|
SEARCH ALF WEB
Help ALF
Today!
American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
|
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
| |
Little River Lighthouse Summer Update…Plus
How YOU Can
Help TODAY!
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
|
|
| |
| The past three years have
seen a consistent push forward to save and restore Little River
Lighthouse – with the realization of that goal now visible on the
horizon. Reaching a point where the project is 75% complete has not been
an easy task, and nor will the effort to reach the “finish line” of
restoration by year’s end. Only through an unshakeable resolve, passion,
savvy – and a little faith too, have ALF and its volunteers arrived at
this point today where we can say that Little River Lighthouse is nearly
saved – an endeavor that has confounded all the odds originally
stacked up
against the project.
|
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Little River Light Station is
a true historic treasure to the
State of Maine
|
|
|
| |
Thanks to the
steadfast efforts of volunteer Hal Biering, as well as major contributions
from local tradesmen in Cutler, ALF volunteers and even assistance from U.S.
Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Southwest Harbor, the summer of 2005 has
yielded much in the way of progress at the light station. Where once years
of built-up paint layers |
|
| |
|
Photo by Chessie Johnson
Hal Biering is a true "keeper
of the light" at Little River
Light Station
|
and old tiles
concealed the beauty of the wooden floors inside the former keeper’s
dwelling, ALF is proud to report that this is no more. The paint and
tiles have been removed and the historic wood floors have been sanded
and returned to their former glory. “It will be expensive – estimated at
$5,000, but Hal (Biering) says it looks fantastic,” says Tim Harrison,
president of the American Lighthouse Foundation. “All rooms are now done
and look like the day the lighthouse was built.”
Restoring the
interior of the former keeper’s dwelling is more than simply a “home
improvement” project. Ensuring that all restoration measures applied to
the structure |
|
|
| |
achieve the
standards of preservation, while reflecting the site’s true historic
character is a major responsibility. There to carry out and oversee this
work time and again is Hal Biering, a retired engineer who excels at
lighthouse preservation projects. Under Hal’s guidance, “All electrical,
interior, windows, roof, interior walls, etc., have been completed this
summer,” says Harrison. “Even a new door was made for the tower thanks to
the efforts of Hal and the Leighton brothers, Lee and Ken. Three years of
hard work has paid off. Hal has done 75% of the work himself – and all for
free.”
The work hardly
stops with the aforementioned accomplishments. Harrison goes on to describe
the latest efforts being coordinated, |
|
| |
|
saying, “The
plumber will begin taking equipment out to Little River on Thursday,
August 11th and start work by the end of the week. This will
include the new well, pump, leach field, etc. (all the permits have been
obtained for this work). This will also be expensive, maybe as high as
$25,000 and we don’t have the money, but I authorized the |
ALF Photo
Volunteers like Ken & Carol Leighton,
with their granddaughter Julia, help
make a difference with assorted
maintenance-type projects.
|
|
|
| |
work anyway. If we
don’t get it done now, it will never get done. In addition, Walter Spear, a
local carpenter, will start on the exterior of the upper part of the house
in a few weeks and volunteers will need to finish the lower half of the
exterior.”
In order to keep
pace with the amazing restoration activities taking place at Little River
Light Station, the American Lighthouse Foundation and its members must
ensure that the other facet of lighthouse preservation – that being vital
fundraising efforts, is as every bit as effective as the hands-on work being
applied to save the historic site. Restoration and fundraising must work in
concert, or else lighthouse |
|
| |
|
ALF Photo
Through ongoing donations, volunteers
are bringing Little River Light Station
back to its former glory
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Donations to Little River
Light are vital in helping with projects like restoration of
the historic hardwood floors
|
preservation
cannot become a reality. As the project at Little River draws closer to
its much-anticipated completion, the call of duty sounds out to the
lighthouse world once again to lend a strong hand to supporting this
incredible labor of love that every member of ALF can take great pride
in.
“We are close
to completion of the restoration of Little River, but out of money,”
says Harrison. “ALF is paying for and restoring lighthouses without
chapters, plus supporting the Museum of Lighthouse History and payroll,
office expenses, insurance, etc. – all from small donations, while
working to obtain federal, state and grant money – all which takes |
|
|
| |
time. We are in
need of some serious donations now more than ever before. With a little luck
and some last minute donations, the basic restoration of Little River
Lighthouse will be completed by October.”
Future generations
must be allowed to see the guiding light of Little River shining bright on
the horizons of our lighthouse heritage, but in the meantime, we the keepers
of the light must stand a diligent watch in the present by doing our part to
generously fund what we all |
|
| |
|
passionately
believe in. The bygone keepers were renowned for their sense of duty no
matter the mundane or harrowing nature of their calling in order to keep
the lights burning bright. As the keepers of today, our calling isn’t to
stand a physical watch at the lights but to work ceaselessly to save,
interpret and preserve these mighty sentinels. The American Lighthouse
Foundation needs your help now at Little River to finish the job and
save this timeless light station – can we count on YOU to make the
lightkeepers of old proud by once again answering that call TODAY?
|
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
ALF is saving Little River Lighthouse for
future generations thanks to the dedication and passion of its volunteers
and members
|
|
|
| |
Yes, I would like to make a donation at this
time to
help finish the restoration work at
Little River Light Station!
You can also phone
in your donation to the American Lighthouse Foundation by calling (207)
646-0245 or mail a contribution today to the organization at:
American Lighthouse Foundation
P.O. Box 889
Wells, ME 04090
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
