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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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Red Slate for Pomham Rocks a
Story within a Story
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse President Don Doucette
provided the following update...
Hello all,
During the early evening hours of August, 26, 2005, approximately three tons
of Grade A quality darkest red roofing slate arrived to the State of Rhode
Island. The slate will be used to restore the mansard roof of the |
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| Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. This precious
cargo was painstakingly and carefully trucked to the state by Keith
Lescarbeau of Abcore Restorations aided by his most competent assistant,
Kenny Reid. I had convinced Keith to take me along and was not
disappointed. The rare red slate was mined, worked and |
Photo by Don Doucette
(L to R) Kenny Reid & Keith Lescarbeau of
Abcore Restoration Company examine red
slate for Pomham Rocks Light
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prepared for
delivery to Abcore by the long-time firm of Rising & Nelson Slate Company,
LLC of Middle Granville, New York.
We met early Friday morning in Sutton, Massachusetts and from Millbury,
Massachusetts, traveled west on the Massachusetts Turnpike to the furthest
exit in West Stockbridge, Berkshire Hills, Massachusetts. As we traveled
toward higher altitudes, we stopped once and experienced that late summer
crisp morning chill that predicts the demise of summer and the coming
coolness of early autumn.
Having spent a great deal of time in western Massachusetts, I convinced
Keith to alter his expected route of travel. We exited the |
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Photo by Don Doucette
A pallet of red slate is loaded
into Abcore's truck
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Pike in West Stockbridge and skipped
through several other Massachusetts towns, Richmond and Hancock before
entering Lebanon, New York on Route 20 west and accessed NY Route 22
north. NY Route 22 runs south to north along the eastern border of New
York State. Route 22 is a |
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scenic rural road
less traveled that runs north through Middle Granville, NY, our destination.
This was a busman's holiday of sorts for Keith and Kenny, but not totally.
Not to say they did not enjoy the day away from normal tasks - Keith's
reasoning, and I agree, since the slate is so heavy and fragile - the color
and grade so critical, better to travel to the source, inspect the product
for soundness and quality - and transport it back personally to ensure safe
and proper delivery. Otherwise, it would have been delivered cheap freight
and if any of the essential criteria were compromised, a great deal of
valuable time would have been lost.
We did enjoy the ride. I know some of the territory and never tire of being
there. Keith and Kenny, especially, marveled at the beauty of the
countryside. It had been summer dry, but there was a more sylvan texture to
the land than at home - blue sky smattered with cloud puffs |
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- a summer-like Canadian sky. Many brooks and kills
waited to be filled by autumn rains. And, the dairy farms, some still
operating, many others gone fallow, typical of the New England and New
York rural landscape. And, for those gone fallow, deteriorating houses,
barns and out buildings, rusting equipment |
Photo courtesy Don Doucette
(L to R) Keith Lescarbeau & Don
Doucette display a piece of red slate
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offset by pastures going back to the natural process of succession. And in
that early succession before the sprouting of tree and shrub seedlings, the
profusion of late summer blooming goldenrod, lavender Joe-Pye weed and white
boneset. Breathtaking.
We arrived at Middle Granville, New York at mid-day and located Rising and
Nelson in short order. I believe Rising & Nelson is the oldest continuous
slate producer in the history of Slate Valley. As we had approached what is
called the Slate Valley, we knew we were getting close. The amount of local
slate roofs on houses, barns and buildings seemed to increase as we drew
near. Slate veins could be seen in road cuts, much like coal in
Pennsylvania, also, as outcroppings in pastures and piles of slate waste
goose-bumped the local terrain. The landscape was much the same as that we
had already experienced except the bedrock beneath was slate. Obviously,
much of that went unseen.
We discovered that slate yards do not dominate the landscape
like other industries. They are literally and metaphorically close to the
earth |
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Photo by Don Doucette
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
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operations and
very labor intensive. They do employ foreign labor part of the year
along with local folk who are difficult to hold for any length of time.
A familiar story these days. The traditional workers had been of Welsh
roots.
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The Rising & Nelson staff treated us with great respect and politeness. Our
slate was ready and waiting and in good order much to the satisfaction of
Keith and Kenny. The pallets of slate were loaded into the truck with great
care. I was in heaven with the prospect of actually seeing for the first
time the red slate that will be installed at the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
along with the actual craftsmen who will do the work. And also, being in
Slate Valley and seeing first hand how slate tiles are produced. The three
of us had never been there before - it was essential business, but such a
great time together was savored and enjoyed. We, along with the rare red
slate returned to Rhode Island with much satisfaction, our great
expectations had been fully met.
Thank you Keith and Kenny for your good-natured hospitality - it was an
experience I shall never forget.
Respectfully submitted,
Don Doucette
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