As the crews of J.B. Leslie Masonry Contractors perform
exterior restoration work on the light tower at Pemaquid Point, glimpses
of the beacon’s past continue to reveal themselves.
In the process of removing the old exterior coatings from
the tower’s granite facade and cutting out the deteriorated masonry
joints, the beauty and craftsmanship that originally went into
constructing the 1835 lighthouse have become more strikingly apparent.
“The original masons who built this lighthouse were
highly skilled workers,” said Jim Leslie, president of J.B. Leslie
Masonry
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
The removal process of the
tower's old exterior coatings
is nearly complete
Contractors. “As
we continue to remove the exterior coatings, all I can say is – wow! The
expert method in which they placed the stonework and tapered the tower is
quite evident.”
Leslie went on to note, “I really enjoy history, so examining the original
work that went into building this tower has given me a greater appreciation
for the really nice job they did back then, especially as we work to restore
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse today.”
The progress of the restoration project itself continues to move steadily
ahead and on schedule. With the bulk of the work for the exterior coatings
removal phase now completed, the crews of J.B. Leslie Masonry
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Jake Johnson works on cutting out old
deteriorated mortar joints
Contractors
are focusing on the tower’s mortar joints. “By the end of this week we
should have all the joints cut out,” said Jim Leslie.
In reviewing
the restoration work completed to date, Jim Leslie noted, “The new
materials will bond nicely on the stonework because of both the careful
prep work and the fact that the new coating will now be the only coating
on the exterior, all of which will allow for the stonework’s definition
to show through much better.”
While crews
wrap up the current restoration phase, the American Lighthouse
Foundation and J.B.
Leslie Masonry
Contractors are simultaneously consulting (an ongoing process) with the
Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Building Conservation Associates
to identify historically appropriate coating and mortar samples to consider
before moving into the next stages of the project, which include repointing
and recoating the lighthouse.
“Each phase of
this restoration is a mini-project unto itself,” said Bob Trapani, Jr.,
executive director for the American Lighthouse Foundation. “As the project
transitions into each new phase, being able to consistently draw on the
historical structure expertise of the Maine Historic Preservation
Commission, Building Conservation Associates and J.B. Leslie Masonry
Contractors, as well as the United States Coast Guard (owners of the
historic site), is proving to be invaluable.”
A close-up view of
the restoration progress from atop
the lighthouse
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Jim Leslie, president
of J.B. Leslie Masonry Contractors, talks about the number of layers of
coatings his crews removed from the granite stonework
