You may have heard that FOSIL (Friends of the Swan’s Island Lighthouse) is working to assemble an endowment fund to assure that money is available for future major repairs and maintenance at Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station. FOSIL’s mission is to support the Town of Swan’s Island in preserving the light station, and that mission is as important now as it was during the restoration project.

The buildings, particularly the keeper’s house, are so vulnerable. They are in an exposed location, subject to wind and rain, ice and snow. Around the year 2000, the keeper’s house looked like this:

Today, it looks like this:

We want it to keep looking just as fine for many years ahead! To make that happen, we anticipate serious maintenance and repair expenses for all four buildings: for instance, it is predictable that within the next 20 years there will be a need for repainting inside and out, roof repairs, leach field and septic tank replacement. Those are the predictable expenses; we need to be prepared for the unpredictable as well. Repair and maintenance of the trails around Hockamock Head will also be needed.

In order to meet future expenses, FOSIL plans to build an endowment of $400,000. The endowment will be carefully invested and overseen by the FOSIL board, with advice from financial experts in our Advisory Council. The principal will remain untouched for five years, and thereafter, as major maintenance and repair expenses occur, upon a showing of need, FOSIL will transfer funds to the Town to cover the expense.

We invite you to contribute to the FOSIL Endowment. You can do so by making a contribution right on this website. Check the box to show that your gift is to the endowment. Or, send a check to FOSIL Treasurer, PO Box 86, Swans Island ME 04685. For information about gifts of stock or future planned giving, please send a message to [email protected]