Beavertail Light, America’s 3rd oldest lighthouse

07/23/09
Beavertail Light Station is Looking for Help from the ‘User Marine Community”. Sitting at the southern end of Conanicut Island at the entrance of Narragansett Bay since 1749, Beavertail Light, America’s 3rd oldest lighthouse is getting its 1st major restoration in 150 years.

The original 1749 foundation still stands and the present light tower and keepers house built in 1856 was used by the 19th century US Lighthouse Board to develop early technology lighting apparatus including horse driven fog signals and gas lighting.

You can’t make passage into or out of Narragansett Bay without passing it. Still an active navigation aid and automated in 1972 by the U.S. Coast Guard, its “Keeper’s” are no longer resident on the site and the buildings have been allowed to deteriorate and decay. Lighthouse enthusiasts and in this case, the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association (BLMA), a non-profit organization does what it can to maintain the property and buildings in an effort to preserve the historic buildings which has been recognized as a National Historic Place by the US National Park Service. They operate a museum in the 113 year old Assistant Keeper’s house, telling the story of Beavertail’s history and that of the 31 other lighthouses in Rhode Island waters. Only 13 are still active with the remaining either extinct or abandoned.

The BLMA now is undertaking a Capital Fund Raising Campaign to preserve the site for future generations and expand their museum into the other vacant buildings on the Light Station. “It’s a Rhode Island artifact” they say that needs your help.

Starting with grant funds received this year, the entire granite Light Tower is under restoration including the replacement of all the corroded iron, broken catwalks and railings surrounding the light. New steel panels and decks below the lens room have been installed. Cracked mortar securing the granite tower blocks is being replaced and external repairs to both Keeper houses is underway. This external renovation and repair work will exceed $327,000, part of which needs to be paid by matching funds. They estimate another $1,200,000 will be need for all the repairs, restorations including the expanded museum.

In a novel way, the BLMA is reaching out to yacht clubs, shipping companies, boat builders, tug and ferry operators, marinas, marine interests and the marine trades for help. They feel the user’s of the light over the past 260 years are the ones who befitted from its guiding light and daytime prominence. They say “the light is an old friend who provided guidance and safe passage in and out of the bay all those years to sailors and those who supported the vessels who used it”. Paying it back with a donation for being there day and night for over two centuries and to preserve it for next generations is all for a good cause.

Special acknowledgment plaques will be placed in the museum for those who help. For more information contact the Fund Chairman Anthony Antine - Beavertaillight.org

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