Lighthouse
keepers in America may no longer tend the lights of our great nation but
that doesn’t mean all the “wickies’ have gone away. In fact, one keeper
in particular still maintains a faithful watch for lighthouses, but
instead of minding a light he is helping save a beacon for present and
future generations.
Stephen Jones,
a former keeper at Harbor of Refuge Lighthouse in Delaware Bay, has
spent the last four years helping the Avery Point Lighthouse Society, a
chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, with aspects of the
restoration of Avery Point Light. The lighthouse, which is located on
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Stephen Jones stands next to the new
lantern atop Avery Point Lighthouse
the University of
Connecticut’s Avery Point campus, was in danger of being lost in 1999 due to
the structure’s advance deterioration. The unchecked decay of the lighthouse
over the years had caused it to become what many deemed a safety hazard. If
it was not for the passion and resolve of the Avery Point Lighthouse Society
(APLS), the beacon might not be standing proud today.
Jones, who serves as a professor at the University of Connecticut, has
played a major role in this shining example of a lighthouse preservation
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) Mark Robinson & Stephen Jones
were responsible for constructing Avery Point's new lantern
project
that goes beyond the typical donation. Thanks to his kindness and strong
interest in the project, the lighthouse now sports a new lantern in
place of the previous structure that had deteriorated beyond repair. In
addition to the fabrication of the new lantern, which was built by Mark
Robinson of 2-B Sailing at Jones’ West Mystic Wooden Boat Company in
West Mystic, Connecticut, the former keeper and his son Geoffrey also
played a major role in its dramatic delivery to the site at Avery Point.
On September
21, 2005, Stephen Jones orchestrated a 13-mile trip with the lantern
through Fisher’s Island Sound and Long Island Sound aboard his tugboat
CHIEF, as
Geoffrey Jones stood
at the helm and skillfully guided the vessel along its exciting journey to
the Shennecossett Yacht Club. Jones explains why the nearly 2,000-pound
lantern was transported by water rather than over land, noting, “The best
way to get it to Avery Point and avoid all the low-hanging branches and
wires over the streets of Groton was to do it by boat.”
Jim Streeter, co-Chairman of the Avery Point Lighthouse Society, concurred
with Jones on the choice of transportation for the lantern, but took it one
step further, saying, “This is a maritime event and this is the way it
should be brought in. All of us, as well as the community, have this feeling
that it is finally coming to completion.”
Co-Chairman Dale Treadway captured the essence of Jones’ contribution of the
new lantern to the Avery Point Lighthouse, saying,
“After all these years of work, this is really wonderful.
This accomplishment will really open up history again – our beacon of
hope is back.”
The donation of the lantern by Stephen Jones, which was
an estimated $48,000 in materials and labor costs, went beyond a
wonderful physical
Photo by Ron Foster
The tug Chief transports the new
lantern
for Avery Point down the Mystic River
improvement to the
overall restoration of Avery Point Lighthouse.Jones’ kindness also buoyed
the spirits of the APLS volunteers who have labored for the last five years
on the nearly $500,000 restoration project. Jim Streeter explains, saying,
“The lantern donation was not simply a monetary contribution. Steve’s
kindness helped bolster our organization’s morale, as well as providing us
with even more incentive to continue our work to carry the project through.
It was a tremendous boost to the Avery Point Lighthouse Society knowing good
people like Steve were supporting our efforts. The fact that he is also a
former lightkeeper working today to help save a lighthouse like Avery Point
was special too.”
Jones didn’t simply donate and deliver the new lantern to Avery Point Light
-- he also witnessed the reestablishment of the elegant structure
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) APLS co-Chairman Jim Streeter,
Stephen Jones & APLS member
Ron Foster atop the lighthouse
built of mahogany and copper. On September 30th
a telescopic crane under the supervision of Joseph Gnazzo Company, Inc.,
hoisted the lantern high in the air and gently placed it down on its
majestic perch atop the 55-foot stone-block tower. Jones commented “It
gave me quite a lift coming over the hill, just seeing it…I never grow
tired of it.”
So why does Avery
Point Lighthouse mean so much to Stephen Jones? The Mystic River Press
noted, “Jones grew up on Pine Island Bay, just a stone’s throw away from
where the lighthouse stands, and that “During World War II, he monitored
U.S. cruisers and submarines moored there.” But Jones’ appreciation for the
lighthouse goes far deeper than simply growing up nearby Avery Point. The
former keeper of Harbor of Refuge Light (1961-62) explains, saying, “One of
the last pictures I have of my parents is of them standing in front of the
Avery Point Lighthouse. So when people ask me why this project is so
important, I simply tell them it’s part of my family.”
Photo by Ron Foster
The new lantern for Avery Point passes
the lighthouse on its
way to the site
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
A telescopic crane establishes
the new lantern atop
the lighthouse
Photo by Ron Foster
Stephen Jones & his son
Geoffrey who captained the
tug
Chief
Photo by Ron Foster
Former keeper Stephen Jones coordinated
the new lantern's delivery to Avery Point
Former Lighthouse Keeper at Harbor of Refuge in Delaware Bay...
Photo Courtesy Stephen Jones
Stephen Jones was a former
Coast Guard lightkeeper
in 1961-62
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Stephen Jones returned to Harbor of
Refuge Lighthouse in 2004
