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| JULY 2007 Report from the Lighthouse Committee "WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE LIGHTHOUSE?” Along with the new roof, structural work on the keeper’s house was almost completed last summer. (Structural work remains to be done on the front porch.) The building was closed up for the winter under the supervision of Al Hodson, Resurgence Engineering and Preservation, Portland, a state-approved structural engineer. High winds caused some of the new shingle tabs to break away over the winter and especially in the early spring storms. The damage will be repaired – these shingles are warranted against high wind damage for 10 years. Despite the damaged tabs, the interior of the keeper’s house stayed dry for the first time in many years. Late last summer, we discovered that significant work is needed on the masonry foundation of the keeper’s house. Specifications for this work have been prepared by Al Hodson, and the Lighthouse Committee is in the process of obtaining bids. The masonry contract will include, along with work on the keeper’s house foundation, rebuilding the chimney (from the roofline up) and repairing the bulkhead (the door giving access to the crawl space under the house). This spring we received the Historic Preservation Plan prepared for the Town by Annabelle Radcliffe-Trenner of Historic Building Architects. Preparation of the Plan was financed by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It’s necessary to have such a plan in order to apply for the major grants that will be needed to complete the restoration project on all the buildings and the grounds. The plan makes recommendations which can be accepted or rejected. The plan is available on the town website or can be reviewed at the town office or the library. On August 21, there will be a meeting at which Annabelle will discuss the plan and answer questions about it. The Lighthouse Committee received a $5,000 grant from the Maine Humanities Foundation to gather oral histories and prepare educational materials. Funded by this grant, Donna Wiegle interviewed the descendants of Roscoe Chandler, who was the lighthouse keeper in the early 20th Century. These interviews and historical photos enabled us to install an exhibition in the Rockland Lighthouse Museum and using this material, John and Donna published an article on the history of the lighthouse in the 2007 MDI Historical Society Journal. The interviews and photos will be presented at various venues on the island throughout the summer. The Lighthouse Committee received a grant in June from the Davis Family Foundation of Falmouth, Maine, for restoration work on the windows of the keeper’s house. Another small grant request through the Maine Community Foundation is pending. Meantime, with the Historic Preservation Plan in hand, work will begin towards obtaining the large grants that will be necessary to fund the most important restoration elements of the plan, including the towers. Other projects planned for summer 2007 include installation of a display case to be placed next to the parking area at the lighthouse (island carpenters have been invited to bid), and installation of trash containers. We also hope to have at least one fundraising musical event. (Katy Blake has other engagements this summer, but we hope to welcome her back in summer of 2008.) |
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Donations can be sent to: Swan's Island Lighthouse Committee Town of Swan's Island Swan's Island, ME 04685 Please make check out to "Town of Swan's Island" and note that it is intended for the Lighthouse restoration. |
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