Light Station Restoration Diary
May, 2002
As written by the people working on the restoration.
Unless otherwise identified, the diary author is Linda Nenn,
co-chair of the Restoration Project


May 1, 2002

Well, for the moment, the hoopla is over and the work continues.

Ron Mans, with very little assistance from me, has built the watch room landing. So, present access to the lantern is via two step ladders, one of which is definitely not for the faint of heart. Lloyd Croatt helped Ron put in some more supporting beams at the base of the tower. Thanks, Lloyd.

Since the Luxembourgers departed we've had to deal with water leaking into the lantern. Nothing that some good caulking won't cure. The driving rains have given the lantern and platform a good test. A possible source of the leaks is where the two halfs of the platform were joined. The copper joint may be funneling water into the lantern. Or, the copper vents on the walls may be leaking. We'll caulk and watch, but the problem will be resolved.

The parade of vehicles continues. I must come up with a donation box we can place roadside. Every dollar counts, especially right now.

David and Terry, the roofers, are tearing off the old shingles. Yesterday they attacked the small roof over the back bedroom. The decking boards looked in good shape, but they received the same 1/2 cdx plywood that will be laid over the whole roof to provide the best base for the new Berridge Red Shingles.

Speaking of, just as I was running off to my physical therapy appointment, Robert Schloemer, regional manager for Berridge Manufacturing Co., stopped at the Station. Bob, sorry I didn't have time to give you a tour. I've been taking photos of all the roofing work, so I hope we'll be able to get the 25 year water tight guarantee. As I shouted to you, it would be great if Berridge would make a donation to the Light Station Restoration Project. I know Schaus Roofing and Mechanical, of Manitowoc, has already purchased the shingles, but a contribution matching the cost of 5 squares or a portion of the cost of the warranty would be the icing on the cake. Berridge already has donated a stack of shingles to help in our RED ROOF CAMPAIGN. $25 a shingle or 5 for $100. We've had numerous donors buy a dozen shingles for $250. Really great, especially considering Wisconsin Energy Corp. Foundation is matching the donations. We've raised almost $10,000 since the March 7, 2002 kickoff. Regardless, Bob, it was a pleasure meeting you. I know you can't attend the dedication on 16 June, but perhaps a company rep could.

The website www.portlightstation.org now includes info on the dedication and the Sunday and Monday dinners. Sunday's recognition dinner is $30, at Country Inn and Suites. Monday's Luxembourg Dinner is $22 and will be held at Memories, just outside Port Washington. You can make reservations through the internet site or by sending your check to the PWHS, Restoration Project Recognition Dinner, P.O. Box 491, PW, WI 53074.

SATURDAY, 04 MAY 2002, is our next work day. The weather is the unknown factor. Rain/snow will pretty much cancel the day of work as the intent is to complete the siding of the main building and paint, paint, paint. We need 50 degree or better weather to paint, although the exterior of the windows and framing can be scrapped regardless. Bring your work clothes and energy. Habitat for Humanity, Ozaukee Chapter, will once again provide workers. Thanks, Cathy, for making the phone calls. If you can, give me an idea of how many volunteers to expect.

SWEETHEART CAKES, on Grand Ave., just west of the RR tracks, is having a glazed donut day on Saturday, 04 May. Proceeds to go to the restoration. Forget the calories and enjoy this way of making a donation to the Project.

Just sent off our door schedule to Dan Wright, President of Stallion Doors, St. Cloud, MN. Dan/Stallion has offered to donate the five panel doors we need. I looks like we'll have to hang, stain and/or paint the doors ourselves. Anyone with that expertise, please contact me. Radford Company, of Oshkosh, will ship the doors to their nearest distributor. Looks like that will be Oostburg Lumber. I'll need to head up the interstate to make sure Oostburg Lumber is agreeable to this arrangement. Rick and I have discussed our want to use antique hardware on the doors. Further investigation necessary.

Francis Pierron and Ron Mans will install the remaining flooring in the old kitchen. We will probably paint that floor as the kitchens were seldom if ever varnished. Still need to get wainscoting for the kitchen, first floor keeper's bedroom and second floor keeper's office. Richardson's Lumber of Sheboygan Falls is ready to mill it, but we can't afford the wood/milling at present. Future donations will determine when we can proceed with this item.

I've put out the word to Neuen's Lumber and Richardson's that I need 5/4 (one inch) yellow birch for the ladder stairs. That's what Rick and Ron used for the first ladder stairs. We'll use hemlock fir for the stringers. Two ladder stairs need to be built. Lamp room to Watch room and watch room to lantern.

Nancy Simpson and I put a second coat of paint on the small caretaker's bedroom. Yesterday was fairly sunny, so we could see the room needed a second coat. I tried to get out of painting by holding the caulking gun firmly in hand, but I eventually ran out of places to caulk. Drat! As a result, I now have "Santa Barbara" semi gloss latex enamel paint featured prominently on my left leg.

On Monday, late afternoon, Rick and I completely covered the front entrance steps. Safway Scaffolding damaged one of the cap stones when erecting the scaffolding. So, closing the barn door after the cows are out, we figured we'd better cover the steps so no more damage occurred when the scaffolding came down. Which, should be happening right now! Forgot! I'll head over that way to get some more photos. With the scaffolding down, the full impact of the new tower and lantern will be revealed. Safway will work with Pete Paulus of Paulus Construction to have the cap stone replaced.

The covered steps and the roofers ripping off the shingles presented a special challenge to Nancy and I as we tried to enter the Light Station yesterday. The roofers had covered the back door with a tarp and 4 by 8 sheet of pressed board to protect the building. So, the only way we could get into the Station was to crawl up the steps. Agile Nancy had no problem. Me, weak of knee and twice her size, had a particularly funny looking approach. Hopefully no one saw me. I do have my pride.

With Nancy M. assisting city manager Mark Grams, the bienniel National Park Service report should be in the hands of Brian McCutchen, in Omaha, in short order. Brian, if you need more information or photographs, give me a call or email. I have no shortage of photos.

Thanks, Nancy M., for doing the report and also that required by the Milwaukee Foundation to receive Ron Schowalter's latest donation of $1000. I think we're up to date in required reports. At least those I'm aware of.

Better head off the the Light Station. Invitations to the Dedication should soon be on their way. So many people to invite. So many people and companies to thank. So much work by the Dedication Committee.

Thanks to Mary F., Ann F. and Kay G. for updating our data base of donors. Thanks to Tim Harrison, of Lighthouse Digest, for including us in the April edition. Thanks to Guy Thomas, in Luxembourg, for sending a donation. Hope to meet you in June. Thanks to Marion Brophy for the donation of a telescope for the LS. WWII vintage, but a nice addition.

And so it goes this first day of May, 2002. Keep the Lights Burning. Hey, Jim Woodward. Any good word you can put in for us regarding securing a 4th order, is GREATLY appreciated. I understand my request has to go the the Curator of the Coast Guard. If any USCG personnel wants to do an on site visit, just give me a heads up.

May 12, 2002

Sunday, 12 May 2002. Late. The plethora of sunshine daffodils around town are singing their swan song. But, before exiting, they've nodded to the wings and the next act has begun. Tulips, red, yellow and white have entered stage left, awash in a sea of dandelions. (Of course this carpet can only be seen in kid friendly fields and lawns.) Along a country lane, marsh marigolds, with their oh so buttery petals, proclaim it is Spring in Wisconsin. Muck about a bit and you may be rewarded by spotting Jack in his Pulpit. The woody bloom of the skunk cabbage has already vanished.

I only venture to paint this canvas because the weather has stubbornly refused to give me much hope that summer will come to Port Washington. Rain, fog, wind and did I mention rain have been shrouding us in bone chilling cold. Oh, the weather forecasters keep telling us we may see the sun, but the occasional flashes of light I've glimpsed are undoubtedly just God taking flash pictures of our Light Station.

As we go about our work of continuing with the Restoration Project, people keep stopping by to compliment us and wonder how we're progressing. In the grocery store, drug store and on the street, I've been told by so many how wonderful the Station looks. And they're right, of course!

But we have a long way yet to go. Talking with Society treasurer, Nancy M., we figure we still have an estimated $65,000 to raise. The original target of $165,000 has proved to be about 25 percent low. Even with the generous in kind contributions we have and will receive, things have just cost more than anticipated. So, fund raising must go forward.

The Red Roof Campaign, selling shingles for $25 each, is half way to its goal of 1500 shingles. Some friends and family members have gotten their money's worth by actually signing the back side of their shingles. Wonder if we'll be remembered when a new roof may be needed decades from now? I called the Oz Press last week and asked that they put in a little news item telling people they could sign their shingle(s) already bought or stop by and purchase/sign a shingle while the roofing continues, but they apparently declined to run the piece. Oh well, a few of us will know our names are hidden under the victorian red roof. The roofers don't leave the shingles on site, so if you want to tuck your John Hancock away for the next 25 years or more, you'll have to stop in while I'm at the Light Station. The roofers can't be disturbed while they work.

Oh gee, I just committed an environmental crime. This thing has been hanging on the outside screen on my window on the world for the past week. I thought it was something one of my friendly neighbors had possibly thrown at me while sitting at my computer. When I finally opened the window and got my eyeballs next to the "thing," it had its little claws firmly attached to the screen. I tried to dislodge it with a pen, then a pencil and finally a fly swatter. Really, I love almost all of God's creatures, but not when they're peering at me from a foot away. So... if I were to ever open my shades again in my computer room, it had to go. First I hit it with windex. A little ammonia to clean the sinuses. No luck. Drat. Moved up to hair spray. Made it actually move. Either I had a bat in my belfry or the ugliest, biggest spider I've ever seen in Wisconsin. Now I had a gruesome creature with clean sinuses and an awesome hairdo staring at me. For those of you who don't know me, I don't get rattled often, but this "thing" creeped me out! I must confess, or I won't sleep tonight, I finally rummaged around under the kitchen sink, grabbed the first spray bottle I found and gave the creature a shot of weed killer. Mind you it still clung, so I wapped the screen with a fly swatter. All this so I can continue with this update. Rachel Carson will never forgive me.

Received a message from Carl White of AZCO Crane. He will send us an invoice detailing the donation of the crane work. Thanks, Carl.

Peter Fetterer, of Kohler Co., notified me that the Kohler donation of plumbing fixtures was valued at $3,400. Thanks, Pete.

Had a quartet of visitors on Friday that were on their way to a Lightkeepers Assoc. conference in Ellison Bay. Hope next year I can start attending some of these conferences. They took along red roof campaign forms and some trifolds. Said they would get the word out about our restoration.

Yesterday 4 intrepid Habitat volunteers showed up to lend their help. As the weather precluded the planned painting of the clapboard siding, we switched to plan two. While Jim E. mounted the extension ladder and started to remove two of the remaining aluminum storm/screens, Beth T., Adam E. and Fred R. pitched in and we set about cleaning up the yard. All of the shipping container wood was stacked and waiting to be moved. First the garage had to be straightened and space made for the pressed board. Sizing up the situation after the three began carrying the 4x4's and smaller pieces of sheeting across the yard and down the step, I offered the use of my van. Using it as a plush pickup truck, the trio loaded the wood into the back of the van. I think it took us 4 or 5 trips, but only a fraction of the time and energy it would have taken otherwise. After a good four hours the wood was cleared. I then set out to get some gasoline and oil for the lawnmower that had been dug out of the back of the garage. Beth T. was willing to start mowing, but the tank was dry. Beth, any time you want to mow the hay, let me know and I'll have the garage open. By the time I returned, the volunteers had served their time and headed out. Thanks to all the Habitat volunteers that assisted us the past two Saturdays. Much was accomplished. A special thanks to Tammy for making all the phone calls for Habitat. I spent another 2 hours doing lawn pickup in the drizzle.

I regret that I had but two knees to give to the Light Station Restoration. Mine have sadly failed me. So, co-chair Rick Smith gets to do the cleaning, staining and varnishing of the wood floors. I haven't a clue how Rick can stand the fumes, but so far the second floor has received a new coat of varnish and the first floor sunroom, bathroom, keeper's bedroom and a third of the foyer have been stained and varnished. We settled on Puritan Pine as the color. The grain of the wood affects the color, and it looks really great. Originally, the floors would most likely have been shellacked and been darker in color. Old flooring, uncovered in the demolition, seem to indicate that even the soft wood floors were varnished and later painted. The 1860 blueprints show some floors were to be hardwood, but we've found no proof this was ever done. Time and the tread of visitors will darken our floors over time.

Larry F. continues to paint the inside of the windows. Loeschel P. has just returned from Arizona and has agreed to rejoin our merry band and work on the exterior of the windows. I will be seeking a professional window company regarding reglazing all of the windows. The age of the windows and the complexity/fraility of the window mechanisms preclude their being removed from the frames and reglazed. Our original intent was to replace the windows, but we haven't the money to even consider this route.

Hey, Sweetheart Cakes of Port raised $300 last Saturday, for the Restoration, by selling glazed donuts. Thanks, Sue Runkel, for all the work that you did and all the donuts you made. They were delicious!

Yet on the agenda: Remainder of roofing contract: 1/3 paid, $24,000 due at completion, plus additional labor cost for resheeting the Light Station with 1/2" cdx. I'm figuring, conservatively, another $1,000 as we paid for the cdx. With the Wisconsin Energy Corp. Foundation matching grant, we have this cost covered. Ladder stairs to lantern. Have had trouble finding source for 1" treads unless I custom order them. Rather costly as we'll need 22-24 treads for the remaining two ladders. Need stainable wood other than pine. Stringers can be ripped to size. This expenditure was approved at last Board meeting. Windows, windows, windows. Glazed and painted. Care to volunteer for this fun task? I'll be getting a quote this week as the work must start now or this windows won't be painted by the time of the dedication. Then, before next winter sets in, we'll have to have installed storm windows. Figure $100 each as they are a custom size. Primed and painted, $150 each. $2,000 - $3,000. All clapboard siding. Paint, paint, paint. Doors. Thanks to Dan Wright, President of Stallion Doors, for his generous donation. Do not know when the doors will be arriving. This will be a close one. When they come, they will be hung. Jams. Not strawberry. Poplar and we have to construct them, $30 each or have them made at $100/per. Door hardware. $1,000. Hinges and locksets. Will be looking for antique/historical locksets that mount on the interior doors rather than mortised in. Exterior doors, out of necessity (security) will be mortised. Hinges and doorknobs to be brass. Locksets would have been cast iron. Fire door to lamp room. Hope we can pass inspection by making the first trap door a 1 hour burn hatch. $500. Drywall/plaster under stairway to second floor. Needs to be 1 hour burn rated. Kitchen still must be taped and mudded. Dean B. has not shown up to do the mudding, so we may need to hire someone else. Masonry. First quote submitted by R. Maxwell of Fredonia, for all tuckpointing and brick replacement: $3,200. Have asked Pete Paulus to give me an written estimate. He figures Maxwell's will be lower. Advanced Restoration said a bid would be forthcoming, but haven't heard a thing from Dan. I want to have at least the front of the Station in good shape for the Dedication. Work must commence now! Landscaping. Sod for west and north sides. Contouring of west side of building for ADA RAMP, $15,000 and to provide adequate drainage. Plumbing and heating bill remains unpaid: ~$12,500 Plumbing and heating work to finish first floor heating/lavs and second floor caretaker's apartment: $5,000? No occupancy until this is completed. Electrical wiring of attic/lamp room, tower and lantern. And, repaying the State Bank the amount we borrowed earlier this year from our line of credit to pay Advanced Restoration and Lange Bros. Some of this should be covered by repayment from Coastal Management Grant, but figure at least $14,000 outstanding. Sidewalks. abutting and on the property, to the site of the oil house. I should be able to get the cconcrete donated, but that still leaves labor costs. Approach to ADA entrance will also be concrete, up to landing. $3,000. Wood fence. $5,000. Want to have the Station grounds looking great for the dedication. We should be able to build the fence ourselves, decreasing cost. Time is our enemy right now. Volunteers. Any day, any hour with advance notice. Outside work, painting and the windows, a priority. I'm planning to be at the Station every Saturday morning, 8 am to noon. Habitat, Tammy or Cathy, weather will be determining factor. Anyone who can help, give me or Rick Smith, 262-284-3394. Steve S., at the bank, my sister told me Dori Meyer wants to help. I think she left a message and I thought it was regarding a topic we had already settled. Please tell her if she's willing, we're waiting for her call.

So, if you haven't bought a shingle, there's no time like the present. If you have bought a shingle, there's nothing like a second one or ten for that matter. If you feel kindly toward me and my need for knee surgery, donate now so I can schedule the surgery. That would be a donation to the Light Station Restoration Fund, not my surgical bill, just so we're clear on that matter.

Oh, may our weed wacker (sp?) rest in peace. I was using it, today, along the fence line and the wet grass was too much for it. In one week we lost my 24 volt cordless drill/driver and the weed eater to exhaustion. They served us well.

Monday, 12 May 2002. So, in summary: By last night I was extremely tired and had to retire. Today is another day, so I'm back in the fray. My knees are shot, but the red roof looks hot. Rick's arms are in pain, but the floors will be stained. A lot of work must be done, but with enough help it could be fun. We still need more money, and that's certainly not funny. Make another donation, (please,) that counts, so our bills do not mount. May the skies that are gray turn to sunshine by Dedication Day.

Keep the Lights burning.

May 31, 2002

This close to Lake Michigan, the lilacs are still holding their breath, waiting to burst into lavender and white splendor. The old bush on the Light Station grounds should be abloom any day now. Down near Veterans Park a gaggle of goslings matched in sync behind their mother. Nature is renewing itself wherever one looks. The fields of buttery dandelions are now a sea of white fluff. The transition must happen under the cloak of darkness as I never see the change occur. A pair of swallows didn't return to Capistrano and instead are seeking a nesting spot outside my front door. As I walk out, we startle each other and rush as to not intrude on either of our missions.

My mind wanders as I'm working at the Light Station. Ogden Nash and his purple cow and E. E. Cummings, "What of a much of a which of a wind" keep repeating in my brain. So, if you've ever saw a purple cow, or have been caught up in a which of a wind, please let me know so my thoughts will go elsewhere.

Work continues albeit slowly. We still have about 500 shingles to sell, so our restoration account can't be tapped until the roofing contract is satisfied. The roofers completed their job 9 days ago and the red roof is magnificent! Nearly 50 shingles were signed by their owners. Most just put their names and date of birth. Some were much more prosaic.

The interior doors will not arrive until after the dedication. Because of how long it took me to find a supplier willing to donate the doors, it seemed unreasonable to expect Stallion Doors of St. Cloud, Minnesota to finish the door production in time for us to install them. Dan Wright, I'm still delighted by your generosity! If anyone wants to adopt a door, the brass hardware may run $200/door. This includes 3 solid brass hinges and a brass or cast iron rim lockset. Our old doors, on the generator building, show no sign of having had a mortised lockset and I believe the 3 five panel doors where salvaged in the 1934 rebuilding of the Light Station.

Wednesday I purchased the poplar needed for the door jambs. I went up to Richardson's Lumber, in Sheboygan Falls, to price the wood, and ended up waiting for Will the carpenter to plane and sand the pieces for me. One more donation on my part: $127.40. This has been a particularly expensive month for me. My checkbook says I can't afford to continue to buy materials myself, but my passion for the restoration wins out every time. Ron Mans and Lou Tackes are at the Station right now, cutting and installing the baseboards. Next they'll do the door jams. Lou says he's been constantly busy doing charity work, so he was glad I hadn't called him back sooner. Muchas gracias to both of you.

Loschel Pierringer is doggedly attacking the windows on the front facade of the Light Station. All of the windows need to be scraped, glazed and painted, but our priority is to get the front looking great for the dedication. The windows and trim are being painted the same color, Monterey White, as the clapboard siding. Rick wants the concrete sills also painted. Before the brick cleaning was completed, scraping indicate the sills were always painted. Early photos of the Light Station appear to corroborate this.

Wester Electric swept into the Station yesterday. I have to be lenient in my demands of Tom and his helper as the electrical work was largely donated. I wish they would have tried harder to hide the conduit, but with the watch room and lantern room walls, floors and ceilings already done, I understand their difficulty in complying with my wishes. Unfortunately I forgot one line they have to drop in the second floor bathroom, so I'll have to call, apologize, and try to get them back again.

Heard from Brian McCutchen of National Park Service. Hey, Brian, it will be great seeing you and Mark again and meeting your colleague. Nancy M., Mark and Brian are coming to the recognition dinner. The check is in the mail. Also heard from JoAnn and John Ferraro. John wants chicken and JoAnn the filet. Getting these phone calls makes me feel like a waitress. Ah, maybe that's a career I can look into when I retire from the Restoration.

Speaking of my retirement: Visited the bone doctor yesterday. Sometime shortly after the dedication we are scheduling a really, really fun vacation. Doc Davies, dressed in a space suit, will attack my body. Being single, anytime a good looking man focuses his attention exclusively on me, I have to believe it will be a good time. My right knee is going heavy metal, total replacement. Wonder what music Davies has piped into the operating theater? For an encore he's going to scope my left knee also. Says its going to be a breeze and there's a one percent chance I might die and I'll hate him for at least eight weeks if I don't die, because the pain will be horrendous. Who of you could pass up a date as exciting as this? I don't plan on dying 'cause the doc says that would damage his batting average, but it will mean I'm stepping down as coordinator of the Restoration Project.

So, anyone of you that wants my job, get your application in soon. I'm sure we'll be swamped with candidates.

Hey Nancy S.: Rick and I got the old beast, the lawnmower running again. I still have to replace the choke cable, but I'll try to get that done today. We have the oldest, crankiest mower in town, so cutting the grass is a fun thing to do. Randy Tetzlaff and Pat Wilborn are in charge of the grounds for the dedication, so I'm letting the landscaping repairs up to you guys, okay? All the heavy equipment and work on the buildings have left the lawn in pretty rough shape. Some topsoil and sod should smooth out the rough spots.

Pat W.: Thanks for spending an evening mudding and taping a few walls. Much appreciated. We'll have a bit more taping to do as it's a good bet that the interior stairway is going to be torn up and started again. Randy Lange, VP of Lange Bros. Millwork, spent two hours yesterday trying to figure out a winder for our stairs. Bottom line, it just doesn't work. Four winders leave only about 5 inches of tread at 12 inches. Even though the stairs can be noncompliant and are supposed to be nonaccessible to the public, we have to try again to get them right historically. Kathleen, your drawings are fine, but we apparently measured something wrong. We'll have the same run, but a higher rise. I love it when I talk like the carpenters. If any of you know Bob Goebel, give him a call. I trying to talk him into donating some time to install the stairs and also help us hang the doors. You know, it's kind of hard to get work done when the Board of Directors, which includes me, doesn't want me to spend any money. As I'm not into larceny, I have to intice contractors to help with the project with no cost to us. Beg might be a better word for what I've been doing of late. Lange Bros. will donate all the treads for the stairway. Randy also donated spindles (balistrades), but they need to be turned again to match the profile I'm looking for. Hartman Furniture of Sheboygan, a one man operation, that has refinished several rocking chairs and cabinet shelves for me, will re-turn the spindles at $4 each. I hope I can get reimbursed for this expense as I'd like to buy food rather that spindles next week. Things aren't as dire as I'm painting them. But, a little sympathy goes a long way.

Plans for the dedication are moving ahead at a feverish pitch. I know almost nothing about the plans, which suits me just fine.

By the way, I know first hand why shades where installed in the lanterns. It gets mighty hot up there! Have to look back in our visitors' log to find the woman who said she could make the canvas shades.

Visitors continue to stream up the steps and drive by daily. We've had a lot of drive-by shooting of late. Fortunately the weapon of choice is a camera. This week I've given my buck two eighty tour to people from Michigan, Arizona and Washington. For a donation, we take them up to the lantern room. No donation, no tower tour. Have to raise more money somehow.

Ah, the neatest day of the week was Tuesday. Jeannette Dallmann and husband George paid us a visit. Jeannette finally agreed to be interviewed regarding the years she and her twin sister lived in the Light Station. Bill Schanen, thanks for doing the interview and writing the excellent article in this week's Ozaukee Press. George, at 88, is now the oldest person to have climbed our ladders to the sky. What a grin he carried when reunited with Jeannette, Bill and me! Jeannette and George were married in 1942, so for sixty years he's heard about the Light Station, its tower and lantern, but never had a chance to climb into the lantern as it was removed in 1934. From Jeannette's recollections, its obvious that her grandmother, Linda Teed Lewis, ruled the roost. Grandpa Lewis, know locally as Charlie Lewis, tended the light, a full time occupation, but still had time to be with his granddaughters. From slipping them a few pennies to spend at the candy store, or taking off his shoes and socks and playing in the lake with the girls, Grandpa took the place of their dad who had died in the influenza epidemic of 1919. My grandmother's first husband died in that same epidemic, so I know somewhat how devastating it was. Jeannette also said the fresnel lens was gone by the time she lived in the station. So, it may have been removed when the Station was decommissioned in 1903. More research to do on the fate of our fresnel lens.

Jim Woodward: have you heard anything regarding my request for a 4th order lens to be displayed at the Light Station? I could retire a happy person if I knew there was a real possibility of getting a lens. Wonder if anyone from Coast Guard Cleveland or Milwaukee is attending the dedication?

Volunteers needed, SOON!!!! to do exterior painting. The entire generator building and all of the clapboard needs to be painted. The weather is finally cooperating. Let me know if anyone of you can help. Paint and brushes supplied. Paint clothes the responsibility of the painters!

Thanks to everyone that continues to donate to our Restoration. We've currently got at least $75,000 to raise for realized and anticipated work that needs to be done. Every dollar, every quarter counts. According to my records, I've reached the $5,000 mark and will be listed as a "Lightkeeper," plus 1,000 volunteers hours just at the station. Anyone care to join me? If you bought a shingle, how about buying a few more? Adopt a door for $200. "Please fence me in," and purchase some cedar fencing boards at $10 each. At the dedication I hope to sell commemorative bricks that will be placed in the yard, probably encircling the well. $50 each for a standard size brick. $100 for a large brick. The ones I buy will probably be inscribed with the names of my parents and siblings and their birth dates. Oh my gosh! I just committed myself to making another donation! We also could use another steel flagpole to fly the Luxembourg flag. Figure $500 for that donation.

Keep the lights burning!


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This page updated Wednesday, July 17, 2002