The Restoration of Rockland Breakwater Light
Moves Ahead in Clockwork Fashion
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
Lighthouse
restoration is not about a moment in time, but rather a continual string
of moments that comprise the arduous journey to transform a neglected
beacon back to its former shining glory. One of the finer examples of
volunteers “staying the course”
in lighthouse
preservation can be
ALF Photo
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
found within the
efforts to restore the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in Rockland, Maine.
Undertaking the responsibility and honor of saving this treasured sentinel
is the Friends of Rockland Breakwater, a chapter of the American Lighthouse
Foundation.
As the Friends of Rockland Breakwater prepare for another busy work season
at the lighthouse, it is quite evident that their passionate efforts are
making a major difference inside the structure – even to the
Friends of Rockland Breakwater Photo
Volunteers work to clean up a room
in the lighthouse currently under restoration.
most casual observer. Arriving at this point where
progress is visible at every turn just didn’t happen though. The friends
group, under the leadership of chapter president Dot Black, is about to
embark on their eighth year of restoration in 2006 – a project that
began back in 1999.
Since that time, the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse have
literally put their heart & soul into giving the historic 1902 beacon a new
lease on life. From stabilizing and safeguarding the building to focusing on
a variety of projects on the light’s interior and exterior; their volunteer
commitment has never wavered in moving the project forward. In systematic
fashion over the years, this proud and energetic group has removed falling
ceilings and debris from the structure’s interior, stripped and repainted
countless wood surfaces, replaced wallboard, had the electricity restored to
the rooms inside the lighthouse, installed a security system and window
shutters, just to name few of their many contributions to the rebirth of the
sentinel.
Thanks to the hard work of the chapter’s volunteer keepers “in the
trenches,” Maine Coast Construction, the professional firm handling the
historic restoration facets of the project, has been able
to focus more on the complexities of the preservation. The volunteer
contributions were never more evident than in 2005. According to Friends
of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse Project Coordinator Warren Kincaid,
“volunteers began the long and
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
The interior restoration progress is
evident throughout the lighthouse.
demanding chore of stripping many coats of paint from all the downstairs
doors, staircase and window frames. This is a very time consuming job and
will continue this year, and perhaps longer.”
If restoring the
Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse was merely about volunteers and contractors
showing up for the physical hard work aspects of the project, things would
be far less complicated, however, no one just “shows up” at the lighthouse
without good planning and
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Visitors are permitted to tour the
lighthouse while efforts are underway to restore it.
cooperative
weather. Kincaid explains, “As you might suspect, transportation
problems count for most of the logistical challenges to restorations of
this type. It is not just the actual moving of personnel and material,
but the planning of large and often complicated jobs that is difficult.”
Kincaid went on to say, “On shore, if you run into a
snag, a simple run to the supplier is quick and easy. Unforeseen
problems can be solved with little waste of manpower and time. No so at
the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, which sits at the end of an almost
mile-long breakwater. Not only is
the working season short due to the availability of the access float, but
also a contractor can ill-afford to hold up a crew waiting for parts, tools
or weather.”
While the Rockland Breakwater Light’s restoration moves along like
clockwork, the encompassing effort does not prevent the chapter’s intrepid
volunteers from opening the lighthouse to the public every weekend from
Memorial Day through mid-October for educational purposes. Visitors have an
opportunity to learn about our lighthouse heritage, but also see a
restoration project in progress – and why it is so important for the
community to continue supporting what has become a true labor of love for
the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse.
Thanks to their dedication, the public is able to gain an understanding of
the bygone lightkeepers – and the lightkeepers of today. In the past three
years alone, over 32,000 people have walked nearly a mile one
way over the
rugged breakwater for the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of
history and learn of the light’s visions of tomorrow. Given the City of
Rockland’s rich connection to the sea, the community can take great
pride in what the Friends of Rockland Breakwater are doing to preserve a
proud maritime symbol that bridges the City’s past and future.
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Trekking equipment and supplies to
the lighthouse over the 7/8-mile
breakwater makes restoration that
much more challenging
Warren Kincaid, Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Light’s Project Coordinator, on the Lighthouse and Being a Part
of its History…
“The Breakwater Lighthouse is one of those often-overlooked places in
Rockland’s important but largely ignored past. Landmarks become so common to
us because they are just part of the landscape. We see them so often that
they become almost invisible.
Since becoming a member of the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse,
the lighthouse has changed from just being part of Rockland’s background to
being part of Rockland’s ‘presence.’
As I work on the lighthouse and see it slowly get back into good shape, I
realize that we are living in truly a different age. The lighthouse was
Friends of Rockland Breakwater Photo
Warren Kincaid - Friends of Rockland
Breakwater Lighthouse
built when the world was a much larger place. Its
construction was during a time when the words ‘quality, durability and
function’ meant something far different than today’s ‘quick, easy and
cheap.’ It was built to last and it was built to perform its duty in
style. In one hundred years it hasn’t worn out – it has just been
neglected.
By being involved
in its restoration I not only learn and appreciate its history, I have
become part of its history. As I stripped some multi-layered paint off the
tower’s doorframe I uncovered a penciled signature and date written on bare
wood by whom I suppose was an original builder. I may just choose a spot on
a yet-to-be-painted piece of trim and do the same. It’s a small thing but
it’s like putting myself in a time capsule to be discovered perhaps one
hundred years in the future. Barring catastrophe, the lighthouse should
still be there.”
