The news of the American Lighthouse Foundation securing a license for the
Owls Head Light tower is a ray of hope that another piece of America’s
history will not become extinct due to neglect.
The efforts of the Maine Lighthouse Museum, American Lighthouse Foundation
and Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse continue to make the Midcoast
shine.
Evidence of such neglect was clearly apparent this week when leaders of
those lighthouse organizations visited the Owls Head beacon after the recent
signing of the U.S. Coast Guard license.
Peeling paint, dirt and dust have already dulled the brilliance of the
priceless fourth-order lens. The Owls Head Light was authorized and first
lit in 1825. Today this Fresnel lens, which replaced the original lamps in
1856, remains in use.
In the 1970s and 1980s, it was sad to watch the tradition of official
lighthouse keeping fade as automation conquered tradition, but it is even
more worrisome today to consider lighthouses vanishing because of a lack of
care.
The efforts of lighthouse organizations nationwide and of volunteers, along
with the general public’s generous financial support, are the only rays of
hope for the future of lighthouses.
As Paul Dilger, project coordinator for the restoration of Owls Head Light,
puts it – lighthouses don’t get restored to their “former splendor” for
long. The harsh elements tend to require constant maintenance.
All of these organizations, as well, need constant replenishment of funds to
keep the lights glowing and to educate citizens of our great heritage.
We hope that as these organizations move forward they will gain more
strength with the new partnership that has been formed.
Dot Black, also known as “Mrs. Lighthouse,” was appointed president of the
American Lighthouse Foundation earlier this month. Black is the widow of Ken
Black, aka Mr. Lighthouse, who founded the Maine Lighthouse Museum more than
three decades ago. She also is president of the Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse.
Said Black of the Owls Head deal, “We have just formed a triangle.”
That triangle isn’t just the Maine Lighthouse Museum, American Lighthouse
Foundation and Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. It’s Black, Dilger
and Bob Trapani, who is the American Lighthouse Foundation executive
director and Maine Lighthouse Museum director.
They are our local keepers of American lighthouse tradition.
We hope the citizens in our communities will give these organizations and
their leaders the helping hand they need to preserve our lighthouse
heritage.
Posted: 1/24/2008
