Cleveland Ledge Lighthouse auction

Under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, Cleveland Ledge Light in Buzzards Bay -- near Bourne, Massachusetts -- was offered to a suitable applicant, such as a nonprofit group or community. There were no applications, so the unique 1943 lighthouse -- built in the Art Moderne style -- is currently up for auction to the general public.

You can monitor the auction by clicking here.

You can see photos from a recent inspection here. 

As of the afternoon of Nov. 26, the high bid is only $14,000. The auction is scheduled to close on Monday, Nov. 29, but it could be extended.

I haven't had the opportunity to get inside this lighthouse, so I can't comment on its interior condition. There's no doubt that it needs some restoration, and taking on its preservation will be daunting for its new owner. Let's hope the person or persons who win the auction have a full comprehension of the challenges of caring for an offshore lighthouse. This is a one-of-a-kind structure that deserves to be preserved as a historic icon.

For more on this lighthouse, click here.

Latest on Faulkner's Island Lighthouse restoration, CT

Faulkner's Light Brigade continues the restoration of the Faulkner's Island Lighthouse off Guilford, CT. International Chimney Corporation has been hired to do the work, which includes washing, repointing, and repainting the exterior of the tower, as well as interior repairs.

This video from November 19 shows the latest work.

Connie Small - clip #1

Connie Small (1901-2005) was married to Elson Small, lighthouse keeper at several stations in Maine: Lubec Channel, Avery Rock, Seguin Island, and St. Croix River. Elson anc Connie finished their lightkeeping years at Portsmouth Harbor Light, New Hampshire, in 1948. Connie went on the write the book The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife when she was 85 years old.  In this clip, recorded when Connie was 97 years old, she recalls having electricity for the first time.

"Thriller" in Portsmouth, NH, 2010 Halloween Parade

OK, it has nothing to do with lighthouses, but I thought you might enjoy seeing this video I shot at last night's Halloween parade in Portsmouth.

Beavertail Lighthouse receives 2010 Rhody Award

Congratulations to the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association for their recognition by Preserve Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission as a volunteer organization completing a major restoration project. The award was presented to BLMA past president Richard Sullivan and vice president Varoujan Karentz at Newport’s Tennis Hall of Fame on October 21, 2010.

The 10-month, $327,000 restoration of Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown, Rhode Island, was recently completed. The restoration of other buildings continues.

Beavertail Lighthouse is one of the most visitor-friendly lighthouses in New England, with a hard-to-beat combination of spectacular surroundings and rich history (it's the third oldest light station in America). There's an excellent museum and shop in one of the keeper's houses, and a small aquarium in another building. Hopefully, the restored lighthouse tower will soon be opened to the public, making Beavertail even more of lighthouse lover's dream destination.

Click here for more on the award.

Click here for more about Beavertail Lighthouse.

Faulkner's Island Lighthouse Restoration October 20, 2010

The latest on the restoration of Faulkner's Island Lighthouse in Guilford, Connecticut.

Help the Burnt Island Lighthouse in Boothbay Harbor, Maine