Barnegat Lighthouse Restoration

Barnegat Lighthouse | credit: USCG

Barnegat Lighthouse will be closed to visitors for approximately seven months for a $1.3 million restoration of the historic lighthouse, according to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

The lighthouse closure began Monday, March 14. Construction work through October will involve a complete exterior restoration of the lighthouse, masonry recoating and repairs to the brick facade, interior lantern steel platform repairs, roof repairs, and the installation of new windows. 

The lighthouse will remain dark for the duration of the project being done by Spartan Construction General Contracting, Inc. of South Amboy.

Scaffolding will also be erected for the entire height of the lighthouse. The restoration project is funded by the Corporate Business Tax.

As part of the restoration effort, the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse will donate a new beacon light for the lighthouse as well as new security fencing. 

After being decommissioned in 1927, the Barnegat Lighthouse sat dark until January 1, 2009 when the Friends of Barnegat Lighthouse donated the current light.

Located on the northern tip of Long Beach Island, the Barnegat Lighthouse is one of the signature destinations along the Jersey shore and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park will remain open during the renovation, including the park office, interpretive center, fisherman’s walkway, and trails. During the restoration, Americans with Disabilities Act access will not be available along the fisherman’s walkway.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park is a popular destination for fishing, hiking, birding, picnicking, and other outdoor recreation.

Lighthouse enthusiasts can visit several historic navigational aids in New Jersey including Twin Lights Historic Site in Highlands, Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City, and Cape May Lighthouse in Cape May Point.

More information about New Jersey’s parks, forests, and historic sites can be found at www.njparksandforests.org.

source: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)

American Littoral Society Montauk Spring Getaway

American Littoral Society Montauk Spring Weekend
June 7-9, 2013
Montauk Manor
Montauk, New York

The American Littoral Society (ALS) is sponsoring a spring weekend at the Montauk Manor in Montauk, New York. The event will begin with an orientation and slide show on Friday night.

Activities include: hiking, birding, tide pools, butterflies, rocky cliffs, a visit to Montauk Light, and an optional whale watch.

The Montauk Manor features well-appointed rooms, restaurant, hot tub, pool, and views of the Atlantic.

For more information, visit www.littoralsociety.org

Long Island Head Light Transferred to National Park Service

The U.S. Coast Guard transferred management of Long Island Head Light to the National Park Service in a ceremony on Saturday, June 25, 2011.

Transferring lighthouses from the Coast Guard to others is part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

 

This act allows for lighthouse ownership transfer to other federal agencies or local government agencies as well as non-profit corporations or educational institutions, all of which must be committed to cultural or historic preservation.

Long Island Head Light became one of the first cast iron lighthouses in the US in 1844 and has been in and out of service since the early 19th century. It is currently operational after a renovation in 1985.

Long Island is city-owned and a restricted area. Now, with the park’s new addition, Long Island Head Light will be open to the public for special trips and programs organized by the park. The park service is currently making moves to assess the lighthouse’s overall safety before organizing excursions for the public.

The ceremony itself took place on city soil thanks to the help of Antonia Pollak, Commissioner of Boston Parks and Recreation, who also attended. The land transfer was a mere 0.06 acres of land between the two government agencies and is the only piece of land currently owned by the National Park Service within the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

The Coast Guard has been maintaining Long Island Head Light with the assistance of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary currently assists with maintenance on Boston Light located on Little Brewster Island, another island part of the Boston Harbor Islands.

The Long Island Head Light’s grounds are being maintained with great efforts by the Auxiliary Flotilla 53-Constitution and hopefully Flotilla volunteers will continue their work after this transfer. The beacon itself will still continue to be run by the Coast Guard.

source: USCG 1st District