Page 10. MAINE COASTAL NEWS July 2010


Waterfront News Owls Head Lighthouse Entering Final


Phase of Restoration


Staging still surrounds Owls Head Lighthouse, but the historic beacon is well on its way to being fully restored and looking great once again.


The Rockland-based American Light- house Foundation, which is investing $80,000 in restoration work at the site, antici- pates their project will be completed by late June 2010.


The nonprofit organization has con- tracted with J.B. Leslie Company of South Berwick to facilitate the project’s scope of work at Owls Head, which has included inte- rior and exterior repointing of the tower’s brickwork, rehabilitation of interior ironwork (staircase and ladder leading to the lantern, etc.) repairs to the tower’s masonry founda- tion and repainting.


J.B. Leslie Company is no stranger to lighthouse restoration projects, having pre- viously worked on high profile restoration projects at White Island, Pemaquid Point, Cape Elizabeth and Monhegan Island. “We’re entering the final phase of the Owls Head Lighthouse project,” said Jim Leslie, president of J.B. Leslie Company. Much of the ‘heavy lifting’ is done. We’re focusing on the finer details of the project; including repainting the exterior now that the repointing work is complete.”


Once the American Lighthouse Foundation’s project is complete, as well a simultaneous project being carried out by the United States Coast Guard on the lantern of Owls Head, the 1852 lighthouse will once again welcome the visiting public in summer 2010.


“When this restoration work is com- plete, visitors are going to be thrilled at how wonderful Owls Head Lighthouse looks,” said Bob Trapani, Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. “Just as importantly, the project is helping ensure the long-term preservation of the light tower so that it will stand strong against time and the coastal elements in the future.”


Trapani went on to note, “The Owls Head Light work is something the entire com- munity can take great pride in seeing become a reality. Hopefully it shows the type of achievements that can occur when we work together to preserve what is important to the heritage and beauty of a special place like Midcoast Maine.”


Lighthouse Museum Offers Immortality Recognition


The Maine Lighthouse Museum, in Rockland, is now offering people the chance of a lifetime to leave their mark on history with the purchase of a commemorative brick that will be permanently displayed on the side- walk entryway to the museum.


At a cost of only $75.00 per brick, people and businesses can purchase a personalized brick inscribed with three lines of text with up to 20 letters per line. Paul Dilger, President of the Maine Lighthouse Museum, said, “It’s the perfect way for anyone to leave a lasting legacy that will be viewed for many years into the future by the tens of thousands of people who will cross the threshold to the museum for decades to come.


In offering suggestions for brick pur- chases, Dot Black, Executive Director of the Maine Lighthouse Museum said, “As well as buying a brick for yourself, bricks can be purchased to honor loved ones, such as grandparents, grandchildren, spouse, favor- ite relative, neighbor or even that special pet. Other suggestions would be a special date in your life such as a wedding date, birthday, a graduation date or when you met your spouse.”


David Vaughn, a member of the Board of LIGHTHOUSE NEWS ON THE COAST OF MAINE


Directors of the Museum, who is spearhead- ing the brick program, said commemorative brick programs like this have been very suc- cessful at numerous museums, historic sites and lighthouses around the country. He pointed out that one of the most successful brick programs was completed a few years ago at the large walkway at Avery Point Lighthouse in Connecticut. “Just think of seeing your name or the name of a friend, or loved one, on display on the walkway at the museum. Thousands of people who come to Rockland will stop and read the names on the walkway and entrance to the museum.” Vaughn also hopes that many local busi- nesses will purchase a brick. He said, “It’s a great advertisement for any business. For a one time fee of $75.00 a business gets a lifetime of free advertising. Who can beat a deal like that?”


Tim Harrison, publisher of the Maine- based Lighthouse Digest, a national light- house history and news magazine, agrees with Vaughn saying, “As soon as I found out about the brick program, I bought one for Lighthouse Digest. And within about two hours time I sold a dozen bricks for the mu- seum. Hopefully, the public will jump on the band wagon to help support the museum.” Harrison went on to say, “Rockland is very fortunate to have such a premier museum, but in order for the museum to stay viable it needs funds that are above and beyond admission fees and commemorative bricks are one way to accomplish that goal.”


“The Maine Lighthouse Museum, founded by the late Ken Black, is the best museum of its kind in the nation with more rare and historic lighthouses lenses on display than any place in the world,” said Dilger. “But the museum needs financial support and this is one of the most unique ways that anyone, of any age, can help the museum and preserve their own personal legacy or the legacy of a loved one with a lasting tribute.” Dot Black said that she also hopes some of the lighthouse groups will step forward to purchase a brick. She continued by saying, “Almost upon hearing of brick program, Little River Lighthouse in Cutler and Race Point Lighthouse on Cape Cod purchased bricks. I’m sure others will step forward now that the word is starting to get out. Ken Black did a lot for saving lighthouse history and artifacts and hopefully many will step forward to help us continue that legacy.”


Brick purchase forms can be found on- line at www.MaineLighthouseMuseum.org or by stopping by the museum at One Park Drive on Rockland’s downtown waterfront. For more information you can call the mu- seum at 207-594-3301.


Finishing touches being applied to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse (Phase II Restoration of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is an $84,000 project being funded and managed by the nonprofit Ameri- can Lighthouse Foundation and ALF chap- ter, Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse) The history-making journey of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse during Phase II restoration is coming down the home stretch, with just a few interior finishing touches remaining.


For ten weeks leading up to Memorial Day, the crews of J.B. Leslie Company, Inc., have been busy performing the “heavy lift- ing” work associated with the 2010 restora- tion project, which has included phases such as masonry coatings removal and repointing, ironwork rehabilitation and the recoating of masonry, wood and iron components. Much of this critical work has occurred out of the public’s sight inside the tower. Even when the crews moved to the outside of the lantern to rehabilitate the ironwork, the


off-season time period meant few visitors were around to notice preservation in action at Pemaquid Point Light.


This all changed in mid-May as visitors to the lighthouse began to increase in num- bers, just in time to observe J.B. Leslie Com- pany “take to the air” while recoating the exterior of the lighthouse. This work was not only dramatic to watch in the moment, but also a visual restoration achievement that will draw the eyes and focus of the public to Pemaquid Point Lighthouse all summer long. Rather than envelope the tower with scaffolding to remove oxidation stains and wash down the exterior surface before recoating, J.B. Leslie Company opted for the efficiency and flexibility afforded by a lift- boom to create an aerial work platform from which to work.


Once the granite exterior was properly prepped, the crew applied a white mineral coating, breathable waterborne inorganic


paint manufactured by Edison Coatings, Inc. This is the same coating used on Pemaquid Point Lighthouse during Phase I restoration in 2007, and approved by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.


The finishing touches that remain in- clude the reestablishment of the brass vents along the lantern’s interior parapet, cleaning the tower windows and repainting the cement floor inside the entryway building. Inside and out, Pemaquid Point Light has a renewed sparkle as Phase II restoration winds down just in time for your visit during the 2010 summer season!


The Friends of Pemaquid Point Light- house, a chapter of ALF, open the tower for education tours 7 days a week from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. To learn more about the American Lighthouse Foundation and the Friends of Pemaquid Point Light- house, visit: www.LighthouseFoundation.org


Maine Boats & Homes & Harbors Shows


August 13-15, 2010 Rockland, Maine ROCKLAND - Maine Boats, Homes & Har- bors magazine will present its annual boat and coastal lifestyle show on the waterfront in Rockland, Maine, August 13-15, 2010. The only in-the-water event of its kind in the state (and perhaps the world), the show gathers some of the finest examples of Maine-built boats from rowing craft to sailboats and poweryachts, as well as marine supplies, fine furnishings and home wares, art and jewelry, and alternative energy products. This year’s show will continue the theme of “Tradition Shapes Innovation” that was introduced in 2009. The theme provides a lens through which to consider the enduring qualities of Maine-built products|^lassic, timeless designs that are durable, practical, functional, and beautiful. This collection of handcrafted essentials for coastal life reflects the traditions and styles of Maine’s past, the innovation of design, and the emerging tech- nologies that are shaping our future. One vessel that will be on display at the show, and which epitomizes this ideal will be the 29' diesel-electric launch designed by Stephens, Waring, & White Yacht Design and built by French & Webb of Belfast (pic- tured above). The innovative craft is pow- ered by a Steyr hybrid drive, which incorpo- rates a diesel engine coupled to an electric motor/generator. Construction combines the old and the new, with solar panels covering an arched canopy to help power the batteries. Continuing the alternative-powered- boat theme, Maine Electric Boats will display a 12-passenger cuddy cruiser that can travel for more than seven leisurely hours on bat- tery power. The boat’s single battery pack can be recharged within 12 hours. A special exhibit “The Evolution of the Maine Lobsterboat” will demonstrate how the Maine lobsterboat hull has evolved over time. The collection will begin with Maine’s earliest workboat, the dory, and move through more evolved inshore craft, the peapod, the Hampton, and the Friendship sloop to today’s high-powered lobsterboats. The exhibit will include boats from show exhibitors complemented by vessels on loan from marine museums and individuals. “Maine is fortunate that the past here is not forgotten and that our traditions shape our future,” said John K. Hanson, Jr., founder of the magazine and the show. “There is a continuity of design, and our working heri- tage shapes our pleasure craft of today.” In the working heritage department, tra- ditional boatbuilding techniques will be dem- onstrated by students and teachers from Rockland’s Apprenticeshop.


On the home energy front, a mobile, modular ZeroBase “renewable-energy sup- port unit” will be on display. The unit can convert sunlight and wind into usable energy and will also be used to augment the electric- ity needs of one of the show’s exhibit tents. The unit was developed at Lyman-Morse Technologies, the research and develop- ment arm of Lyman-Morse Boatbuilding, and pairs the company’s composite construction knowledge with proven renewable energy sources.


In addition to displays of investment- quality handcrafted furniture, ranging from period-inspired cabinetry to contemporary pieces, there will be live demonstrations by wood-turners and furniture makers. Geoffrey Warner, of Geoffrey Warner Studio in Stonington, will demonstrate the assembly of his three-legged Owl stool, a kit designed to offer affordable yet high-quality furniture. Members of the Woodturning School of Damariscotta will demonstrate techniques on a lathe.


Educational Passages will demonstrate the small, unmanned sailboats they have developed, which are being used to study ocean wind and currents. The boats are set free to sail (down wind) for months, and are GPS-equipped for online monitoring of course, position, speed, and wave height. Boat demonstrations will take place in Rockland Harbor daily, providing a learning opportunity for kids of all ages. The project is the result of a collaboration among midcoast-area designers, builders, and schools.


In addition to examples of Maine’s sig- nature architecture and hull designs, custom cabinetry, and artistic creations, there will again be an eclectic mix of live music, local food, and the zany crowd favorite: the World Championship Boatyard Dognÿ Trials (Sun- day, August 15, 10:30 a.m.).


Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors is pleased to acknowledge the following spon- sors who have generously shown their sup- port for the 2010 show. The lead show spon- sor is Camden National Bank. Supporting sponsors include: Jaret & Cohn Real Estate, sponsor of the Music Tent; Meduncook Bay Colony, exclusively represented by Jaret & Cohn Real Estate and sponsor of the new Food Pavilion; Awlgrip, sponsor of the Exhibitor’s Lounge, and Bangor Savings Bank, sponsor of the Friday night Exhibitor’s Party.


For more information about the show, its exhibitors, and collaborative community events, visit www.maineboats.com


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