After some 15 years of planning, fund raising, volunteer work and historic restoration, the Town of Swan’s Island is set to complete the restoration of its Burnt Coat Harbor Lighthouse. The “golden spike” was provided by the Maine Community Foundation through a $20,000 grant to complete the interior masonry restoration of the nearly 150 year old lighthouse tower, first lit in 1872. The grant is supplemented by a contribution of $30,500 from the Friends of the Swan’s Island Lighthouse (FOSIL, burntcoatharborlight.com). The $50,500 contract has been signed with the award winning J.B. Leslie, Co., Inc. with work scheduled to begin September 13th and to be completed early in October. The contract also incorporates needed repairs to be made to the concrete pillars of the bell house.
This final masonry work means that the Town and all those who contributed, can celebrate the sesquicentennial lighting of the lamp next August, in the full knowledge that the 2007 restoration plan is completed and the focus can now be essential maintenance. That plan and the more detailed Engineering Work Plan for tower restoration, were approved by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission early in this process. The lighthouse complex consists of four buildings – keeper’s house, fuel house, bell house and the light tower, which is still a working aid to navigation serviced by the U.S. Coast Guard. The town owns the peninsula on which the lighthouse stands and on which two miles of magnificent trails have been constructed.
This final restoration project, supported by MaineCF, involves erection of
scaffolding inside the tower, removal and repair of all damaged mortar joints of the tower interior (about 60-70%), removal and pouring of a new entry slab, and cleaning, rust treating and painting the original metal stairs and landings plus painting the watch room floor. The contract crew will be housed on the island, with housing provided by Lighthouse Committee volunteers.
MaineCF has been a partner in this enterprise over the long haul, having provided five grants at key junctures in the restoration process. We are very grateful for their interest and support and for that of others who have contributed along the way. The town will issue further press releases next summer about the lighthouse sesquicentennial plans and events. Meanwhile, come visit the lighthouse. It closes for the season right after Maine Lighthouse Day, Saturday, September 11.