The Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration Committee, as a
subsidiary of the American Lighthouse Foundation, is a duly qualified
and recognized 501(c)(3) organization. We have been meeting for over two
years for the purpose of arranging for and completing the restoration of
the Sandy Neck Lighthouse, located in Barnstable, Massachusetts. As you
may be aware, this is the only remaining original lighthouse in the
shire town of Barnstable.
As you know, as part of our maritime history, the
establishment of lighthouses along our 225 miles of coastline has been
significant.
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Sandy Neck Light
Massachusetts
Highland Light,
constructed in 1797, was the first lighthouse erected on the Cape and 25
more lighthouses were to follow. The Sandy Neck Lighthouse was originally
constructed in Barnstable Harbor in 1827 with the present tower having been
erected in 1857. The tower itself was decommissioned in 1931 by the U.S.
Lighthouse Service who removed the uppermost portion (the lantern room) and
it has remained in this condition since. Time and severe weather are
impacting this historic structure.
In recognition of our maritime history, there is a significant nationwide
effort occurring presently to restore America’s lighthouses, not by the
government, but by private citizens willing to give their time and effort.
Those of us who are members of the Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration
Committee have been working on this project for the past few years and are
currently affiliated, as stated above, with the American Lighthouse
Foundation, a federally recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit group. The
restoration project involves a considerable amount of effort as well as
financial costs.
At the present time we have undertaken to complete the restoration of the
lighthouse tower with a new lantern by soliciting private donations. This is
Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
Sandy Neck Light's oil house will be
restored in the next phase of restoration
more difficult
than the traditional way of obtaining government and semi-government
grants from various funds and organizations.
We are seeking to raise $75,000 to complete the
fabrication of the cast-iron lantern room, have it shipped to
Barnstable, and erected. We also expect to install a light element of
some kind, to be determined in part by the Coast Guard, once the
restoration of the tower is complete. The rebuilding of the old oil house
adjoining the tower will be the next phase.
The Sandy Neck Lighthouse Restoration Committee consists of:
Ron S. Jansson, Esq., Jim Walker (USCG Ret.), Ken Morton,
Richard Boonisar,
David Crocker, William I. Crocker, Louis Cataldo
and Lou Gonzaga.
To contact this chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation:
