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Save
Our Lights!
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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the preservation of America's historic lighthouses.
SEARCH ALF WEB
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Making History at
Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse
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For those who think lighthouses like Cape Elizabeth are
done making history in today’s world, think again.
The elegant 67-foot east tower at Cape Elizabeth is
currently undergoing an historic rehabilitation to its concrete base,
and in the process, the ‘makeover’ is making its own new history.
The repair work to the light’s concrete base, which is
being managed by the nonprofit American Lighthouse Foundation and
facilitated by J.B. Leslie Masonry Company from South Berwick, Maine, is
addressing years of surface spalling to the structure |
(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Ken Morse repairs a top section
of the concrete base at Cape
Elizabeth Lighthouse
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caused by age and
the elements.
Why is a project that is designed to repair a concrete base so historic?
Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr. of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission
explains, “Based on the lab analysis identification of the cement base |
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
(L to R) Jim Leslie, Ken Morse
and Jake Johnson remove wooden forms from
the east side of the concrete base
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sample as a
grappier cement, it appears that the cement base of the Cape Elizabeth
Light is original and likely dates to the 1873-74 tower replacement.
This may be the first known use of cement construction in Maine, making
it especially significant.”
The rehabilitation project to repair the base of Cape
Elizabeth Lighthouse, which stands majestic sentinel above Casco Bay
near the entrance to Portland Harbor, started earlier this month and
should be completed within the next two weeks.
Working to
replicate the original cement used to construct the light tower’s
concrete base is not the |
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only challenge to
properly repairing the structure in accordance with the U.S. Secretary of
the Interior’s Standards for Preservation.
Jim Leslie, president of J.B. Leslie Masonry Company notes, “This project
has presented a few challenges - one being the concrete overhangs. In
repairing the spalling edges, you cannot just simply pour new cement or
apply a skim coat patch. We built wood forms to match both the original
board lines and concrete form marks on the cement base in order to replicate
the historic appearance of the structure, as well as to ensure the
durability of the repair work.”
Leslie goes on to say, “The important part of a project like this one is the
careful prep work to remove the sections of failing cement. We removed |
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the failing cement down to the existing hard substrate
and are using the closest match that could possibly be duplicated
mixture-wise to the original grappier cement.”
As interesting as this project has been from an
historical perspective, it has also been nothing short of a team effort.
The American Lighthouse Foundation, which serves
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Jim Leslie uses hand tools to carefully
remove failed cement down to hard
substrate on a concrete overhang
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as the steward for Cape Elizabeth
Light and 20 other lighthouses throughout New England, has worked closely
with the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and United States Coast
Guard, as well as with J.B. Leslie Masonry Company.
“In addition to initiating the consultation review process prior to the work
commencing at Cape Elizabeth, there was a lot of behind the scenes work that
occurred to ensure this project met the high standards for historic
preservation,” says Bob Trapani, Jr., executive director for the American
Lighthouse Foundation.
Trapani went on to note, “J.B. Leslie Masonry Company took core samples of
the concrete, which underwent lab analysis by Testwell, Inc. of Ossining, |
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
A close-up view of repairs to a spalling
area on the top section where the tower's
flashing is attached to the concrete base
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NY. This analysis report determined what type of cement we were dealing with
– in this case grappier cement that is no longer manufactured. The data was
then reviewed by the Commission and later enabled Edison Coatings of
Plainville, CT to closely duplicate a cement mixture consistent with
grappier cement.”
The extent of the team effort with the Cape
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Elizabeth project goes beyond the professional consultation that has
occurred.
The need to fund the $11,300 project required a team approach as well. This
is where the generosity of Mr. William Kourakos of Cape Elizabeth, who
kindly donated nearly $9,000, and the New England Lighthouse Lovers, a
chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation who contributed $2,500, helped
make the project financially possible. Without their support, the critical
repairs to the light’s concrete base would not have occurred this year.
As for the actual rehabilitation work itself; it is in good hands with J.B.
Leslie Masonry Company. Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse is the third American
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Lighthouse Foundation project that the company has worked with the
organization on – the other two being the high profile restorations of New
Hampshire’s White Island Light in 2005 and Maine’s Pemaquid Point Light in
2007.
“We take a lot of pride in this kind of important work,” says Jim Leslie.
“The fact that our company works on a lot of historic structures gives us a
better awareness and respect for maintaining the structural integrity of an
historic building or in this case, a lighthouse.”
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse
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Leslie concludes, “In the end, we not only want to adhere to the
Standards for Preservation, we want to make sure the repair and
restoration work stands the test of time so that future generations will be
able to see a lighthouse like Cape Elizabeth looking the same as we know it
today.”
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
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A close-up view of
the deterioration that occurred to the
light's concrete base on the
east side
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A close-up view of the
repair work by J.B. Leslie Masonry on the east side of the concrete
overhang
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
A view of the special cement mixture from
Edison Coatings
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Jake Johnson works to mix a
round of cement
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
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A close-up view of the cement mixture
being prepared for application
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Ken Morse applies new cement to repair
spalling damage
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Ken Morse applies new cement to repair
spalling damage
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
A close-up view of failing cement on the
top of the base
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Jake Johnson and Ken Morse repair a top
section
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Jake Johnson vacuums around the base of
the lighthouse, maintaining a clean work area
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
A close-up view of spalling
occurring on an corner edge
of the light's base
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(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Jim Leslie works on prepping
a side section on the south
side of the base
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Posted: 10/26/2008 |
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