferrous metal on more recent abated. The blaster started at the top floor of the rehabilitations; however, a bolt that would develop lantern house and backed his way to the front a green patina to match the mullions was selected. doors. This process took three days and prevented
The rehabilitation of Anacapa Island Lighthouse took place during the winter months, so no repair work could begin until the contractor completed an enclosure around the lighthouse.The enclosure served several pur poses: containment of hazardous materials, protection of workers from severe weather, and a dry environment for the repair, prepping, and painting of the lighthouse. The first step in building the enclosure was the erecting of a scaffolding completely around the 30' concrete tower. Next was a weather-tight plywood enclosure for the cast-iron lanternhouse, complete with pitched roof to shed heavy rain.The final step was sealing the scaf folding in heavy shrink-wrap to provide weather protec tion and containment of any hazardous materials.The entire enclosure phase of the project took two weeks because of difficulties in handling the plywood and applying the shrink wrap in high winds. After the enclo sure was complete, all deteriorated metal pieces that were scheduled to be replaced and did not require abrasive blasting were removed. Photos courtesy USCG.
10 CRM NQ 8—1997 Close-up of the damaged concrete gallery deck after the loose concrete has been removed and before the damaged concrete was repaired using pressure-injected epoxy grout. The finished concrete repair is virtually invisible after the surface has been painted. Photos courtesy USCG. any other interior work from taking place because rebar was then covered, packed, and reshaped of the dust. After the blasting was complete, the with a two-part Sika Flex product. entire structure was swept and vacuumed before One major area of concern was the concrete being rinsed down to remove the remaining dust. gallery deck located outside the lanternhouse. This The water did cause flash rusting on the newly deck had considerable damage in two areas with blasted cast-iron staircase but that was expected out any evidence of the cause. The outer rebar and did not pose a problem. All surfaces were then showed signs of corrosion but the damage went 18 wire brushed, prepped, and primed by a three-man to 24 inches deeper into the concrete. Since freez team who only prepped what they could prime ing was not an issue, the cause of the damage was within an hour. Although the primer used was at first unknown. Closer examination revealed designed for use over flash-rust, we did not want to signs of an explosion inside the concrete, and we chance a coating failure. Generic paint systems noticed bolt patterns for two old antenna mounts were selected based on durability, performance directly above the area. We determined lightning to over minimally prepared surfaces, non-toxicity, and be the cause. There was no practical way to dig out permeability. the broken concrete; the project was already over Concrete Repair budget. We decided to do a pressurized epoxy The 3/8" white mortar finish coat that had injection and fill all the voids. The area was been applied over the exterior concrete when the prepped and pumped full. The outer three inches light was built in 1932 was not identified in any of were left unfilled so the two-part mortar patching the original drawings. As a result, no one looked compound could be used to restore the damaged during the work site visit for signs of delamination. area. After the scaffolding was in place, however, several areas were found to be loose between the 10- and Wayne Truax was formerly Chief Warrant Officer 30' elevations. The foreman became concerned that with the U.S. Coast Guard Civil Engineering Unit in other unidentified delaminated Oakland, California. areas would fall out after the job was complete and ruin his work. The foreman inspected the entire tower and found an additional 100 square feet of delaminated mortar. After receiving approval to repair any bad mortar, he person ally chipped away all the loose mortar and applied a two-part masonry patch material. The repair work was of such high quality that the patches were unnoticeable when the tower was repainted. Of the 12 tower windows, eight required extensive exterior concrete repairs. Rusted rebar Views of finished had spalled the concrete and caused severe dam lantern and overall shot of the rehabili age. The old rebar was removed, new holes drilled tated lighthouse. and the new rebar epoxy injected in place. The Photos courtesy USCG and NPS.
CRM NS 8—1997 11 Teresa Kaltenbacher Pooles Island Lighthouse Stabilization Project Cultural Resource Management at Aberdeen Proving Ground
ocated on the northwest side of the Cleaning and Logistics upper Chesapeake Bay, Pooles Logistics proved to be a challenge: the light Island is situated at the mouth of house is located on an island several miles from L the Gunpowder and Bush Rivers in the mainland and there is no access to electricity Harford County, Maryland. Constructed in 1825 or fresh water. The Aberdeen Test Center (ATC) by master builder John Donahoo of Havre de was called in to transport a 1200-gallon water Grace, Maryland, Pooles Island Lighthouse is the tank and all the materials and tools needed for the oldest standing lighthouse in the state. The bea job. Since a pier only existed at Pooles Island in con is a conical, land-based masonry tower the mid-to-late 19th century, an all-terrain forklift standing 40' high, with a cast-iron lantern at the aboard a barge with a landing ramp maneuvered top. The original lantern, built of wood with a onto the sandy shore to deliver the items. soapstone floor, was similar to one at Concord Many of the structural aspects of the project Point Lighthouse. The rough cut granite used for were completed in the summer of 1996. Within the tower was locally quarried in Port Deposit, the Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) organization, Maryland. The existing door, believed to be an the Directorate of Public Works (DPW) Lead original, is made out of mahogany. None of the Abatement Team wire-brushed, primed, and windows remain, and the three openings were painted the cast-iron lantern with a hi-gloss acrylic bricked in some time ago. polyurethane enamel top coat in black. The primer Current Preservation Efforts used was a moisture-cured urethane aluminum Before commencement of the stabilization coating, designed to adhere to rusty metal sur project, the Pooles Island Lighthouse was in fair faces. These high quality industrial coatings are structural condition with the exception of some designed to resist extreme weather conditions, and major areas of mortar joint failures and cracks. should endure for at least five years. The DPW The poor condition of the joints allowed sand to team also cleaned the dark stain around the mid continually blow into and against the lighthouse. section of the masonry tower with a phosphate- Left unaddressed, the joints would have continued free detergent, low pressure washer, and scrub to deteriorate, compromising the integrity of the brushes. The pressure was set at 1500 psi and structure. In order for the lighthouse to retain its increased to 3000 psi at some locations of heavy architectural integrity, including its overall design, staining. The rust on the lighthouse was caused by materials, and setting associated with its original organic residue from the ivy growing on it for 19th-century construction, immediate stabilization many years, algae and mildew buildup, and quite actions were imperative. Since a pier only At the prompting of existed at Pooles Aberdeen Proving Ground's Island in the mid- higher command who recognized to-late 19th cen tury, an all-terrain the historical significance of the forklift aboard a lighthouse, a major restoration barge with a land and stabilization project was ing ramp maneu undertaken by the Cultural vered onto the Resource Office. This task con sandy shore to deliver all the mate sisted of several phases: cleaning rials and tools the structure, logistics, actual sta needed for the job. bilization, and visual elements. Photo courtesy In adhering to requirements for Aberdeen Proving Ground. National Register-eligible proper ties, all stabilization work met the guidelines as established by the Secretary of the Interior and the National Park Service.
12 CRM N2 8—1997 Acrylic panes were mined after consulting with installed in the historic preservation experts, lantern with stain less steel clips and following the guidelines pro bolts that utilized vided by GenLime, and assess the existing cast- ing the current condition of the iron lantern para granite and weather exposure. pet for support/'' The Coast Guard com This method ensured secure bined the materials with a installation without cement mixer powered by a alteration of the generator, as well as by mixing lantern itself.The the mortar the old-fashioned existing lantern vents, the opera way with a hoe and a mud tional ventilator pan. According to the master ball, and the mason on the team, the result unsealed acrylic ing mortar was easy to work panes all con with and set up nicely. Unlike tribute to the posi tive air flow straight portland and sakrete throughout the mortar mixes, the lime putty lighthouse. possibly rust accumulation from rainwater drip mortar will prevent efflores Courtesy Aberdeen cence, and its self-healing properties will repair Proving Ground. ping from the lantern over a long period of time. Masonry Tower Stabilization fine cracks that will occur over time. The flexibility The actual mortar repair work was per of the mortar will also compensate for the formed by the U.S. Coast Guard Reserves inevitable contraction and expansion resulting Lighthouse Maintenance Unit. Based out of Curtis from weather extremes, protecting the friable gran Bay, Maryland, this 10-member team spent its ite from further deterioration. two-week annual training stabilizing the light Visual Elements house. The active-duty Coast Guard donated per The DPW Carpentry Shop handcrafted six- sonnel and its new "Buoy Boat" to deliver the over-six double-hung sashes for replacement-in- necessary equipment. After erecting scaffolding kind windows. Before the construction of the three and anchoring bowson's seats onto the lantern, the pine windows, ventilation was a major concern. men opened up the bricked-in windows and began This issue was handled by leaving out one top and the tedious process of re-pointing the existing mor one bottom pane of glass to facilitate air flow tar. This work consisted of scraping out loose mor through the lighthouse. From a distance, the open tar from the joints and replacing it with a freshly panes are barely visible, and present a more com mixed mortar that was intended to duplicate the plete image than permanently opening the lower original mortar as closely as possible. The mortar sash. The windows were painted white as histori was then softly brushed to even out the seams and cally indicated on a 1910 photograph of the light provide a uniform appearance. The exterior was house. not pargeted, as historic photos illustrated that it Vandalism was another consideration before had never received a smooth stucco finish. One replacing the windows. Pooles Island is off limits particular area under a window needed extensive to the public at all times, and the area is randomly repair, as the granite had fallen out and left a gap patrolled by the Federal Marine Police. ing hole in the side of the lighthouse. Nevertheless, the lighthouse has been defaced in Components of the mortar included aggre the past. One solution was to install ventilated gate (sand conforming to ASTM C144), white port- 1/4" acrylic panes directly onto the frame of the land cement (ASTM CI50), and lime putty (ASTM wooden windows. These protective panels can be C5-79 and ASTM C207)—a new product designed removed at a later date if necessary, and do not specifically for historic restoration projects. significantly affect the overall appearance of the Manufactured by GenLime Group, Niagara Mature lighthouse. Lime Putty is a fully slaked, pure, aged dolomitic Acrylic panes were also installed in the lime mined in northwestern Ohio. This ready-to- lantern with stainless steel clips and bolts that uti use putty, when mixed with aggregate, had great lized the existing cast-iron lantern parapet for sup workability and plasticity, with enough tensile port. * This method ensured secure installation strength to accommodate structural movement, without alteration of the lantern itself. The existing plus flexibility to absorb normal stresses from lantern vents, the operational ventilator ball, and winds and vibration. The ratio of materials used the unsealed acrylic panes all contribute to the was 1:1:6 of lime putty, portland cement, and sand positive air flow throughout the lighthouse. respectively. Appropriate amounts were deter
CRM N2 8—1997 13 After the mortar had cured for over two Army to repair the interior as one of their weekend months, the lighthouse needed the final touches of drills. paint. Tim Hamilton, a local Aberdeen area resi An in-house maintenance team will be orga dent and painter by trade, volunteered his time to nized to check on the condition of the lighthouse paint the lighthouse. Assisted by two Cultural periodically. Any minor joint failures and other Resource employees, the job was finished in sev potential problems can then be corrected on a reg eral days. High-quality, Sherwin Williams prod ular basis. Finally, the U.S. Army would like to ucts were applied to the masonry tower. A heavy relight the beacon as a "private aid to navigation." coat of Loxon Exterior Masonry Acrylic Primer in The Cultural Resource Office is awaiting the white designed to resist efflorescence and prep the required paperwork from the Coast Guard. A plas surface was applied. The following day, tic Fresnel lens and a solar panel, similar to what SuperPaint Exterior Latex Flat House & Trim in is in place at nearby Turkey Point Lighthouse, will white was applied using several lambswool rollers. be used for illumination. A paint sprayer was deemed unsuitable because of By implementing restoration projects such as the constant wind on the island and the light the one at Pooles Island, the U.S. Army Garrison house's proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. at Aberdeen Proving Ground, in cooperation with Future Plans for the Pooles Island Lighthouseth e DSHE-ECRD Cultural Resource Program, con The only remaining exterior work to be tinues to prove its ongoing commitment to pre accomplished is replacing the mahogany door. serve our nation's heritage. The undertaking at the According to Dr. Ralph Eshelman, a consultant to lighthouse demonstrates that in-house coopera the Maryland Historic Trust, the tongue-and- tion, interagency military coalitions, and commu groove door is identical to the one at Concord nity support can work together to get the job done. Point Lighthouse, and is probably an original. An outline of the iron key box remains on the door, Note and the cast-iron hinges are still intact. A sizable * Use of acrylic is acceptable as a temporary protec piece of the lower left-hand side of the door tive measure; however, glass should be used as a appears to have been scraped and burned away. permanent solution as acrylic breaks down with Many of the sup Plans for the door include replacement-in-kind exposure to UV and salt etching. plies and much of the labor needed and sealing the wood with a UV protectant. The to rehabilitate original door will be displayed in the Cultural and References Pooles Island Natural Resource Visitor's Learning Center. In Goodwin, R. Christopher & Associates, Inc., National Lighthouse were addition, Terminix of Harford County has volun Register of Historic Places Nomination Form, 1994. contributed by the teered its services to treat the lighthouse for pests. community. Speweik, John P., The History of Masonry Mortar in Courtesy Aberdeen The interior of the lighthouse is also in need America: 1720-1995 (Arlington, VA: National Lime Proving Ground. of extensive repair. The exposed mortar is much Association, 1995). softer and more fri able than that of the Teresa Kaltenbacher is an environmental planner exterior; the joint with the U.S. Army Garrison, Aberdeen Proving repairs made by the Ground, DSHE-ECRD, Cultural Resource Office, lighthouse keeper(s) Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. over the years were most likely exterior This research was supported, in part, by an rather than interior, appointment to a Postgraduate Internship in the using more portland Cultural Resources Program within the Directorate cement as it became of Safety, Health and the Environment at available. Analysis of Aberdeen Proving Ground, administered by the the inside mortar Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education reveals only lime and through an interagency agreement between the sand, with bits of hair U.S. Department of Energy and United States and other materials; Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive no oyster shell was Medicine. Thanks also to the personnel of the U.S. noted. The U.S. Coast Coast Guard (Active and Reserve); Tim Hamilton, Guard Lighthouse Hamilton Painting; and Mrs. Peg Cohee, for his Maintenance Reserve toric family photos and oral history. Unit has offered their services to the LLS.
14 CRM N2 8—1997 Ope/7 to the Public: Grounds only Lighthouses within the Access: Boat from Fisherman's Wharf Phone: 415-556-0560
National Park System Point Bonita Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service California Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: 12:30-3:30 on weekends Cabrillo National Monument, San Diego: Access: Off U.S. 101 (requires one-mile walk from parking lot) Point Loma Light (Old) P/70/7e: 415-331-1540 Owner/Manager: National Park Service Current Use: National Park exhibit Point Reyes National Seashore, Inverness: Open to the Public: Open daily Point Reyes Light Access: 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive (Route 209) Owner/Manager: National Park Service/U.S. Coast Guard Phone: 619-557-5450 Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Thursday through Monday (10-4:30) Access: Sir Francis Drake Blvd. off U.S. Route 1 (requires 1/4 mile walk to visitor center and 308 steps to reach lighthouse) Phone: 415-669-1534
Florida
Dry Tortugas National Park, Key West Dry Tortugas (Loggerhead Key) Light Owner/Manager: National Park Service/U.S. Coast Guard (optic only) Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Self-guided tour Access: Boat Phone: 305-242-7700
Tortugas Harbor (Fort Jefferson) Light Owner/Manager: National Park Service
The 40' Point Loma Lighthouse (1855), one of the first lighthouses built on the Current Use: National Park exhibit West Coast, sits on a cliff bringing its focal height to 462'. Photo by Kirby Open to the Public: Grounds only Harris, courtesy Cabrillo National Monument. Access: Boat or seaplane from Key West Phone: 305-242-7700
Channel Islands National Park, Port Hueneme: Anacapa Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Grounds only Access: Boat from Ventura Phone: 805-658-5700
Fort Point National Historic Site, San Francisco: Fort Point Light Owner/Manager: National Park Service Current Llse: National Park exhibit Open to the Public: Fort open Wednesday through Sunday Access: Marine Dr. N. of Crissy Field (under south anchorage of Golden Gate Bridge) Phone: 415-556-1693
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco:
Alcatraz Island Light The Tortugas Harbor Lighthouse (1876) was constructed of wrought iron because a Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service brick structure on the wall of the Fort would create dangerous fragments if hit by an Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park exploding shell. Photo by Ralph Eshelman, 1996 courtesy NPS.
CRM NQ 8—1997 15 Georgia Open to the Public: Tours and open houses during summer sea son; grounds open daily Fort Pulaski National Monument, Tybee Island: Access: Cable Road off Ocean View Dr. (short walk) Cockspur Island Light Phone: 508-255-3421 Owner/Manager: National Park Service Current Use: National Park exhibit Also visible within the park, but not accessible to the public: Open to the Public: Self-guided tour Cape Cod (Highland) Light, Nauset Beach Light, and Race Access: Private boat Point Light. Phone: 912-786-5787 Michigan Maine Isle Royale National Park, Houghton: Acadia National Park: Isle Royale Light Baker Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard Nearest City: Islesford Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Open to the Public: Grounds only Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Access: Private boat Open to the Public: Grounds open summers Phone: 906-487-7153 Access: Boat Passage Island Light Phone: 207-288-3338 Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard Bass Harbor Head Light Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Nearest City: Bass Harbor Open to the Public: Grounds only Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard Access: Concession boat Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Phone: 906-487-7153 Open to the Public: Grounds only Rock Harbor Light Access: Routes 3 and 102 Owner/Manager: National Park Service Phone: 207-288-3338 Current Use: National Park Bear Island Light is also within park boundaries but is not Ope/7 to the Public: Self-guided tour/tower open daily during sum accessible to the public. mers Access: Concession boat PhonK 906-487-7153 Maryland Rock Of Ages Light Fort Washington Park, Fort Washington: Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard Fort Washington Light Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Open to the Public: Grounds only Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Access: Private boat Open to the Public: Grounds open daily Phone: 906-487-7153 Access: Rt. 210 to Fort Washington Road Phone: 301-763-4600 Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, Grand Marais: Au Sable Light Owner/Manager: National Park ServiceAJ.S. Coast Guard (optic) Massachusetts Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Guided tours during summer/grounds open Salem Maritime National Historic Site, Salem: daily Derby Wharf Light Access: Off County Road H58 Owner/Manager: National Park ServiceAJ.S. Coast Guard Phone: 906-387-2607 Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Self-guided tour or by park guide Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Leland: Access: Pier at Derby Street South Manitou Island Light Phone: 508-740-1660 Owner/Manager: National Park Service Current Use: National Park exhibit Cape Cod National Seashore, Eastham: Ope/7 to the Public: Guided tour of tower Three Sisters Lights (Three Towers) Access: Ferry from Leland Owner/Manager: National Park Service Phone: 616-326-5134 Current Use: National Park
16 CRM NS 8—1997 New Jersey Cape Hatteras Light Nearest City: Buxton Gateway National Recreation Area, Sandy Hook Unit, Highlands: Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Sandy Hook Light Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park/asst. keep Owner/Manager: National Park Service ers is a visitor center Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Visitor center open daily; tower open spring Open to the Public: Grounds only through fall Access: Fort Hancock Historic District at the north end of Sandy Access: Route 12 Hook Phone: 919-995-4474 Phone: 908-872-5970 Ocracoke Island Light Nearest City: Ocracoke Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park/keepers serves as NPS housing Open to the Public: Grounds only Access: Rural Road 1326 Phone: 919-473-2111
Cape Lookout National Seashore, Beaufort: Cape Lookout Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation/keepers is visitors center in National Park Open to the Public: Visitor center open daily Access: Ferry from Harkers Island Phone: 919-728-2250
The Outer Island Fog Signal Building as it looked in 1893. Photo courtesy National Archives. New York
Fire Island National Seashore, West Islip: Fire Island Light Owner/Manager: National Park Service lease to Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Grounds open daily; tower and visitor center open weekends during Spring/Fall, Wednesday through Sunday during summer Access: Robert Moses State Park; parking at Robert Moses Field 5 Phone: 516-661-4876
North Carolina
Cape Hatteras National Seashore: Bodie Island Light Nearest City: Nags Head Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard (tower)/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Grounds open daily/museum in keepers open in summer Cape Hatteras Lighthouse (l870).The tallest lighthouse in the U.S. Access: Route 12 stands 208' from the bottom of its foundation and 197' above ground Phone: 919-473-2111 level. Photo by Candace Clifford, 1994, courtesy NPS.
CRM N2 8—1997 17 Puerto Rico Sand Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service San Juan National Historic Site, San Juan: Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Port San Juan (El Morro) Light Open to the Public: Tower open summers Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Access: NPS concession boat (requires one-mile walk to light Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park house) Open to the Public: Grounds only Phone: 715-779-3397 Access: Fort Also within the park boundaries, but not accessible to public— Phone: 809-729-6653 Chequamegon Point Light and Lapointe (Long Island) Light.
Virginia Other Lights within National Park System Boundaries, but not Accessible George Washington National Memorial Parkway, Alexandria: to the Public— Jones Point Light Owner/Manager: National Park Service Boston Harbor Light, Boston Islands National Recreation Area, Current Use: National Park exhibit Massachusetts Open to the Public: Grounds only Cape Spencer Light, Glacier Bay National Monument, Alaska Access: Off Ll.S. 495 near Woodrow Wilson Bridge Fort Wadsworth Light, Gateway National Recreational Area, Phone: 703-285-2598 Fowey Rocks Light, Biscayne National Park, Florida Molokai (Kalaupapa) Light, next to Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Hawaii Wisconsin Compiled by Candace Clifford from the Inventory of Historic Apostle Island National Lakeshore, Bayfield: Light Stations. Devils Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Tower open summers Access: Boat Phone: 715-779-3397
Michigan Island Light (1st Tower) Owner/Manager: National Park Service Current Use: National Park exhibit Open to the Public: Tower open summers Access: Boat Phone: 715-779-3397
Michigan Island Light (2nd Tower) Owner/Manager: Ll.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Tower open summers Access: Boat Phone: 715-779-3397
Outer Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: Active aid to navigation in National Park Open to the Public: Tower open summers Access: Boat Phone: 715-779-3397
Raspberry Island Light Owner/Manager: U.S. Coast Guard/National Park Service Current Use: National Park Open to the Public: Tower open summers/Living Histoiy Program Access: NPS concession boat The Molokai (Kalaupapa) Light (1909) is adjacent to the Kalaupapa National Phone: 715-779-3397 Historical Park in Hawaii. Photo by Stephen T. Kozosky, 1996.
18 CRM NQ 8—1997 Ralph Eshelman Moving a Lighthouse A Brief History of the Efforts to Restore Drum Point Lighthouse
osting about $5,000, Drum Point Lighthouse was built in 1883 near the mouth of the Patuxent River where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. ThiCs screwpile "cottage-type" lighthouse, one Drum Point Lighthouse keeper of over 40 such structures built in the William Yeatman Chesapeake, safely guided mariners in and out of with his children, Patuxent River for 79 years until it was decom September 9, 1918. The wooden bridge missioned on September 6, 1962. The lighthouse at left connects the property was transferred to the State of Maryland lighthouse to the and plans were made to restore the structure and lived nearby, related that he avoided the point shore. Courtesy open it to the public, but land access to the site because he "could not bear to see the condition of Calvert Marine was blocked by several miles of private property. Museum. the structure." In 1966, the Calvert County Ownership of the property eventually reverted to Historical Society decided to acquire and restore the General Services Administration. the lighthouse as a special project. The federal Abandoned, the lighthouse soon suffered government, however, was unwilling to deed the from a lack of maintenance and vandalism. The land to the society or to the county, and govern lighthouse was originally built off the end of Drum ment funding agencies were unwilling to assist the Point in water deep enough for small boats to pass project until a legal deed was in hand and a viable between it and the shore. Over the years, however, method was found to get the public to the site. As the point accreted so that it was accessible by foot. an interim step to help save the lighthouse, the Vandals easily entered the lighthouse. John historical society was instrumental in having the Hanson, Drum Point's last civilian keeper, who structure listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Much of this article is based on Ralph Eshelman, A Meanwhile, the lighthouse continued to suf History of Drum Point Lighthouse, Special fer. A fire had been started in one room of the Publication no. 1 (Solomons, Maryland: Calvert structure, but fortunately it was extinguished Marine Museum, 1979); and Dennis L. Noble and before major damage resulted. Vandals had by this Ralph Eshelman "A Lighthouse for Drum Point," time torn down all the doors and windows and The Keeper's Log, Summer (1987), pp. 2-9. knocked out the lantern glass; the
In the spring of cast-iron lens pedestal had been 1975, the seven, ripped from the lantern deck and 10"-diameter, solid tossed over the side. There was cast-iron piles of evidence of attempts to loosen the Drum Point the bolts which held the fog bell Lighthouse were severed at the in place. A grass-roots level of water line while a support grew, however, as people 110' boom, steam- learned about the plight of the operated crane lighthouse and efforts underway placed on a barge lifted the entire to save it. A local marine contrac three-story light tor took his barge and crane out house and rested it to the lighthouse and removed on the side of a the fog bell for safekeeping. A barge for its trip to neighbor near the lighthouse the museum. Courtesy Calvert donated the lens pedestal after he Marine Museum. found it lying in the sand.
CRM NS 8—1997 19 Pros and Cons of Moving Lighthouses
ecently, there has been much publicity assembled and re-erected as needed on shifting and over moving several lighthouses in an eroding beaches. The pre-fabricated curved cast-iron Reffort to save them from impending dan panels were easily bolted together or dismantled. gers such as erosion. Relocating lighthouses is not a Cape Canaveral Lighthouse (1868) in Florida, and modern phenomenon. When the Lighthouse Hunting Island Lighthouse (1875) in South Carolina, Establishment approved the first Sharps Island are examples of this design, both subsequently being Lighthouse, built in 1837 in Chesapeake Bay, the successfully moved. plans called for a small wooden keeper's house sur The National Park Service has conducted stud mounted with a lantern and designed with "wheels" ies which conclude the safest method to preserve so it could be easily moved in the event that ero Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, presently being threat sion threatened the structure. The lighthouse was so ened by erosion, is to move it back from the beach moved in 1848, presumably on these wheels. front. Ironically, some citizens argue such a move With advances in building technology, cast- will destroy the integrity of the lighthouse setting. iron-plate towers were designed so they could be dis- Actually, when the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was built in 1870, it was located approximately one-half mile inland to protect it from beach erosion. But ero sion of the beach has encroached to the point where it now endangers the structure. The inland move ment of the lighthouse and its other station struc tures would in reality reflect the setting of the lighthouse as it appeared when it was first com pleted. Should a lighthouse be moved? The best answer is "no," unless the structure is threatened by destruction. While any historic structure is best in its original location, a historic structure in a non-origi nal location is better than no historic structure at all. If a move is necessary to save the structure, every effort should be made to maintain as much of the original station integrity as possible. The lighthouse tower should normally have the same orientation to the water as it had before the move. Other station structures should be similarly moved to demonstrate the same relationship of one structure to the other. Landscaping can also be used to help restore the original setting of the station. Before any move of any historic structure is undertaken, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) should be con tacted. Any historic structure listed in the National Register of Historic Places may lose such designation once moved. If a move is absolutely necessary and approved by the SHPO, the move should be con ducted by a reliable experienced moving company.
—Ralph Eshelman At Cape Hatteras National Seashore sandbags used for shoreline protec tion in front the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse are replaced after a 1994 storm. Photo by Candace Clifford.
20 CRM N2 8—1997 understanding that moving the lighthouse was the best way to ensure its preservation and make it more easily available to the public, the Drum Point Lighthouse was relisted in the National Register. The Calvert Marine Museum was fortunate in that Anna Weems Ewalt, who was born in the lighthouse in 1903, was willing to head up a group to find appropriate furnishings for the interior, largely based on Anna's memory. Anna also donated a few family items such as china that was used in the lighthouse. Additional funding from the Maryland Historical Trust, the historical soci ety, and donations from private sources were used to restore and interpret the lighthouse. The light house was officially dedicated on June 24, 1978, amid much fanfare and officialdom. Then Drum Point After continual lobbying of Congress, the fed Maryland Governor Blair Lee cut the dedication Lighthouse, eral government agreed in 1974 to give the light ribbon. restored and on house, not the land, to the Calvert County The Calvert Marine Museum conducts daily exhibit at its new government. By this time, the historical society tours of the lighthouse. Occasionally, special pro location. Courtesy had established the Calvert Marine Museum. The Calvert Marine grams including living histories are held at the Museum. plan was to seek the funds to move the lighthouse lighthouse. Each Christmas the lighthouse is deco to the grounds of the museum, restore it, interpret rated for the holiday season and open to the pub it, and open it to the public. Thanks to a grant lic. Each spring the museum's volunteer corps from the Maryland Historical Trust, funding the conducts its annual lighthouse cleanup. Curtains, move of the lighthouse rugs, and linens are washed and pressed; the about two nautical entire exterior and interior are thoroughly cleaned; miles to the museum's windows washed inside and out; stove polished; waterfront was accom etc. Local grocery stores and fast food establish plished in the spring of ments donate food for the workers. This spring 1975. Fortunately, cleanup has become an annual ritual, getting the because a new bridge lighthouse ready for the upcoming busy summer was being constructed season. After the cleanup, the museum's maritime nearby, the B. F. curator conducts an annual inspection of the light Diamond Construction house, similar to the earlier white glove inspec Company of Savannah, tions by Lighthouse Board Inspectors. The Georgia, was in the inspection includes a complete review of cleanli right place at the right ness, needed repairs, and long-term maintenance time. The seven, 10"- needs which are then addressed in upcoming bud diameter, solid cast- getary processes. An endowment for the mainte iron piles were severed nance of the lighthouse was also established to at the water line while help meet these costs. a 110' boom, steam- Today the Drum Point Lighthouse is featured operated crane placed in local tourism ads; it is used as a logo by several on a barge lifted the area businesses, and generally is considered a entire three-story light local icon. The dedication of the Calvert County house and rested it on Historical Society, Calvert County Government, the side of a barge for and the Calvert Marine Museum prevented the its trip to the museum. Tugs slowly towed the loss of the lighthouse and turned it into an impor barge, and the crane lifted the lighthouse onto its tant source of community pride and reminder of new foundation while a large crowd gathered to the region's heritage. watch and celebrate the event. Ironically, because the lighthouse was moved Former director of the Calvert Marine Museum, from its original location, the structure was Ralph Eshelman serves as a maritime historian to the removed from listing in the National Register. After National Maritime Initiative of the National Park the move, successful restoration according to the Service through a cooperative agreement with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, with the U.S. Lighthouse Society.
CRM N2 8—1997 21 Lee Radzak Split Rock Lighthouse Interpretation at Historic Lighthouses
Lighthouse visitors The keeper finished cranking the 250-pound are just as inter cast-iron weights up the 40' weight-way tube ested in the day-to running up through the center of the lighthouse. day life at a light station as they are He removed the crank handle from the clockwork in the technical mechanism and pulled a handkerchief from the aspects of the pocket of his midnight-blue wool uniform coat keeper's job. An and wiped a few smears from the polished brass interpreter demon of the lens assembly. As he took a moment to strates wash day— to navigation, they said that Split Rock was "one 1920s style. admire the sparkling prisms of the Fresnel lens he Courtesy Minnesota heard strange voices coming up the spiral stair of the most frequently visited lighthouses in the Historical Society. case. An eager family came puffing into the lens United States." Although Split Rock Lighthouse room to stare wide-eyed at the glittering 4-1/2 was decommissioned as a navigational aid in ton marvel of French technology revolving above 1969, visitors continued to stop at the popular them. They then turned to look out the window at landmark. The light station is now a Minnesota Lake Superior 160' below. "Welcome to Split state historic site; preservation and interpretation Rock Lighthouse," said the keeper. "I'll bet you're are the responsibility of the Minnesota Historical wondering why the lighthouse service would Society (MHS). Visitation peaked at 212,000 in 1989, the year of the Ll.S. Lighthouse Service At an annual build a lighthouse way up on top of this cliff." Children's Day spe bicentennial. cial event at Split his scene could have occurred in With the well-preserved light station and Rock, young people the late 1920s as easily as the late with public interest and high attendance a given, are given an oppor Split Rock was a natural addition to the tunity to record 1990s. The major difference is that impressions of their in the 1990s the "keeper" is a his Minnesota historic site system in 1976. As with all visit to the light toric Tsite interpreter employed by the Minnesota open-air museums, the interpretive program at house. Such activi Historical Society; in the 1920s, he was a light- Split Rock has been developed and customized to ties can make their keeper employed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service. fit specific conditions. Visitation patterns, audi visit more memo ence interest and demographics, the physical envi rable. Courtesy For the first 14 years the Split Rock keepers and Minnesota their families led an isolated existence. But in ronment of the site, availability of historical and Historical Society. 1924 the North Shore highway was opened from research information, and, of course, financial Duluth, Minnesota, to resources, are among some of the considerations the Canadian border; when developing an interpretive plan for any his it ran only a half mile toric site. from the light station. For an interpretive program to succeed at a By the mid-1930s the historic lighthouse, the administering entity needs head lightkeeper was to have a clear vision of what they want visitors to recording 60,000 visi understand about the site. This can only be done tors annually off the by first developing a concise interpretive plan that new highway. The sets objectives for what story is to be told at the lighthouse service told site and how it is to be told. At Split Rock we were him that he should very fortunate: when we began research on the site meet and greet all visi in the mid-1970s, several sons and daughters of tors to the lighthouse the early keepers who actually lived at the light in a clean dress uni station in the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s were help form. In 1939, when ful in providing us with first-hand information the U.S. Coast Guard about life at Split Rock. They were a very valuable assumed responsibility source of anecdotal information, and even pro for the country's aids vided written records and early photographs of life
22 CRM N2 8—1997 at the lighthouse. This information was corrobo ing and that they were dealing with tourist traffic rated by the official logs for the light station that on a regular basis. The highway is a perfect inter were kept by the keepers. From these, and other pretive vehicle or bridge—excuse the puns— archival sources, we had an excellent base of between that historical period and our information on which to build an interpretive pro interpretation of it. Visitors today still travel the gram, as well as good documentation for restora same road to see the same lighthouse, and they tion projects that have returned the buildings and can relate to the historical connection between the grounds to their pre-1924 appearance. keepers and their early visitors. Solid and well-researched documentation Adding a living history component to an provides the fuel that will drive a successful inter interpretive program can greatly enrich a visitor's pretive program. For us, the next step was to look appreciation and understanding of a site and its at the resources we had and how best to present content. If done right, first-person, costumed role- them to the visiting public. First, an interpretive playing can be very effective; however, much care, staff manual was developed. While this is updated forethought, and a high level of commitment to annually, the basic information it contains gives accuracy must accompany the decision. At Split an interpreter a primer in interpretive technique, Rock we had used costumed role playing to a lim as well as an in-depth background on the history ited extent for special events; because of the very of lighthouses, shipping, the Great Lakes, the U.S. positive reception, we have now incorporated it Lighthouse Service, and Split Rock Lighthouse. A into our daily interpretation. Every day, three of detailed interpretive outline for guided tours is our seven interpreters portray either a keeper or a included along with expected learner outcomes for wife of a keeper. A limitation at our site is that each of the stations on a tour. In-depth staff train only the lighthouse and one of the three light- ing, though expensive, is the key to an effective keeper's dwellings is totally restored to the 1920s, and successful interpretive program. Each spring complete with period furnishings, so the first-per we hold two full days of training for our entire son interpretation is most effective inside these The lives of the staff of 22 to 24 employees. two buildings. Split Rock light- After being open to the public for 20 years, If living history is to be done with any credi keepers and their families in the Split Rock Lighthouse historic site's program bility, it has to be done right. That means no short 1920s is portrayed evolved into one that gives visitors a variety of cuts on costuming—accurate period keepers' uni for visitors to the options for touring the light station. For the casual forms and 1920s vintage reproduction house site by present-day visitors, self-guiding brochures allow them to see dresses for the women. Only appropriate jewelry interpretive staff and hairstyles are to be worn by costumed inter and volunteers. the buildings and grounds of the light station at Courtesy their own pace and to interact with stationed preters, and even the language and slang that the Minnesota interpreters as they wish. Hour-long guided tours interpreters use while in character have to fit the Historical Society. are led by site interpreters to seven tour stations, 1920s. Since the time period that we are interpret or stops, on the light ing at Split Rock is relatively recent we do not por station. Beginning in tray actual keepers and family members that the 1996 season, the served at Split Rock Lighthouse. Instead, through decision was made to extensive research, we have developed composite expand our interpre characters based on historical information specific tive program to to Split Rock and generic qualities shared by light- include costumed keepers of the time period. Biographical histories interpreters who role- were developed for six fictional characters so that play either the keepers an interpreter is assigned a specific character to or their wives from the portray for the day. time period of 1925. At Split Rock we use a form of modified first- We chose that year as person that we call "my eyes, your eyes." If a visi our target date for the tor asks the "keeper" why there is a light bulb in first-person interpreta the lens, the interpreter will drop character enough tion because it was the to say, "To your eyes you see a 1000-watt light first year that the new bulb that was used after the light station was elec highway allowed trified in 1940, but to my eyes in 1925 it looks tourist access to the like an incandescent oil vapor lamp that burns isolated light station. kerosene." At Split Rock we have found that The head lightkeeper's many visitors have needs and questions that just log for 1925 shows cannot be answered fby someone locked into a dif that the isolated life at ferent time period. For them we will briefly break Split Rock was chang
CRM N2 S—1997 23 character if it will help interpret a concept or idea to them. Additional methods of interpretation can Split Rock Light Station strengthen a site's program. Each historic site has a unique story that should be told. There are many Completed by the U.S. Lighthouse Service in 1910, Split very good methods to facilitate the telling of that Rock Light Station was soon one of Minnesota's best known story. Interpretive film can be an extremely effec landmarks. Restored to its 1920s appearance, complete with its tive way to illustrate facts and ideas that can be 3rd order, bivalve, Fresnel lens and operating clockworks, the difficult to convey in other ways. In our 22-minute lighthouse offers visitors a glimpse of lighthouse life in this film, "Split Rock Light: Tribute to the Age of Steel," remote and spectacular setting. The 10 buildings that com we show how the growth of the Minnesota iron prised the original light station have been restored to their orig ranges led to the need for lighthouses on Lake inal appearance; Superior. In an age when every visitor relates to the fog signal video, even short two- or three-minute audio building and one visual programs can be effective, and made inex of the three light- pensively. A museum store should also support keeper's dwellings and reinforce the interpretive theme of the site. are also open to Sale items such as period crafts appropriate to the the public. A his theme of the site and publications will take the tory center built in visitor one step further in their understanding of 1986 features an the site. An exhibit gallery can provide interactive award-winning displays or describe or illustrate ideas that supple film; exhibits on ment what the interpreters are able to do. navigation, ship While all of these interpretive tools are a wrecks, and Lake means to an end—understanding the past—we will Superior; and a never be able to recreate history. In some ways museum store. interpreting the past is like the mariner studying Split Rock the lighthouse from the watery distance. Using his Lighthouse owes compass and his light list for guidance, and hoping its existence to the that fog or a snow squall do not alter the beam, he storms of 1905, keeps an eye to his one true contact with land. The especially to a actions of the past are a constant focal point; our record gale on interpretations of these actions in the present can November 28, that affect how clearly we are able to see the past as it damaged nearly 30 truly was. ships on Lake Superior alone. References The under-powered freighters and iron-ore carriers, unable to Alderson, William T. and Shirley Payne Low, cope with the northeast winds in excess of 60 miles per hour Interpretation of Historic Sites (Nashville: American that raged continuously for more than half a day, were driven Association for State and Local History, 1976). across the lake toward the rocky north shore. Blatti, Jo, Editor, Past Meets Present: Essays about Location and Hours. Split Rock Lighthouse Historic Site Historic Interpretation and Public Audiences is located within Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, 45 miles (Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, northeast of Duluth on Highway 61. The site is open with a full 1987). interpretive program from May 15 through October 15, 9:00 Grinder, Alison L., and E. Sue McCoy, The Good Guide: a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Winter hours, October 15 through May A Sourcebook for Interpreters, Docents and Tour 15, are Friday through Sunday, noon to 4:00 p.m., with only Guides (Scottsdale, AZ: Ironwood Press, 1985). the history center and the grounds open (closed in December). Minnesota Historical Society, Split Rock Lighthouse (St. Split Rock Lighthouse is listed in the National Register of Paul, MN: Minnesota Historical Society Press, Historic Places and is part of Minnesota's State Historic Site Minnesota Historic Sites Pamphlet Series, No. 15, Network that includes 32 sites and is administered by the 1993). Minnesota Historical Society. U.S. Coast Guard, Guide to Historically Famous Lighthouses in the United States (Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1939).
Lee Radzak is Historic Site Manager at Split Rock Lighthouse for the Minnesota Historical Society.
24 CRM N2 8—1997 Joseph J. Jakubik Relocation of the Highland Lighthouse, North Truro, MA
Preparatory work nternational Chimney Corporation was While this project is still underway at the begins on the light contracted by the Army Corps of time of this writing, the lighthouse has been suc house, including Engineers to relocate the 450-ton cessfully relocated to its new foundation, consist bracing all the win Highland Lighthouse (commonly ing of an 18"-thick reinforced concrete slab with dows, installing I masonry reinforce known as the Cape Cod Light) approximately solid structural brick serving as infill and forming ment, bracing the 450' back from an eroding cliff. The project was the foundation walls. chimneys, and con funded by the National Park Service, Cape Cod International Chimney Corporation's plan for crete cutting and coring for the National Seashore, and the U.S. Coast Guard the relocation called for the entire lighthouse, placement of CEU Providence, and with contributions from a complete with equipment room and connector beams. local preservation group. building to be relocated in one piece. An attached keeper's quarters of wood frame construction was initially separated from the masonry structure and placed in storage for relocation at a future date. Preparatory work for the relocation of the
A support grid is Highland Lighthouse included bracing all open installed under ings, repainting stress cracks in the masonry neath the light tower, installing reinforcing on and through the house and the masonry, and grouting three independent widths structure raised in of brick together at the base of the tower and con order to facilitate placement of travel nector building. beams. The masonry structure did not have a con ventional footer and foundation wall; rather a 3'- deep brick footprint had been constructed on native sand. The lack of a proper footer increased the difficulty of the move and required careful excavation of sandy soil to prevent undercutting the masonry. International Chimney Corporation's con crete cutting and coring division installed precisely cut holes in the masonry to allow for placement of support beams and grillage. The steel support beams, commonly known as cross steel, were in contact with the masonry and were themselves supported by duplex beams commonly known as Travel beams are installed under the structure (left).
A secondary set of jacks is employed to lower the build ing vertically. Horizontal move ment is achieved through the use of push rams acti vated between the travel beams and the main beams (right).
CRM N2 8—1997 25 The Highland Light hydraulic jacks installed in the mains were acti was relit in its new vated and cradled in roller dollies which allow for location on movement on the roll beams. At this point, the November 3, 1996. hydraulics were arranged for three zone travel, allowing for compensation between the zones should unanticipated settlement occur. Movement was accomplished when hydraulic rams, interconnected between the roll beams and the main beams were activated, push ing the hydraulically suspended lighthouse on roller dollies down the roll steel. Unique to this relocation project was an ingenious method of lowering the structure evenly mains. The mains were equipped with a series of to account for a 10' drop in grade. A secondary set 60-ton hydraulic jacks installed in an inverted of jacks was installed in the main beams, which position. were activated in unison and suspended the build The purpose of the main beams was to ing while roll beams were lowered to compensate spread the load of the cross steel and allow for for grade. The building was then lowered in incre even jacking. The structure was initially lifted off ments, and placed upon the newly set roll beams. its present foundation under the Unified Lifting The relocation was accomplished during the System. The Unified Lifting System allows for latter half of July 1996 and the beginning of pressure on the jacks to be placed evenly; thus, all August 1996. points come up at the same time. Once lifted, the lighthouse was placed on roll Joseph J. Jakubik is Project Manager for beams supported by wooden cribbing. The International Chimney Corporation. Photos courtesy International Chimney Corporation
David Pinyerd Preservation Education at the Cape Blanco Lighthouse
Cape Blanco he Cape Blanco Lighthouse comes Lighthouse (1870) with several superlatives: it's the with altered work highest lighthouse in Oregon at room roof and enclosed entry 256' above sea level; it's the west vestibule. ernmosTt lighthouse on the mainland in the lower 48 states; it's the oldest operating lighthouse in Oregon (1870); and it had the longest serving lighthouse keeper on the Pacific Coast, James Langlois, who was stationed at Cape Blanco for 42 years. As with all lighthouses open to the pub lic, its current operation is a joint effort. Through a cooperative agreement, the Coast Guard oper ates the light and owns the land on which it sits, coordinates the docents that interpret the light the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) inter house, and the Friends of Cape Blanco provide prets the site and maintains the lighthouse and docents and help fund lighthouse projects. And to grounds, Oregon State Parks manages the 1,895- add to the mix, this past summer, the University acre park that buffers the lighthouse property and of Oregon became involved with the lighthouse.
26 CRM NQ 8—1997 Samuels of the Coos Bay BLM. He gave us a com plete history of the Cape Blanco headland from 7000 B.P. up through the present. The site saw its first human litter in the form of discarded shells, the beginnings of an enormous midden that covers a good portion of the headland up to 7' deep in spots. The site is one of the oldest on the Oregon Coast primarily because it is a headland and not subject to the rapid erosion experienced by the rest of the coastline. The name Cape Blanco was attached in 1603 by Spanish explorer Martin d'Anguilar. Shipping traffic was light along the Southern Oregon Coast until 1853 when gold was discovered on the beaches just south of Cape Blanco. By the mid-1860s, after many shipwrecks at the headland, the federal government started appropriations for a light at Cape Blanco. Rebecca Gershow, As part of the second annual University of In 1867, the Lighthouse Board purchased 48 Art Corliss, and Oregon Historic Preservation Field School, stu acres comprising most of the headland with the Justin Gray inspect dents became familiar with the lighthouse by per intent of constructing a lighthouse to serve the the modifications made to the work forming a condition assessment on the structure. growing coastal traffic. In 1868, Col. Robert room roof struc Lighthouses are ideal vehicles for preservation Williamson arrived to supervise the clearing of the ture. education because of their relatively open struc heavily wooded headland and the production of ture and use of a variety of materials and struc bricks for the lighthouse. Two hundred thousand tural systems. They suffer from accelerated bricks were fired locally for the tower and keeper's deterioration problems, making excellent weather residence. The original design height for the light laboratories for students. And, finally, they are house was 18'; however, it was positioned so far simply captivating structures on the natural land back from the edge of the headland it had to be scape. increased to 50'. Attached to the tower was a com The BLM and Oregon State Parks contracted bination workroom and oil room. Sitting 206' with the University of Oregon Historic above the ocean, its fixed first-order Fresnel lens Art Corliss and Preservation program to provide a professional could be seen for 22 miles when lit on December Marilou Aquino preparing to use condition assessment report on the lighthouse dur 20, 1870. the borescope on ing our summer field school. Lisa Sasser, then The lens was replaced in 1936 with an elec an air intake vent. Assistant Chief Historical Architect with the trified, revolving second order lens. World War II National Park Service, turned the lighthouse site into a massive Loran Washington, DC, vol Station. As with many Coast Guard facilities, unteered to lead the buildings were razed when they became surplus. assessment. Along The keepers' dwellings were demolished in the with her extensive 1960s. In fact, most of the historic structures have experience in building disappeared from the site and all that remains is assessment, Lisa the lighthouse and attached workroom, miscella brought several light neous antennas, several modern garages, a mod house assessment ern duplex, and ubiquitous underground tanks. reports completed by The lighthouse became fully automated in 1980. the staff of the NPS With a less active role at the site, the Coast Guard Williamsport in 1994 granted an interagency permit to the BLM Preservation Training to interpret the site for the public. Center (WPTC). Using Once the field school participants had a han these assessments as dle on the history, we divided into three teams of models, Lisa led us four participants each and proceeded to evaluate through a full condi the condition of the structure from stem to stern, tion assessment of the finial to foundation. Each team worked the entire Cape Blanco structure so that when we were finished, we had Lighthouse. three different takes on each element of the light We started the house. We used Architectural Assessment Feature assessment with an Inventory Data forms provided by the NPS on orientation by Stephen which to take notes. This forced each group to
CRM m 8—1997 27 break up the structure the lighthouse into a giant chimney by replacing into a series of features the two modern interior doors with heavy mesh (e.g., air intake vents at doors (allowing only air passage) and then open the watch room level), ing up the floor hatch to the crawl space to allow so that all the groups the foundation vents to help vent the entire struc worked within the ture out the ball finial. This suggestion will be same parameters and tried during 1997. definitions. In addition As with any structure of its age, we were sur to the standard tools prised by some of its modifications and accretions. such as flashlights, For example, there used to be a decorative king clipboards, and our post element in the gable over the entry appropri eyes, we used a ate to its 1870 construction. We found the king borescope and a post's tie-beam recycled as a rafter in the work velocimeter to evaluate room roof, complete with mortise and chamfered the structure. The edges. borescope allowed us Since we were under a time constraint (this to peer through cracks evaluation was just one project of three during the to look at such features final two-week session), we used several time-sav as the arched structural ing technologies. We used a digital camera to take members within the photos of problem areas on the lighthouse. We canopy. The velocime then took the camera back to our home base, ter showed us the downloaded the images into our word processor, Art Corliss using a speed at which air flowed through certain areas of and attached labels and captions. We also velocimeter to the structure. scanned drawings into the assessment document measure the draft The students found that the main problem at so as to eliminate any need for last-minute paste through an air intake vent. Cape Blanco, as with many lighthouses, is mois ups when it came time to print the document. ture. Lighthouses were built to breathe, using a Being students used to extremely tight deadlines, it draft to provide air to and exhaust smoke from the made us all laugh when Steve Samuels of BLM open flame in the lantern. Any interior moisture asked if we might have the document ready for would be mopped up daily by the keeper on duty. him within two months—we had it ready for him Today, electrification and threats of vandalism in four days: two days in the field and two days to have turned many lighthouses into terrariums, produce the assessment report. sealed tight with no air flow. This is the case at This winter term, architecture and historic Cape Blanco. preservation students at the University of Oregon In the past, the keepers would constantly are participating in a studio to design a new visi adjust the draft through a series of louvers on six tor's center for the lighthouse. The project is once vents encircling the tower. This provided air for again being led by the Bureau of Land the flame and kept condensation to a minimum. Management. The education continues at the Cape Smoke would then exhaust out the ball finial. Blanco Lighthouse. Today, constant monitoring is impossible and some of the vents are inoperable. Since condensa References tion was accumulating so rapidly, there was a fear Beckham, Stephen Dow, Cape Blanco Lighthouse: that water was being trapped behind the interior Historical Investigations (North Bend, OR: Coos Bay plaster work. So, several years ago the Coast BLM District, 1995). Guard sand-blasted the entire interior, removing Coos Bay BLM District, Cape Blanco Lighthouse Site: both the plaster and the baked "skin" of the Final Interim Management Plan (North Bend, OR: bricks. This has created a serious problem in Coos Bay BLM District, 1996). which waterborne salts migrate through the brick Donovan, Sally, "Cape Blanco Lighthouse," National to the interior surface and are deposited in the Register Nomination, Oregon State Historic form of a white powder, i.e., efflorescence. These Preservation Office, 1991. salt crystals in the surface pores lead to the crum bling of the soft brick surface. With a plaster coat, David Pinyerd coordinated the last two University of the salts migrate to the surface of the plaster Oregon preservation field schools. He is currently instead of the brick where they can be harmlessly working on his thesis concerning the preservation of brushed off. Since re-plastering is cost prohibitive, Life-Saving Service and Coast Guard architecture in we suggested increasing the tower's ventilation to the Pacific Northwest. decrease the moisture level and thereby decrease the rate of efflorescence. One approach is to turn Photos by the author.
28 CRM N2 8—1997 Elinor De Wire Keeping the Lights for Kids
n a snowy day last December, I visited the Edgewood Elementary School in Yardley, Pennsylvania, a small community north of Fifth grade students O Philadelphia. I was greeted by 130 second at Charles Barnum graders, who had recently done a mini-unit on Elementary in Abbie Burgess at Matinicus Rock and were eager Groton, Connecticut, worked on a special to share their love for lighthouses. advanced research I wore a colorful lighthouse sweatshirt for the project about light occasion, and a Nauset Light pin, complete with a houses with Elinor blinking red beacon. As the classes filed into the De Wire in 1996. The girls used all-purpose room where I had prepared a slide stamps, patches, show and a table of "lighthouse memorabilia," advertising materi there was a crescendo of delighted squeals and als, books, maps, gasps. I quickly found myself surrounded by and the Internet to excited children, who proceeded to spin me in all learn about light involvement, and commitment. They had begun to house locations, directions and give me a head-to-toe exam: their architectural care for Abbie Burgess as a real person, and all styles, and day- Ooohh, I know that one on her shirt! It's their future learning about lighthouses would be an marks. Courtesy Cape Hatteras! extension of their relationship with this special girl Ann Pasquier. Hey! I've been to this one on her sleeve! from the past. Where'd you get that pin, Lighthouse Lady? I Often we forget how sensory and concrete might get one too!" kids are in their perceptions of the world, including Wow! She's even got a lighthouse watch! the past world. History means little to them unless Do you live in a lighthouse? Do you know it's made meaningful in some personal way that Abbie Burgess? connects with their own lives. The best education, we know, is first-hand, and second to that is vicari Did I know Abbie? Not personally; but I had ous experience. For kids, it requires imagining a picture of her home on Matinicus Rock and a themselves in someone's place and superimposing photograph of her grave in Spruce Head, Maine, their world on another. and I knew a story about how she wanted a grave Not long ago, I was fortunate to visit Cape stone in the shape of a lighthouse. Cod during Maritime Week, when the lighthouses were open for visitors. Lines outside the towers How did she die? And when? were long, and there were many families with Why did people forget to put a lighthouse on excited kids. Inside the base of Highland Light a her grave? volunteer gave an interesting talk on the history of Who took care of her pet hens after she died? the lighthouse. While he stood on the stairs above Did her ghost come back and haunt the us, reciting dates and building specifications, we lighthouse? waited patiently to climb the tower—all of us except two youngsters. To their parents chagrin, Such questions seem unimportant, even silly, they busily inspected everything, ignoring all pleas when measured against the significance of Abbie's to "listen to the nice man" and "not touch." accomplishments and her unusual status as a Minutes later, when the group began its long youthful lady lightkeeper at a time when duty at a ascent up the spiral stairs, the children's excite remote lighthouse was beset with unimaginable ment echoed loudly. hardships. But these are the things seven-year-olds Up on the windy lantern gallery, the lecture wonder about. I call them seed questions, because continued. But almost everyone had ceased hear they grow into larger opportunities for learning. ing it and had begun to stare out to sea, mesmer The kids at Edgewood Elementary had interest, ized by the altitude and panorama—a seagull's
CRM NO 8—1997 29 view of the great gray expanse of the Atlantic. Talk of light, a block and tackle will show how to rig for faded into the background, as the immediate expe lifting, geometric patterns make tower shapes and rience of standing in the lightkeeper's shoes over daymarks, period games like stilts and hoops on whelmed all of us. the lawn invite play, along with a boat to sit in; For me, such encounters with children are mystery boxes invite exploration; storytelling and "lighthouse heaven." What might have been a lost experience for a child—a history lecture filed in a dead-letter slot in his mind's mailroom—instead became a meaningful event on which he could Elinor's Lighthouse Box build future learning. The children left that day A plastic tote box with handles and a knowing first-hand that lightkeepers had unusual lid holds everything you need for a fun off- challenges, that courage and determination were site program. Many of these ideas also work surely part of their fiber. It was a start. Perhaps it well on-site. Here are some items to collect even sent them in search of a lighthouse book the and share with kids: next time their parents took them to the library. • a plastic prism, mirror, and pen light for Connecting kids with lighthouse history and demonstrating how a lens works lore means allowing them to explore space and • postcards and calendar pictures to show access information using all the senses. Play is various daymarks & architectural styles important, though it may not seem so. Running, • a replica keeper's hat, buttons, and jumping, touching, shouting, and other boisterous Lighthouse Service flag activity is often viewed as mischief, yet provides • small resin models of lighthouses with important information that helps very young chil pretty daymarks and various architec dren form concepts, or schemata as learning theo tural forms rist Jean Piaget called them. The child's concept of • postage stamps sealed in clear laminate "lighthouse" might contain details such as tall, big, • lots of product labels that feature light round, cold, red, windy, open, noisy. A separate houses concept called "lightkeeper" develops, yet remains • rubber stamps and non-toxic stamp pad connected to "lighthouse." As children grow and to decorate kids hands and papers access more information, concepts increase in com • souvenir stickers or cards (to give away) plexity and give way to broader, more abstract • a poem to read (sometimes we create one learning. together!) But, let's not overlook the most obvious rea • a stuffed animal for storytelling (I do Jinx son for all that liveliness. It's a celebration of dis the dog at St. Simons Lighthouse) covery: "Wow! This is something new and exciting, • prints of archival pictures mounted and and I just can't be still and quiet about it!" sealed Teachers call this "educational noise" and recog • patches and pins (I sometimes wear nize its value in a structured, guided environment. these) Of course, we cannot have kids running up • a piece of rope as long as Cape Hatteras dangerous spiral stairways, jumping about on high Light is tall (we go outside, measure and parapets, and climbing the lantern railings. But we marvel!) can design activities and interactive displays that • my favorite lighthouse books allow for movement and exploration of the physi • small laminated print of Edward cal surroundings. Maine's Shore Village Museum Hopper's "Two Lights" has kid-friendly rooms that allow children to sound • a bibliography of recommended books a foghorn, wind up clockworks, and stand inside a and videos for parents and teachers prism lens. At Michigan Maritime Museum, a large Elementary kids enjoy making some chalkboard mounted in the lighthouse display area thing to remember their lighthouse experi lets kids sketch lighthouses and write their own ence. I usually have teachers or scout leaders poems. Mystic Seaport's interactive play about the get simple, inexpensive materials. Paper cup lightkeeper's daughter invites kids to don simple lighthouse models, bookmarks, collages, and costumes and take acting roles. fog pictures are excellent activities to do on Opportunities for learning can be created or off site. Consider having a camera and film inexpensively to reflect the technology, history, and on hand to capture the fun and learning. lifestyle at lighthouses: nautical knot boards invite Display pictures on a bulletin board in your busy fingers, as do poles for hoisting signal flags, museum or visitor center. It's great publicity costume trunks for dressing up, felt or acrylic story and sends a clear message that "kids are wel boards, and bells with various tones; plastic prisms come visitors at lighthouses." and colored plastic can investigate the properties
30 CRM NQ8—1997 dramatic play recreate the keeper's world; and problems. And above all, interact with children. demonstrations can show how erosion occurs or They absorb almost nothing when they are passive fog forms. Not surprisingly, adults will have as listeners who cannot respond aloud or in some much fun with these things as the kids do. physical way. Interpreting on-site presents a greater chal For primary age kids, basic skills like count lenge, but it can become wonderfully effective ing, comparing, categorizing, identifying, pattern when interpreters connect with their own child ing, and imitating are excellent ways to involve hoods. What was important to us as children is them and build on their concept of "lighthouse." still important to kids today—family, pets, playing, Ask: What shapes do you see in the windows? toys, feeling safe and happy, looking forward to How many steps are there in each course? Can you holidays. These are the starting points for introduc feel the air moving up the tower? How is this side ing bigger ideas. of the lens different from that side? Where is the During my visit to Cape Hatteras Light in shadow of the lighthouse and where is the sun? July 1996, volunteer interpreter Rany Jennette Let's imagine we're in a storm! Lean forward and shared his memories of growing up at the light walk into the wind; squint your eyes so the blow house in an unusual way. Rather than simply talk ing sand doesn't get in them! ing about it, he pulled out a shoebox in which he Older kids can think more deductively, make kept his "lighthouse farm." Kids got to hold the complex predictions and decisions, see cause and cow, the sheep, the horse, the dog, the cat—various effect, and, by age 10, many are able to think kinds of shells Jennette had found on the beach. As abstractly. Ask: How is the lightkeeper going to get he explained the reasoning behind the names and clean drinking water? How would you know a showed how he and his siblings played farm with storm is coming? The keeper's wife is ready to have such simple objects, kids begin to participate in the her baby, but he needs to get the lighthouse lit for past and sense that growing up at a lighthouse the night so ships won't hit the rocks. What will he required lots of imagination. Toys came from the do? A bad storm has disabled the lens, and it won't sea, and a boy had to create his own amusements. turn. What can you do? You're out of meat and For interpreters, the urge to barrage children eggs. Where might you find them? It's 2:00 a.m. with information is enormous. We sometimes feel and you're on watch. What will you do to stay we haven't done our job if children walk away awake? What might happen if you don't? without an abundance of facts jammed into their Off-site, interpretation and teaching becomes heads. Sadly, such information is lost quickly if not more challenging because we don't have the raw tied to some meaningful experience. And usually experience of tower, beacon, wind, sand, and sea there's just too much for a small mind to assimi at hand. I've done many elementary and middle late. It's far better, I believe, to tickle the brain school programs about lighthouses in the last 20 than to squeeze it. Present a few ideas—ideas you years and teach a mini-unit about lighthouses like and can get excited about—then allow kids to every spring to my fifth grade class. The best absorb and process them. Involve youngsters in advice I can give is "start collecting and get thoughtful experiences that include a variety of excited!" A box of "lighthouse stuff" is essential to senses and cause them to think critically and solve provide the sensory input kids miss when not on- site. I usually have an interactive The author's son, slide show, telling stories as I go was transfixed by and doing a kind of "I Spy" game the huge lens of with the pictures I show. I try to Point Arena set up a small display, usually of Lighthouse when he visited the books and a poster or two. My tower in 1985 at box contains an assortment of age seven. "lighthouse" things that can be Lighthouse optics touched and discussed. It's a offer an unique mystery box, because each item opportunity for first-hand learning is revealed slowly with clues to on important con pique curiosity. cepts of physics. Most importantly, I let my Photo by Elinor De love for lighthouses shine when Wire. I'm with kids, and I let them know I enjoy being with them too. Enthusiasm is infectious. Any hobby or special interest, even a passionate one like mine,
CRM N2 8—1997 31 needs to be modeled for kids. They leave my pro children in the history, lore, and preservation of grams thinking, "Wow! She's really into this. She lighthouses has taken her to schools and youth orga loves lighthouses. Maybe I would enjoy this too." nizations around the country. In her own elementary classroom in Connecticut, she teaches an interdisci Elinor De Wire has authored five books about lightplinary' unit on lighthouses and has produced a houses, including the Lighthouse Activity Book for home page devoted to the topic. Currently, she is at kids, and written numerous articles on lighthouses workfor on a young readers' novel called Libby at the popular magazines. Her personal initiative to involveLighthouse .
Documenting Historic Lighthouses
In many cases, the first step in the preservation of The HABS and HAER programs vary slightly in the a lighthouse, or any historic property, is documentation. process by which a site is recorded. HABS generally pre The existing site should be recorded with drawings, pho pares documentation that reflects the "as is" existing con tographs, and historical and descriptive reports to define dition of a site with historical background information in the characteristics and significance of that site. The a written format. Little notation is made on the drawings. Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American HAER generally prepares a record that interprets the site Engineering Record (HABS/HAER) program of the for its significant engineering or function. Often, the inter National Park Service was created in 1933 to develop pretive drawings use existing documents as a basis for this type of documentation, establishing a standardized the measurements rather than measure the structure in collection of the American-built environment, held for the field; the objective is to interpret a concept, not an perpetuity within the Prints and Photographs Division of existing condition, so that the structure can be rebuilt the Library of Congress. This collection is available to the exactly in all its historic details. public and reproductions of the records can be obtained. The documentary record explains the form or func tion of lighthouses using a variety of graphic techniques. The basic drawing includes measured elevations, plans, and sections. More intricate interpretive drawings use axonometric techniques to explain the three-dimensional forms and arrangement of parts. These include planomet- rics (a rotated plan with vertical elements projected from it), or isometric projections which utilize a 30° angle in its base axis. Axonometrics are also used to develop "exploded" or "peel-away" views that illustrate how pieces fit together. Photographs or conceptual information are often translated into illustrations or sketches that fur ther explain a process or character of the structure. Large-format black-and-white photography is used to cap ture the actual physical attributes of the structure and express its context in the landscape and relationship to other structures around it. Photography also provides greater textural details of the material's weathered condi tion. Written documentation provides the basic data nec essary for understanding the site's development and evo lution throughout its working life. Specific descriptive information is recorded, and historical research explains the context, functions, alterations, and theories related to its operation. All materials are produced to archival stan dards and specific formats that assure a consistent prod uct throughout the collection. —Todd Croteau Isometric drawing from HABS documentation of Block Island Southeast Architect Light Station, Block Island, Rhode Island. (HAER RI-27)
32 CRM N2 8—1997 Michelle Smay and Terri Seltz South Manitou Island Light Station A Collection of Diverse and Inter-related Cultural Resources
any historic property types are that technological advances rendered the station recognized for only one of their obsolete, and the U.S. Coast Guard discontinued elements, usually a built struc its service. M ture. One such example is the The remnants of the functional landscape light station; it is often thought of as a single are as important to the station's history as is the structure—a lighthouse. Light stations, however, extensive amount of remaining historic architec often consisted of several interrelated elements, tural fabric. Both the natural and built features of both natural and built, such as a dwelling (which, the station should be considered together in order in some cases, could house up to three families), to truly appreciate not only its history and evolu a light tower, an enclosed passageway connecting tion, but also its role in the history of the island the tower to the dwelling, a fog signal building to on which it is located, its role in Great Lakes ship warn ships of hazards when fog was too thick for ping, and its role in terms of the U.S. Lighthouse the light to be seen, a brick oil house to store the Service as a whole. highly flammable kerosene that was the light's The National Park Service recognizes the fuel, a metal oil house (and paint locker), at least diverse nature of the South Manitou Island Light one privy, a boathouse, a stable (often later con Station and its many historic roles. As a result, the verted to a garage), a barn, and other multi-func project team was challenged—one of the first such tional secondary buildings. In addition to these challenges in the Park Service's history—to com built features, gardens and extensive circulation bine a Historic Structure Report (HSR) and a systems were almost always an integral part of Cultural Landscape Report (CLR) into a single the station. document that thoroughly investigates the South The South Manitou Light Station, located in Manitou Island Light Station. Typically, an HSR Aerial view of the South Manitou Lake Michigan, 15 miles southwest of Leland, and a CLR are prepared and used independently Island Light Station, Michigan, within the Sleeping Bear Dunes of one another. An HSR focuses on the historic 1930. Courtesy National Lakeshore, is nationally recognized for its integrity of a structure or structures, as well as on U.S. Coast Guard. diverse collection of historically-significant built the cultural and social influences that have and natural features. affected it or them, while a CLR evaluates the his It is listed in the tory and integrity of a historic landscape, includ National Register of ing any changes to its geographical context, Historic Places and features, materials, and use. At the same time, serves as a tangible both types of reports seek to provide a comprehen reminder of early sive understanding of the property's history and commercial naviga evolution and, subsequently, to determine a treat tion and the impor ment strategy that preserves and accentuates the tant role that light historic integrity of the property while frequently stations once played accommodating a contemporary use. in navigating ships Because the station changed continuously through the Great throughout its operation, the project team prepar Lakes. Constructed ing the HSR/CLR for the National Park Service between 1839 and determined that interpretation should focus on the 1840, the station interrelationship between the buildings and the guided ships through natural environment during its entire period of the Manitou operation (1840-1958). Subsequently, rehabilita Passage, one of the tion, with its respect for the evolution of the sta busiest shipping tion and its leniency toward introducing new channels on the elements necessary for barrier-free accessibility western Great Lakes. and other visitor amenities, was determined to be It was not until 1958 the most appropriate treatment.
CRM NO 8—1997 33 Drawings depicting the appearance of the site at differ ent periods during its history. Drawings pro duced by Land and Community Associates, 1995.
lation continue to be used to guide visitors through the station. All too often, only particular elements of his torically significant properties are studied and interpreted, leaving gaps in the information and full understanding of those properties. This can, and has, led to improper maintenance and inter pretation, and a general misunderstanding of the resource as a whole. If, on the other hand, the interrelationship of the built and natural historic resources of historic properties are studied and interpreted together, a much clearer and compre hensive understanding of the properties is gar nered. Undertaking the combined HSR/CLR for the South Manitou Island Light Station represents an innovative, efficient, and comprehensive way of accomplishing this goal.
Michelle Smay was an architect with Quinn Evans I Architects in Ann Arbor, Michigan, from 1994-1996, where she was instrumental in preparing the HSR/CLR for the South Manitou Island Light Station. She continues to be active in historic preser Based on rehabilitation as the treatment vation as an architect with Eifler and Associates, approach, several alternatives were suggested for Architects in Chicago, Illinois. the contemporary use of each building and the treatment of all other elements. Such alternatives Terri Zegart Seltz is a historic preservation planner included the creation of several period rooms that with Quinn Evans I Architects and was a member of the HSR/CLR project team which also included David depict the life of the keeper and his family, as well S. Evans, AIA, ofQiunn I Evans Architects; and J. as contemporary exhibits that interpret the history Timothy Keller, Genevieve Keller, and Fred Schneider of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, and specific people of Land and Community Associates, Charlottesville, and artifacts that were involved in the operation of Virginia, and Ames, Iowa. Additional members the station. Additionally, it was recommended that included Tom Fitzpatrick of Robert Darvas the locations of previous gardens and other ele Associates for structural engineering; SWS ments of the functional landscape be marked and Engineering for mechanical and electrical engineer ing; Seebohm, Ltd., for historic paint analysis; and interpreted for visitors, and that the historic circu ]JR, Inc., for the study of shoreline protection.
34 CRM N2 8—1997 Wayne Wheeler Partners in Lighthouse Preservation
n the 1960s and 1970s, the Coast them to the American Youth Hostel Organization. Guard undertook a massive program to Other stations were licensed to a port authority automate their light stations which and nonprofit groups. eliminated the need for personnel to The Twelfth District's action spread to other tend thIe aids to navigation. The rationale was to Coast Guard Districts and today many light sta save housing structure maintenance costs and tions are in the hands of nonprofits. These groups free billets. These freed billets would then be have spent labor and funds to restore and open used to staff the new and expanding Coast Guard stations in a variety of creative ways. programs mandated by Congress such as There is an erroneous notion among some Fisheries and Drug Interdiction. people that the Coast Guard can sell, or give away, Unfortunately, vandals quickly made their light stations. In fact, if the Coast Guard, or any ugly mark on deserted stations. No amount of pro government agency, declares land in its inventory tection (alarms, boarding up windows, etc.) could surplus to its needs, it is transferred to either the stay the tenacious vandal. Additionally, Congress Bureau of Land Management (BLM) or the passed the National Historic Preservation Act of General Services Administration (GSA). If the 1966 which required federal agencies with struc agency's property was withdrawn from public tures listed in the National Register of Historic lands, it is transferred to BLM; if the property was Places, or even eligible for inclusion, to take into purchased for government purposes, it is trans consideration what impacts any of their actions ferred to GSA who in turn offer the property to would have on these properties. The Coast other federal, state, and local agencies. If there are Guard's cost-saving program was flying directly in no government "takers," the property is sold to the the face of portions of the Act. highest bidder which in the case of historic light Beginning in the early 1980s, the Twelfth stations could be a disaster. The preferred scenario Coast Guard District in Northern California, hit has been when the Coast Guard has formed part upon a plan to protect the historic properties and nerships with nonprofit groups willing to take on associated automated aids to navigation, and pro the restoration and maintenance of the properties, vide public access at the same time. The first step this not only protects the properties, but makes was to convince Coast Guard headquarters that them available to the public in a variety of ways. the standard year-to-year license should be It also takes the financial burden off the govern expanded to a longer term to make the stations ment and protects the Coast Guard's aids to navi more attractive to potential recipients. Coast gation equipment. Guard Headquarters agreed and the term of licens All across America, the "greening" of our his ing was extended to 20 years. A San Francisco Bay toric light stations has been an outstanding suc Area nonprofit group requested, and was granted, cess. They have been repaired, restored, and a 20-year license for the 1874 East Brother Light relocated. Each community has sought various Station. In less than a year, the group restored the means of raising funds to return their light station historic Victorian light station to its 19th-century to the public domain. Three are under the care of splendor and opened it as a nonprofit bed and the American Youth Hostel organization, a few are breakfast. bed and breakfasts, some serve as offices for non Since the East Brother license, the Coast profit groups, but most are opened to the public as Guard has extended the ability of local districts to museums. issue 30-year licenses; many districts also issue The various efforts are profound and dra five-year licenses. Each license has a provision matic. The Junior Service League of St. Augustine, allowing either party to rescind the license, by let Florida raised $650,000 to restore the duplex ter, within 90 days. keeper's quarters. They then raised $90,000 to Following quickly on the heels of this suc repair the first-order lens, which was damaged by cessful East Brother Light Station project was the gun fire. Continuing their work, they then raised licensing of two northern California stations to the over $200,000 to paint the interior and exterior of State of California. The state, in turn, licensed
CRM N2 8—1997 35 the 161' high tower. All this from a small group in light stations can, or should, be saved. Several are a city of 17,000 people. in remote locations difficult to access and subject The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation to harsh weather conditions. Others have lost most Society raised 1.6 million dollars from the private of their historic integrity over the years. A case in sector to restore their tower and keeper's dwelling point being the Sankaty Head Lighthouse on and set aside a fund to maintain the structure in Nantucket Island. All the ancillary buildings have perpetuity. Local groups were formed to move been razed. Years ago the Coast Guard removed Rhode Island's huge Block Island Southeast the lens (it's in a local museum) and the lantern Lighthouse and Massachusetts' Cape Cod and room. Local objections caused the Coast Guard to Nauset Beach Lighthouses. Four stations in the fashion a replacement lantern and install it on the Hudson River have been restored and a group is tower, but even a quick glance shows it to be an working on a ersatz lantern. fifth. Finally, at some East Brother Island Throughout the point the inte Light Station (1874), in San Great Lakes, rior cast-iron Francisco Bay, was groups are stairway was one the first light chipping and replaced with an houses to be painting their aluminum stair leased by the Coast Guard to a local light sta case. Thus, what nonprofit group for tions. we have today, an extended In addi perched on an period. It continues tion to non eroding cliff, is a to serve as an profit groups, chimney—a active aid to navi gation and bed & other partners ghost of it's for breakfast. Courtesy have evolved mer self. Funds U.S. Coast Guard. over the to move this years—some by structure back accident. When from the eroding the Coast cliff would be Guard, or old better spent on Lighthouse a light station Service, aban with more of its doned a property located within the boundaries of historic fabric intact. another government agency's property, the struc In some cases the Coast Guard has used the ture became the responsibility of that agency. quarters of automated light stations to house ser Today, the U.S. Forest Service has five light sta vice personnel. Several light station quarters are tions in Hiawatha National Forest and is involved used for enlisted personnel and three stations with another in Oregon. The Fish and Wildlife house Coast Guard admirals. But, as stations out Service has spent funds to restore the Thacher live their usefulness as housing, we hope the Island's north tower and the Monomoy Point sta Coast Guard will continue to explore placing light tion. As of this writing, our Society holds a license stations with appropriate nonprofit groups. The for two Coast Guard light stations: New thought that a light station might pass through the Dungeness in Washington and Plymouth in hands of the GSA into ownership of a profit entity Massachusetts. The Great Lakes Lighthouse is anathema to the U.S. Lighthouse Society way of Keepers Association has spent the past several thinking. years restoring the St. Helena Light Station on the Overall, as we enter the 21st century, light northern shores of Lake Michigan. That group has stations are shining bright again and pointing the successfully used Boy Scout Troops to assist their way for others seeking means to preserve other efforts, which has proven educational to all par historical structures. ties. In spite of all the success the preservation of Wayne C. Wheeler, a former officer and civilian with light stations have achieved, there is still work to the Coast Guard, is founder and president of the be accomplished and decisions to be made. Not all 10,000 member U. S. Lighthouse Society.
36 CRM N2 8—1997 David Reese and Robert Browning Lighthouse Management A Balancing Act by the U.S. Coast Guard
his nation's lighthouses have integrity of the structures and materials. This level served as beacons for the safe pas of maintenance, however, can no longer be ade sage of mariners for over 200 quately provided by U.S. Coast Guard personnel. Tyears. Lighthouses were originally At present, all historic lighthouses managed constructed by the federal government to provide by the U.S. Coast Guard are automated, except for safe and easy navigation into the harbors of the Boston Light which remains staffed, as required by United States. As the federal heir to the functions law. Keeper's dwellings at a small number of addi and responsibilities of the Lighthouse Board and tional shoreside lights, where the property is con the Bureau of Lighthouses, the U.S. Coast Guard venient to nearby staffed Coast Guard units, is the nation's largest single owner of lighthouse continue to house U.S. Coast Guard personnel. properties. Lighthouses came under the manage The towers themselves have become less valuable ment of the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939, when the to the service because, with modern automated Bureau of Lighthouses was merged into that beacons, it is more cost effective to construct and agency as part of the Department of the Treasury. maintain an aid to navigation on a steel structure Today, lighthouses continue to function within or buoy, rather than inside the lantern of a tradi the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of tional lighthouse tower. Thus, in many locations, Transportation, as a part of the federal navigation the traditional lighthouse tower has been found to system. have little value to the U.S. Coast Guard mission, The lighthouse structure serves as an aid to other than to provide a visual aid to mariners dur navigation in several ways. Lighthouse towers, ing daylight and good weather. placed in highly visible coastal locations, provide Because automated lights do not require the navigators with distinct visual landmarks. At night day-to-day care of keepers to keep the light signals and during inclement weather, the characteristics operating, the structures no longer receive the pre of the light beacons provide a visual aid. ventive maintenance that the keepers normally Lighthouse properties can also contain fog signals, provided. Without this daily attention to mainte fog detectors, and radiobeacons. Many of the tra nance, the normal deterioration of the tower and ditional light stations included a complex of mutu outbuildings accelerates. Lighthouses are particu ally-supporting structures. Before automation, larly susceptible to the harsh natural environment maintenance of the light and supporting structures in which they were constructed. In the last 40 involved a variety of activities that could only be years, the U.S. Coast Guard has found that current provided by resident keepers. The remote location maintenance requirements that meet the standards of most of the lighthouses required housing and of the National Historic Preservation Act have transportation for the keepers. Hence, in addition become very costly. to the light tower, a light station might include an Federal management of historic lighthouses oil house, keeper's dwelling, cistern, boathouse, is a complex endeavor. A variety of legal mandates fog signal building, and sufficient property to grow and public processes also influence their care— crops and raise livestock for subsistence and man historic preservation mandates, federal budget age waste materials. In the case of offshore lights, processes, federal property management require the tower was often built to include space for a ments, technological advancements, public and dwelling, cistern, fog signal, and storage for a boat Congressional interests. The U.S. Coast Guard has and oil. a strong focus, with substantial Congressional and Traditional lighthouse construction methods public support, on the mission of assisting safe and materials assumed that keepers would devote navigation for mariners. Historic lighthouses are frequent attention to maintenance. Changes in only one tool that provides a visual aid in per technology following World War II allowed the forming this mission. As the money and personnel automation of many lighthouse functions, which resources within the U.S. Coast Guard have perform the same functions, but at a lower cost. become more constrained, the resources available Lighthouse properties, however, still require fre to maintain historic lighthouse structures have quent attention by human beings to maintain the also become more scarce. Thus, the U.S. Coast
CRM N2 8—1997 37 Guard has been forced to seek alternative means Preservation Act, as well as the other complex to maintain historic lighthouse structures. property management and budgetary mandates, Federal property management requirements the U.S. Coast Guard has pursued several also substantially impact lighthouse management. approaches. As funds are available, the Coast The federal government, in general, is mandated to Guard undertakes lighthouse maintenance and continually review its real property holdings, with rehabilitation projects. Leasing of historic light the intent of divesting those holdings that cannot house properties has been successfully used for be justified for agency missions. The Coast Guard several years as a means to improve lighthouse periodically reviews the operational need for each maintenance and public access. Transfer of excess light and the property, property on through the which it is GSA, has suc located. cessfully Historic view of Decisions are placed light Boston Harbor made with house proper Light Station, the input from ties under the only remaining sta tion to be manned various navi management of through an Act of gation users organizations Congress. Courtesy such as other better U.S. Coast Guard military ser equipped to Historian's Office. vices, harbor preserve their pilots, com historic nature. mercial ship The U.S. Coast ping concerns, Guard also commercial generally sup fishermen, and ports legisla recreational tive mandates, boaters. If a initiated by lighthouse site, or a significant portion of a site, is others, to transfer lighthouse properties to federal no longer required as an aid to navigation, the and non-federal preservation groups. Coast Guard considers whether it might be used Leasing of historic lighthouses has been suc for other missions. The mandates of federal prop cessful in improving maintenance of these proper erty management dictate that lighthouse properties ties where the lighthouse is easily accessible to the or marketable portions of properties no longer general public. Since 1985, the U.S. Coast Guard needed by the Coast Guard for its missions be has operated its leasing program under a program reported to the General Sendees Administration matic agreement among the Department of (GSA) for transfer or sale to others. Transportation, the Advisory Council on Historic The federal budget process is another sub Preservation, and the National Conference of State stantial influence on the Service's management of Historic Preservation Officers. Typically, the U.S. lighthouses. The Coast Guard has always main Coast Guard seeks to lease the property for up to tained a strong operational focus which, in the 30 years to an entity which will use and maintain case of lighthouses, has meant the proper func the property in a manner that is compatible with tioning of the aids to navigation signal for its historic nature. As a result of a mariners. Preservation efforts, recognized by the Congressionally-mandated review of lighthouse Coast Guard as important, have a lower priority management policy in 1992, the Coast Guard has than the Service's primary mission of providing also developed a more aggressive strategy to mar reliable and cost-efficient aids to navigation. More ket the availability of lighthouse properties for importantly, Congress mandated preservation of leasing, in the hope of benefitting more lighthouse historic properties without attaching the appropri properties. While the U.S. Coast Guard retains the ate funding required for complete preservation and authority to decide which lighthouse properties are maintenance of lighthouses. Recent developments appropriate to lease, available properties will be in the federal budget process, such as the more widely advertised. The more aggressive mar Government Performance Review Act and public keting process is contained in an amended pro support for a smaller federal government, have grammatic agreement executed in 1996. only made lighthouse preservation efforts more As a result of a lighthouse policy review con difficult. ducted in 1992, the Ll.S. Coast Guard has been In order to meet the public's expectations evaluating lighthouse properties on the basis of its and to comply with the National Historic minimum operational needs and, at several loca-
38 CRM NQ 8—1997 tions, has identified the tower, associated struc nature, while retaining easements for the lighted tures, and land as possible excess property. aid to navigation. Lighthouse properties that are no longer needed as As trustee of the nation's maritime safety, the aids to navigation are identified as excess to mis U.S. Coast Guard has been generally successful in sion needs and are normally transferred out of managing over 450 lighthouse properties. When U.S. Coast Guard management through the the towers are needed to support an active aid to process managed by GSA and defined in current mariners, the service continues to maintain and federal property management regulations. In some preserve historic lighthouse properties. The U.S. cases, state and local interests have been able to Coast Guard, however, must balance the require obtain ownership of excess historic lighthouse ments of its numerous missions, federal property properties directly, by convincing their management, historic preservation, and the federal Congressional representatives to support legisla budgetary processes. The U.S. Coast Guard has tion to mandate a transfer from the federal govern and will continue to explore alternative methods of ment. preserving these significant historic structures In cases where the only U.S. Coast Guard through leasing and transferring their manage mission need is for the lighted aid to navigation, ment. These structures are, and will always be, a the tower, associated buildings and land holdings significant part of the history and traditions of the may be excess property. In these cases, U.S. Coast sendee. Mindful of the more than 200-year history Guard operational interests may continue to be of the federal lighthouse service, the U.S. Coast served by identifying the excess property and Guard will make every attempt to find effective retaining easements for servicing the navigational means of securing adequate preservation of his signal. The excess property may be made available toric lighthouses. to historic preservation interests through the nor mal GSA process or through legislative mandates. David Reese is the Federal Preservation Contact for Most recently, in The 1996 Coast Guard the U.S. Coast Guard. Authorization Act, Congress mandated that a total of 44 lighthouse properties be transferred to other Robert Browning is the Coast Guard's Chief parties better able to maintain their historic Historian.
Portland Head Light Station, Cape Elizabeth, Maine, was recently trans ferred from the Coast Guard to the town of Cape Elizabeth which maintains the keeper's quarters as a museum. Since the light con tinues as an active aid to navigation, the Coast Guard has access to the optic and sound signal. NFS photo by Candace Clifford, 1994.
CRM N2 8—1997 39 For Further Reading Cipra, David, Lighthouses, Lightships, and the (Crownsville, Maryland: Maryland Historical Gulf of Mexico (Alexandria, Virginia: Cypress Trust, 1997). Communications, 1997). Hyde, Charles, The Northern Lights (Detroit, Clifford, Mary Louise, and J. Candace Clifford, Michigan: Wayne State University Press, Women Who Kept the Lights: An Illustrated 1995). History of Female Lighthouse Keepers (Williamsburg, Virginia: Cypress Lovvry, Shannon, and Jeff Schultz, Northern Communications, 1993). Lights: Tales of Alaska's Lighthouses and Their Keepers (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: De Wire, Elinor, Guardians of the Lights Stackpole Books, 1992). (Sarasota, Florida: Pineapple Press, 1995). Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships , Guide To Florida Lighthouses of the United States (Boston: Houghton (Englewood, Florida: Pineapple Press, Mifflin Co., 1917 and 1933). 1987). Shanks, Ralph, and Lisa Woo Shanks, ed., de Gast, Robert, The Lighthouses of the Guardians of the Golden Gate: Lighthouses Chesapeake (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins and Lifeboat Stations of San Francisco Bay University Press, 1973). (Petaluma, California: Costano Books, 1990). Dean, Love, The Lighthouses of Hawaii Shanks, Ralph C, Jr., and Janetta Thompson (Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Shanks, Lighthouses and Lifeboats of the Press, 1991). Redwood Coast (San Anselmo, California: Costano Books, 1978). Holland, F. Ross, Jr., America's Lighthouses: An Illustrated History (New York: Dover Turbyville, Linda, Bay Beacons: Lighthouses of Publications, 1981 reprint). the Chesapeake Bay (Annapolis, Maryland: Easrwind Publishing, 1995). , Great American Lighthouses (Washington, DC: Preservation Press, 1989). U.S. Lighthouse Establishment, Instructions to Light Keepers and Masters of Light-House , Maryland Lighthouses of the Vessels, 1902 Reprint (Allen Park, Michigan: Chesapeake Bay: An Illustrated History Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association, 1989).
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