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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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Governor Celebrates
Historic Relighting of
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
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East
Providence, RI: Governor Donald Carcieri was joined by 175 people at the
official relighting celebration of the Pomham Rocks Lighthouse on
Sunday, July 30, 2006 at the Save the Bay campus in Providence. The
event was held in conjunction with the Governor’s Bay Day activities.
The 135 year-old lighthouse is located 800 feet off the coast of East
Providence.
The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, a chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation, hosted the celebration and included
state and local dignitaries, members of the organization, former
residents of the lighthouse, friends and donors, and lighthouse
organizations from the east coast.
Timothy Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse
Foundation in |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Rhode Island Governor
Donald Carcieri addresses the audience
during the Pomham Rocks relighting ceremony on
the importance of the Ocean
State's maritime heritage
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Maine, served as master of ceremonies. The official program began with a
U.S. Coast Guard Color Guard from Providence and a Boy Scouts Honor Guard
from Troop 2 in Barrington and Troop 6 in Cranston. Donald Doucette,
chairman of the organization, presented Governor Donald Carcieri with a
framed, color photograph of the restored lighthouse and a lifetime
membership in the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
U.S. Senator Lincoln Chaffee congratulated the group on their efforts in
raising funds for the exterior restoration and Lt. Governor Charles Fogarty
read a proclamation from his office. Chief Herman Hause, officer in charge
of the U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team in Bristol, RI, |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
United States Senator Lincoln Chaffee
congratulates the
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
for their efforts to forge this historic moment
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expressed the
sentiments of the U.S. Coast Guard to the organization for preserving
the lighthouse, as it represents a piece of history in the community and
is an active navigational aid in Narragansett Bay. Mr. Harrison read a
proclamation from Congressman Patrick Kennedy who was unable to attend
the event, and representatives from Senator Jack Reed’s officer were
also present. Acting East Providence City Manager, Jeanne Boyle, was in
attendance with City Councilwoman, Valerie Perry, Senator Michael
Damiani, and Representatives Jack Savage, Helio Melo and Henry Rose.
Mayor Joseph
Larisa read a proclamation from the City of East Providence to the
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. He also announced |
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that the East
Providence City Council recently voted unanimously to request the transfer
of a $100,000 Department of Transportation grant to be used for Phase II of
the interior restoration work on Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. The request needs
to be approved by the Department of Transportation.
Dennis Houston,
executive vice president of ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company,
congratulated the Friends of Pomham Rocks on their efforts of restoring the
lighthouse’s exterior to its original glory of 1871. |
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| He then announced that ExxonMobil would
be contributing $75,000 to pay off the remaining debt from the $320,000
Phase I project. The lighthouse is owned by ExxonMobil and is being
leased to the Friends of Pomham Rocks (via the chapter relationship with
the American Lighthouse Foundation) for twenty-five years at no charge.
ExxonMobil has previously contributed $50,000 |
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
An overview of the gathering for the
ceremonies associated with the
relighting of Pomham Rocks Light
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towards the
restoration during Phase I.
After the presentations were made, Governor Carcieri led the countdown to
the official relighting of the steady (fixed) red light in the tower. He lit
the red light on a 4’ x 5’ replica of the lighthouse at the event and
everyone watched as the red light came on in the lighthouse across the bay.
As the red light glowed, the bottom of the lighthouse structure was
illuminated in white light for a dramatic ending to a memorable celebration.
Spectators were also lined up along the East Bay Bike Path in East
Providence and in boats on the Narragansett Bay. As the lights came on,
boaters honked their horns and cameras flashes could be seen across the
water as the historic event concluded.
The goal of the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse is to fully restore the
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse and the property. It will occasionally be open to |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) ALF president Timothy Harrison
reads a proclamation from Congressman
Patrick Kennedy's office as FPRL
chairman Don Doucette looks on
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the public for
tours and educational purposes. There is no easy access to the
lighthouse as it sits on a rock, 800 feet off the coast of East
Providence. It is visible via the East Bay Bike Path, Sabin Point Park,
locations along the waterfront in Providence and Cranston and from boats
on the water.
The Friends of
Pomham Rocks Lighthouse are |
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also looking for
more information regarding the lightkeepers and their families that served
at the lighthouse since the time it was built in 1871. They have recently
discovered the gravesites of a few of the lightkeepers on Cape Cod and East
Providence.
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
(L to R) RI Governor Donald Carcieri,
FPRL chairman Donald Doucette and
Mayor Joseph Larisa of the
City of East Providence
More Photos from the event...
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Posted: 8/28/06 |
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