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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.
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Lighthouse Learning Continues to Shine During
Restoration of
Pemaquid Point Light
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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The exterior
of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse may present a strikingly different
appearance to visitors in summer 2007 as the tower undergoes
restoration, but on the inside, the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse
continue to welcome and educate thousands of individuals on the
importance of our lighthouse heritage – all without missing a beat.
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Visitors seeking out Pemaquid Point Light
in summer 2007 get to see
lighthouse restoration in action
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The Pemaquid Point Lighthouse has remained open every day for public tours
since the restoration project began on June 25, 2007 thanks to the teamwork
between the contracting firm J.B. Leslie Masonry Company and the American
Lighthouse Foundation and its local chapter, the Friends of Pemaquid Point
Lighthouse to ensure uninterrupted and safe access.
As visitors approach the light tower, the sight of scaffolding enveloping
the historic structure is quite apparent and immediately spawns feelings of
both surprise and intrigue. Then there is the audible evidence from tools in
action that “speaks” of something good happening to the lighthouse as the
talented crews from J.B. Leslie Masonry Company work to give the 1835 beacon
a full “makeover.”
Through it all, Pemaquid Point Lighthouse still beckons the visitor to come
near, to step inside and experience lighthouse life from not only a bygone |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
FPPL volunteer Beth Chance explains to
visitors how the beacon's optic functions
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era, but from today too as the American Lighthouse
Foundation (ALF) and the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (FPPL)
work to preserve and interpret the iconic beacon.
When visitors have walked into the entryway of the
lighthouse during the summer restoration project, the opening dialogue
between the FPPL |
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volunteers
staffing the beacon and the individuals has been quite inspiring. According
to FPPL volunteer Beth Chance, “Just about everyone says ‘thank you for
doing this,’ or ‘this is great.’”
Chance went on to
say, “The visitors I have met are excited to see the work in progress and it
often causes them to start talking about another lighthouse they know or
have seen. Most everyone asks where the money comes from to do the work, and
of course we get the usual question of ‘what exactly are you doing?’”
FPPL volunteer Susan Young says, “Usually people are glad that we are
performing the restoration and preserving the lighthouse – a part of
history. Visitors are aware of the fact that once something is gone, it’s
gone. They are happy there are groups like ALF / FPPL willing to do this.”
Though educational tours of the lighthouse have continued throughout the
restoration process, it doesn’t mean there haven’t been challenges. Of |
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course some people are disappointed that they cannot
photograph the lighthouse without the presence of scaffolding and work
crews, but the biggest challenge has been for the volunteers of the
Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, who periodically during the
restoration, have had to cope with and talk over the inescapable sounds
of generators and tools in operation.
But for every challenge, opportunity shines through, and
the restoration of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is no exception. The chance
for volunteers to talk with visitors about the importance of lighthouse
preservation has never had a greater impact, as people can visualize
firsthand, |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Sue Young involves students
in learning about the history of
the lighthouse
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preservation in
action just outside the entryway during the restoration.
As Beth Chance notes, “I have been surprised how many visitors bring up the
name of another lighthouse near their hometown and wonder if it too is in
good shape. Quite a few people mention that they know of a lighthouse in
poor repair as well.”
Chance went on to say; “Visitors can’t imagine coming to our Point and not
seeing the lighthouse as they remember it, or as they have seen it in a
picture. What I enjoy seeing is how eager our visitors are to drop some
money into our donation box to help, before we even mention that they too
can contribute to the restoration effort. It is my feeling that it makes
people proud that we are doing all this to save a piece of American / Maine
history.”
Susan Young concurs noting, “By seeing the work being done, visitors realize
that lighthouses can’t be taken for granted – they need upkeep. |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The exterior restoration project has
enabled people to see how the lighthouse
was originally built |
Without it,
lighthouses will disappear. Some people have talked about how fire
watchtowers near their home are falling into disrepair or have
disappeared altogether…and now are lost. They do not want to see that
happen to lighthouses.”
As Pemaquid
Point Lighthouse forges a new chapter in its storied history during the
2007 |
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exterior
restoration project, FPPL volunteers continue to stoke the flames of history
past and present, but these dedicated volunteers are not stopping with
heritage education.
The FPPL “keepers of the light” are also working hard to cultivate a new
generation of preservationists who will in turn, be able to help preserve
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse well into the future.
In the meantime, a sense of great pride and satisfaction within the
volunteers for their work to preserve and interpret Pemaquid Point
Lighthouse is unmistakable. As Beth Chance notes, “I am extremely proud |
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to be a part of our chapter and to have a helping hand in
this project. Seeing the work progress each week has been exciting for
me because we are uncovering history as we remove the old exterior
coatings.”
Chance went on to say, “You can tell too that the crews
working on the lighthouse are enjoying what they are doing even though
the work is hard. Removing the exterior coatings is showing us more
about how the lighthouse was built, and that adds to our appreciation of
the lighthouse.”
Sue Young sums things up, saying, “I believe it is so
important to preserve Pemaquid Point Lighthouse – it is a symbol of our
maritime heritage and what went on before |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
ALF / FPPL are working to make sure the
lighthouse at Pemaquid Point is preserved for future generations |
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us. When I see a
lighthouse, it makes me think of the light guiding people home and of
safety. There is a special draw to lighthouses that many people feel. I am
glad that I am even a small part of preserving this beautiful lighthouse and
to know that it will be around for another 172 years.”
Posted: 8/3/2007 |
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