Top Stories	UPDATED: Tuesday, March 27, 2007
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Keeping the lights on-restoring historic lighthouses

Posted on Tuesday, March 13, 2007

By Michele Harris
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Point Reyes Lighthouse keeper John C. Ryan entered these words into his “keeper’s log” on Jan. 21, 1888: “In taking charge of this station, I must say, that it is broken, filthy, and almost a total wreck from end to end of it. In the worst condition in every particular of any station I ever saw. In fact, it is more like an old saw mill than a light station.”

Over the next year, Ryan and his crew of three worked to repair the internal clockworks of the structure; replace its broken windows; clean the blackened 24-sided lens; and scrub, polish, and shine every part of the broken down lighthouse located near the busy port of San Francisco.

Out of harm’s way
Replaced by radar and Global Positioning System systems years ago, lighthouses no longer play the vital role they once did in keeping ships out of harm’s way, but the work to maintain them continues. Today, legions of volunteers from coast to coast work just as hard as John Ryan and his crew to keep the lighthouses themselves out of harm’s way. Helping volunteers find the information and resources to do the job right is the U.S. Lighthouse Society in San Francisco, Calif.

The society and its chapters preserve lighthouses and sponsor trips and events for people who have a passion for these sometimes overlooked relics of times gone by. Says Jeff Gale, director of the society, “Our members come from all walks of life. We were surprised to learn that people don’t necessarily have to have a maritime or boating background to have an interest in lighthouses. They are people who are concerned about preserving America’s history and historic structures; people who are interested in architecture; people interested in the romance and the stories that each lighthouse tells.”

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Dedicated volunteers
As a boy growing up in Danville, Va., Hobie Statzer dreamed that one day he would see the ocean. It wasn’t until he joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Southern California that his dream came true. Ever since, Statzer has been fascinated with all things related to water.

Since retiring, Statzer has worked alongside a dedicated group of volunteers to bring lighthouses back to their former glory. “We have a fabulous working group,” says Statzer of his friends at the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society. “One man is 70 years old and he’s up on a ladder, holding on with one hand and painting with the other.”

Much of Statzer’s time has been spent restoring the Thomas Point Shoal lighthouse in Annapolis, Md. It’s the kind of work that gives him a chance to exercise his imagination. “I try to visualize what it was like back in 1880 or 1890 out there, isolated. We have a powerboat to take us out. They had a small dingy they had to row back and forth to shore. It’s about a mile and a half off the point and that water can get pretty rough.”

The camaraderie and joy of putting new life back into these unique structures is catching on. Says Statzer, “Over the past 18 years, I’ve seen this whole lighthouse restoration thing catch on like wildfire. Back then there was hardly any interest, but today, it’s very popular.”

Joining the Lighthouse Society isn’t limited by geography. Says Gale, “There are many important lighthouse restoration projects going on right now, and just because you live in a totally landlocked state like Colorado doesn’t mean you can’t get involved with one of these projects.” The Chesapeake Chapter even has a member from Frankfurt, Ky., who makes the trip east from time to time to help out.

Lighthouse expeditions
For those who love lighthouses but aren’t interested in the physical labor of restoring them, the society offers other ways to enjoy and learn about lighthouses. Says Gale, “We conduct lighthouse excursions or expeditions. We take people all over the United States and all over the world. This year, we’re going to Japan for the first time. We’re going to the Shetland and Orkney Isles in Scotland.”

Closer to home, the society is planning trips to Oregon, Michigan, Maine, and Nova Scotia.

Statzer and his wife have photo albums filled with pictures of the over 250 lighthouses they have visited. Says Statzer, “I know one fellow who has over 350 pictures, so in a way, we’re just getting started.”

For more information about the U.S. Lighthouse Society visit www.uslhs.org.

Lighthouse trivia

• The first known lighthouse was built in ancient Egypt between 300 and 280 B.C.

• The first American lighthouse was built in 1716 on Little Brewster Island in Boston. The British destroyed it.

• The oldest existing U.S. lighthouse, built in 1764 in Sandy Hook, N.J., is still in operation.

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Keeping the lights on-restoring historic lighthouses

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