This winter our beloved Gay Head Lighthouse has been undergoing a restoration of the curtain wall (the wall that wraps the top of the lighthouse) and lantern deck (where the light sits and rotates). The work is being done by ICC Commonwealth, formerly known as the International Chimney Company. This is the same company that moved the lighthouse ten years ago and worked extensively with Len Butler to do other important restoration work over the years. This current project has involved removing the lantern deck and other adjacent parts and transporting them to a workshop off-island that specializes in repairing and restoring the iron work in old lighthouses. It was originally anticipated that the work would be complete by May 1, but the damage to the lantern deck was more extensive than anticipated. Additionally, when the associated brickwork was removed it was discovered that the tie-downs were also more heavily damaged than expected. This discovery required the removal, repair and replacement of the metal tie-downs and additional brick work. As a result, the project won’t be complete until early June.
This year is the ten year anniversary of the lighthouse’s move away from the eroding cliffs. A community event is being planned for June 20 to commemorate this important event, to celebrate the re-opening of a newly refreshed lighthouse, and to celebrate the summer solstice. Stay tuned for more details.
We look forward to seeing you in when we re open in the 2025 season. Stay tuned for the summer schedule.