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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 889
Wells, Maine 04090
207-646-0245
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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Staff Members from
U.S. Senator Susan Collins’ Office Visit Wood
Island Light Station
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| On August 14, 2006 the American
Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) and its chapter, the Friends of Wood Island
Lighthouse, escorted staff members representing the office of United
States Senator Susan Collins to Wood Island Light Station. The purpose
of the site visit was to convey firsthand the financial needs and
operational challenges ALF is facing with preserving Maine’s historic
lighthouses in the wake of the organization’s $1.5 million dollar
Federal |
Photo by Sean Murphy
(L to R) Brad Coupe, president of the
Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse,
Mark LeDuc, Senior Counsel to U.S.
Senator Susan Collins, Peter Rogers, State Office Representative for
Senator Collins and
Bob Trapani, Jr., American
Lighthouse Foundation executive director
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appropriation
request, which was submitted through Senator Collins’ office in late-January
2006.
ALF is seeking Federal funding in support of the eleven Maine lighthouses
under its care – a list that includes: Wood Island, Pemaquid Point, Little
River, Rockland Breakwater, Boon Island, Halfway Rock, Cape Elizabeth,
Prospect Harbor, Perkins Island, Ram Island Ledge and Whaleback.
Representing Senator Collins’ office was Mark LeDuc, Senior Counsel to the
Senator in Washington, D.C. and State Office Representative Peter Rogers,
based out of the Senator’s Biddeford, Maine office. The |
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Photo by Sean Murphy
(L to R) Mark LeDuc listens as
Brad Coupe explains an aspect
of the light station site
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opportunity
for the Senator’s staff to view firsthand a representative ALF project
depicting both the challenges and value of the organization’s efforts to
preserve Maine’s lighthouse heritage was an extremely important step in
the appropriations process. The site visit also provides Senator Collins
and her staff with even stronger background information and possible new
strategies they can apply in support of ALF’s request as they work to
advocate in Congress for this much-needed funding for Fiscal Year 08.
During their
visit to Wood Island, the Senator’s staff walked in the footsteps of the
many keepers and their families that once served at |
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the lighthouse as they toured the
interior of both the former keeper’s house and light tower. Brad Coupe,
president of the ALF chapter, Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, and Sean
Murphy, chapter vice-president, presented Mr. LeDuc and Mr. Rogers with many
facets of the light station’s history throughout the tour, as well as
explaining the challenges and goals of preserving the remote historic site,
which is located on an island off Biddeford Pool.
In addition, ALF executive director Bob Trapani touched on how Wood Island
was a very good representation of the types of complex restoration |
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projects the American Lighthouse Foundation undertakes
throughout the state of Maine (and New England). The site visit to Wood
Island demonstrated how ALF is committed to providing the general public
with access to the organization’s lighthouses, as well as how preserving
lighthouses and sharing them with the public enhances educational
opportunities and environmental awareness.
Senator Susan Collins herself has expressed an interest
to her staff in personally making a site visit to Wood Island Light
Station in 2006 as well, which is an exciting prospect for both the
American Lighthouse Foundation and Maine lighthouses in general. “The
lighthouses of Maine |
Photo by Sean Murphy
(L to R) Peter Rogers and Bob Trapani
talk about the goal of restoring the interior of the
keeper's house at Wood Island
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are not only
important to our state,” says ALF executive director Bob Trapani, Jr., “they
are also a major part of our nation’s history and possess an undeniable
connection to the leadership role of the Federal government. The Senator’s
visit to an ALF lighthouse like Wood Island would greatly raise awareness
for what our organization is undertaking and accomplishing – and why it is
so important that we are successful in obtaining the financial support of
the Federal government as part of a diverse funding effort to save, preserve
and interpret America’s lighthouse heritage for future generations.”
In 1789, the new Congress of the United States demonstrated its
understanding of the immense value that lighthouses offered our country by
passing the Ninth Act of Congress, which tasked the Federal government with
maintaining the present lights (and other aids to |
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Photo by Sean Murphy
Staff members from Senator Collins' DC
and Biddeford offices tour the
historic
light tower at Wood Island
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navigation) of the time, and empowering them to build
thousands more in the decades to follow. Lighthouses helped establish
America’s economic prosperity, military might and were benevolent
symbols to countless thousands of immigrants seeking a new life in the
United States.
Trapani also notes, “If we are to preserve and
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interpret this
amazing connection that lighthouses have forged throughout American history
for future generations – a heritage that is forever intertwined with
everything that has made the United States the greatest nation on earth, we
need a team effort from both the public and private sectors. This is why the
American Lighthouse Foundation is so elated at the interest and support
being received from Senator Collins and her office. The Senator not only
understands the vital importance of our mission, she is also committed to
working with ALF to obtain the necessary Congressional support for our
organization’s Federal appropriation request.”
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| It is critical for Maine’s
historic lighthouses to receive the support of our Congressional
delegation if we are to avoid losing many of these irreplaceable and
beloved treasures to time and the elements. Now is that time for action.
Thankfully, Senator Susan Collins understands the urgent plight facing
our lights today and has stepped forward to advocate for their future so
that we are successful in “leaving a light on’ for tomorrow’s keepers in
Maine and throughout America. |
Official Photo
Senator Susan M. Collins
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