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NELL Brightens the “Steps in Time” of the Bygone Keepers at Long Point Light
By Bob Trapani,
Jr.
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Keepers like
John Thomas Dunham and Joseph R. Poindexter once walked up the staircase
to the lantern of Long Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod many a night, making
sure the beacon’s light was shining bright to sea for mariners seeking
Provincetown Harbor.
Though the
echo of their |
Photo courtesy of Tom Kenworthy
2009 NELL Project H.O.P.E. at
Long Point Lighthouse
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footsteps has long
since drifted away on the tides of time, the memory of their service is kept
alive thanks to modern day ‘keepers’ like the Cape Cod Chapter and the New
England Lighthouse Lovers, chapters of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
On April 25, 2009
the Cape Cod Chapter, which cares for Long Point Lighthouse (along with Race
Point and Wood End lights), teamed up with the New England Lighthouse Lovers
(NELL) to bring a ‘shine’ to the interior of the 1875 sentinel, all of which
would have made lightkeepers Dunham and Poindexter beam with pride.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Yadiira Tarnliella works on repainting
the lantern floor
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The New
England Lighthouse Lovers, a passionate group of volunteers who lend a
helping hand to lighthouse maintenance projects throughout New England,
coordinated with Jim Walker, chairman of the Cape Cod Chapter, to carry
out a 2009 NELL “Project H.O.P.E.” (Hands On Preservation Effort) at
Long Point.
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Armed with
specific work assignments from Jim Walker; NELL’s nine volunteers touched up
the exterior base of the tower and took to the steps of the lighthouse to
repaint the interior of the lantern, watchroom and staircase. In addition
NELL also repainted the exterior of Long Point’s oil house.
In doing so, the
volunteer ‘keepers’ renewed the proud appearance of the lighthouse, while
helping to protect its wood, iron and brick components from the elements.
NELL has proven to
be a great friend to Long Point Lighthouse and the Cape Cod Chapter, having
repainted the exterior of the tower in 2006 prior to this year’s project.
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Showing that
history and preservation are inseparable, Jim Walker established a
plaque in honor of keeper Joseph R. Poindexter, his wife Pearl Ann and
son Norman in the watchroom of Long Point Light, and also restored the
brass plaque honoring keeper John Thomas Dunham, which has traditionally
hung over the entry way door to the lighthouse.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Alan Ells touches up the exterior
gallery of the lantern
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No finer tribute
to the service and memory of Long Point keepers like Mr. Dunham and Mr.
Poindexter could be put forth by today’s modern lighthouse ‘keepers’ than to
ensure that the historic site is maintained and preserved for the future.
In the spirit of
this commitment, one can state with assuredness that the Cape Cod Chapter of
the American Lighthouse Foundation and the New England Lighthouse Lovers
would pass inspection by keepers Dunham and Poindexter with flying colors.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Jim Walker did yeoman's
work organizing the work
at the lighthouse
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Tom Kenworthy 'cuts-in' with red paint
along the tower's staircase
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Linda Speece
repaints the floor of
the watchroom at
Long Point Light
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Debbie Heckman sweeps clean the steps
inside the lighthouse
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Kathy Santucci repaints the
ladder that leads from the
watchroom to the lantern
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
Reg Kitching repaints
the exterior base of
the lighthouse
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Mary Beth Doherty repaints the
exterior base of the tower
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
A view of the tower's staircase
after a new coat of red paint
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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NELL volunteers work on repainting
the
exterior of Long Point's oil house
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Bob Trapani, Jr. prepares to reestablish
the restored plaque honoring Long Point keeper John Thomas Dunham
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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NELL volunteers enjoy a hearty
lunch that included delicious
clam chowder
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Long Point Lighthouse with Fort
Useless to the left of the tower
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
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A brass plaque
honoring Long Point keeper John Thomas
Dunham hangs about the entryway to the lighthouse
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A plaque honoring
keeper Joseph Poindexter, his wife Pearl Ann and their son Norman is
established in the tower's watchroom
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Photo by Tom Kenworthy
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
(L to R) Jim Walker and Tom Kenworthy
raise the flag at
Race Point Light
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Maureen Kitching (back) kept
the volunteers well feed
with her great meals
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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A close-up view of a delicious evening
meal prepared for the volunteers by
Maureen Kitching at Race Point Light Station
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The NELL volunteers gather around the
kitchen table inside the keepers house at Race Point to enjoy a
delightful dinner
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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The Cape Cod Chapter
kindly allowed the volunteers to stay overnight at Race Point Light
Station during their Long Point work project
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NELL volunteers
enjoyed breathtaking sights while at Race Point, including this evening
sunset
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Posted: July 2009 |
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