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Lighthouse for Sale
The historic Borden Flats Lighthouse off shore near Fall River, Massachusetts is for sale for $1.25 million. The lighthouse has been rented for overnight stays since 2017, and is nearly always sold out. The 142-year-old lighthouse is four stories of living space with the lantern as the fifth floor. The lighthouse features a kitchenette with a propane range/oven, a dining area, a half-bathroom, a couple of living areas (one with a 1910 Victrola and 78 rpm records to play), and a bedroom. There is even a smart TV. The interior space of the lighthouse is about 900 sq. feet, plus three outdoor decks provide another 2,000 sq. feet of space. For more info visit lighthouse4sale.com
Saving the Tchefuncte River Lighthouse
The 1837 Tchefuncte River Lighthouse on Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, is at risk due to coastal erosion, and its door is dangerously close to the water. Local officials have planned restoration efforts, including marsh rebuilding and the installation of a breakwater to curb wave action. Parish President Mike Cooper and board member John Ammerman aim to reduce regular nuisance flooding in the area. The project will soon begin, reinforcing the lighthouse and protecting it from further coastal damage.
Tarrytown Lighthouse
For the first time since 2020, the historic Tarrytown Lighthouse in Sleepy Hollow was open for free public tours in October of 2024. The lighthouse is owned by Westchester County who completed a two-year $3.4 million interior and exterior rehabilitation in early 2024. The lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration included exterior repairs and repainting, addressing caisson cracks, window and door replacement, cleaning and re-pointing of the foundation masonry, refurbishing of the interior plaster and painting finishes, restoring the wood floors, reconstruction of the intermediate landing between the bridge and gangway, a new security gate on the mainland, and new electric exterior lighting. Let’s hope they are open for tours more regularly now that it is looking so fine.
Replacement at Nauset Beach
Recently, Nauset Beach Light in North Eastham, Massachusetts was provided with a Vega VRB-25 replacement beacon by the Coast Guard. A special shout out to USCG ANT Woods Hole, specifically past OIC BMC Rob Lester who found the replacement, and with the help of BMCS Manny Gonzalez and Petty Officer Ryan Halloran, for coordinating the procurement.
Barcelona Lighthouse Get a Face Lift
Located in Westfield, New York, Barcelona Light was the first natural gas lighthouse in the United States. Today, this historic landmark is no longer used for navigational purposes, but is maintained by NY State Parks & Historic Sites and remains open to the public. After nearly two centuries, the lighthouse was in need of some upgrades and repairs.
Amelia Island Beacon Shines Again
The Amelia Island Light in Florida went dark in early 2023 due to a mechanical failure, leaving it unlit for 18 months until repairs were completed in August 2024. Originally constructed on Cumberland Island, the lighthouse tower was relocated to Amelia Island in 1838. If you are interested in visiting, the lighthouse grounds are open to the public on Saturdays.
Oops!
In the Keepers Korner item “New Exhibits at Admiralty Head Lighthouse” in the November/December 2024 issue of Lighthouse Digest we mistakenly stated that the Admiralty Lighthouse is in Olympia, Washington. It is located on Whidby Island. We apologize for the error.
Painting Lighthouses
Douglas Jackson of Grove, Texas paints lighthouses using a headband to hold the brush. We think you will agree with us, that he is quite talented!
Robbins Reef Light
The Robbins Reef Lighthouse restoration continues. The Noble Maritime Collection currently cares for the lighthouse.
Ham radio enthusiasts establish radio links from Sagar Island lighthouse
The Gangasagar Fair witnessed the first-ever “Lighthouse on the Air” event at Sagar Islands, conducted by state ham radio enthusiasts. This initiative provides an alternate communication method during natural calamities when regular lighthouse-ship links fail. Lighthouses, crucial for maritime navigation, emit unique coded signals decoded by ship pilots. The global “World Lighthouse on the Air” challenge promotes such amateur radio activities. During Cyclone Amphan in 2020, ham operators led by Jayanta Baidya and Soham Chakraborty, restored communication in Sagar Islands. The operation received support from Port Commander N.K. Biswas, Marine Director Abhijit Ghosh, and lighthouse keeper Umesh Kumar.
Iowa’s Lighthouse Inn destroyed by fire
Cedar Rapids historic Lighthouse Inn Supper Club was destroyed by a fire in August 2024. The flames spread through the structure quickly. There were no people inside at the time of the fire and damage was limited to the restaurant and did not spread to any nearby buildings. The Lighthouse Inn had just celebrated its 112-year anniversary in July 2024. The historic Lighthouse Inn was reportedly a common stop for Chicago-based mobsters during Prohibition, including Al Capone and John Dillinger.
Montauk Lighthouse and Teddy Roosevelt
In the Long Island Collection at the East Hampton (NY) Library is an interesting document. The page is from the guestbook of the lighthouse keeper Capt. J.G. Scott at the Montauk Lighthouse. On September 6, 1898 Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (a.k.a. Rough Riders). In August 1898 the not-yet-president of the United States landed in Montauk to quarantine at Camp Wikoff, and later paid a visit to the Montauk Lighthouse and signed its guestbook.
Oregon Lighthouse In Need of Help
Bandon, Oregon’s Coquille River Lighthouse is not as endangered as is the Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, which is on the Doomsday List, but it is in need of repairs. Engineers say the lighthouse is structurally sound, but the roof leaks which is causing damage. The tower, staircase and wraparound catwalk are all closed to the public. Oregon Parks and Recreation who leases the lighthouse from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers since 2007, have made some fixes through the years, such as reconstruction of the chimney, patching, crack repair, and painting.
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This story appeared in the
Jan/Feb 2025 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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