iron exterior was in 1998, when the Coast Guard hired a contractor to remove
the lead paint and to repaint the tower inside and out.
In 2001, Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (FPHL), a chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) was granted a license to care for the
lighthouse. Since then, volunteers of FPHL have painted the stairs and
woodwork inside the 48-foot tower, along with providing educational tours
for more than 12,000 visitors. Under the group’s care, the 1903 oil house
near the lighthouse was restored, and the 84-foot walkway leading to the
tower was rebuilt in 2006.
In the past couple of years, peeling paint and rust have begun to plague the
structure, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in
2009.FPHL’s board of directors decided that it would be best to hire a
contractor well versed in preserving historic structures to carry out a
thorough repainting, at a cost of $30,000.
The bulk of the funds have been raised through small donations at open
houses and other events, memberships, and sales of souvenirs. New England
Lighthouse Lovers, another chapter of ALF, donated more than $3,500 to the
project.
Performing the work is the J.B. Leslie Company, Inc. of South Berwick,
Maine. ALF was a recipient of a Maine Preservation 2009 Honor Award for
preservation work at Pemaquid Point and Cape Elizabeth lighthouses, carried
out in both locations by J.B. Leslie Company.
As the work began, Bob Trapani, executive director of ALF, commented, “In a
single day, the appearance of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse was transformed
into an active work site with scaffolding enveloping the light tower, but
this historic moment – a few years in the making, was only made possible
thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor
Lighthouse in raising vital funds and public awareness for the popular
beacon’s care.”
Ross Tracy, chairman of FPHL, said, “The many seasons of hard work and gifts
from our generous donors have culminated in the painting of Portsmouth
Harbor Lighthouse. This high-visibility project lets the public see our
preservation efforts first hand and, hopefully, illustrates the power of
volunteers and the unwavering dedication to their historic cause. I think
past keepers like Joshua Card and Elson Small would be pleased with the work
of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse and the American Lighthouse
Foundation and would be proud to know that it was their service and labor
that was the motivation for today’s preservation accomplishments.”
“The staging around the tower, which will help facilitate much TLC on the
light’s exterior,” Trapani added, “is also symbolic in nature. It speaks to
the vigilance of its modern day keepers, and to the generosity of visitors
to the lighthouse and the local businesses who help support the mission of
the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse. Without this kind of effective
teamwork, the history unfolding at the lighthouse today would not have been
possible.”
The work will be completed over the next few weeks, leaving the lighthouse
in like-new condition. The constant assault of wind, waves, and salt air
guarantee that the preservation of the lighthouse will always be an ongoing
project.
Posted: 5/22/2010
