submitted by Linda M. Nenn, Project co-chair and construction coordinator
The restoration of Port Washington’s 1860 Light Station, which began in October 2000, continues as funding permits. We’re halfway to our $165,000 goal with much to accomplish before the scheduled Sunday, June 16, 2002 dedication. Volunteers and in-kind donations have kept costs to a minimum. For those not familiar with the Project, it has a unique partner. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, through its Ministry of Culture, Sites and Monuments Division, is fabricating a historically accurate tower and lantern to be placed atop our light station. Lest lighthouse restorers around the country think they can approach our benefactors, this is a one time gift. It is being done to honor those Luxembourg immigrants that settled in this area of Wisconsin in the late 1840s – early 1850s. It also will serve as a tribute to the American Forces that liberated Luxembourg during WWII. A chance visit to our Light Station Museum, by a Luxembourg official, culminated in the offer of this wonderful gift and put the Port Washington Historical Society in the unenviable position of having to raise a great deal of money in a very short time.
The Port Washington Light Station was gutted in 1934 and rebuilt as a two family dwelling for the keeper and assistant keeper who would maintain the new pierhead light completed in 1935. The original tower and lantern were removed, the light having been decommissioned in 1903. The tower and interior framing wood were reused throughout the remodeled structure. The fate of the lantern is unknown. The extent of the 1934 demolition may make this restoration the most ambitious project currently occurring on the Great Lakes.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and ownership transferred to the city of Port Washington in 2000, the Light Station remains under the watchful eye of the National Park Service. Preservation/restoration plans had to meet NPS and Wisconsin Historical Society standards. Throughout this project, besides raising funds and finding volunteers, the greatest challenge has been to balance historic building codes with current codes. Accomplishments so far include exterior cleaning of the cream city brick facade. Cost, $24,000. This task proved much harder than anticipated as at some time in the Station’s past, before USCG white covered the brick, a cement paint was applied. The 1902 “Instructions to Light-House Keepers” describes this coating as, “cement washing.” It may have “washed” on, but it certainly didn’t wash off. The bricks had to be chemically stripped, often one brick at a time. The original roof line has been rebuilt. In 1934 the gables and eaves were chopped off. Pieces of original exterior moldings and tongue and groove soffit boards were found in the 1934 walls and exactly remilled. $18,000. A handful of volunteers have rebuilt the interior walls according to 1860 blueprints. Drywall has taken the place of lath and plaster construction, but will bear a plaster coat to approximate the 1860 look and texture. 1860 framing was all mortise and tendon. The 1934 remodel destroyed all but 5 pieces of the original studs and headers. These have been preserved in place.
Electrical service and plumbing/heating have been upgraded to code. The electrical work has been donated, the plumbing/heating not. $15,000 for labor. Materials donated. In 1934 new entrances and stairways were added to the Light Station. Rather than raze this part of the structure, it is being integrated into the restoration. Many light stations on the Great Lakes went through similar transformations but their lanterns, stairs and ladders remained intact, exempting them from current building codes. The Port Washington Project does not have that luxury.
The new tower and nine sided lantern will be shipped from Luxembourg in late March, early April. The framing of the tower will be connected to the 8″ x 8″ beams that were severed in 1934. The platform will be lifted into place and finally, the cast iron lantern with its 6 panes of glass and 3 blacked out panels. Lampist James Woodward, of Cleveland provided his services as a paid consultant, drawing the tower structure. Jeff Shooks of Michigan generously shared his fourth order lantern plans. The finishing work entails reroofing the light station with red metal shingles. The original plans called for “tin shield pattern shingles.” Old roofing nails yielded small pieces of red tin. The same pattern will be used, now made of galvanized steel. The same shingle is on the Grand Traverse Light Station and Whitefish Point on Lake Superior. The $36,000 for this has yet to be raised.
Volunteers are needed to finish and paint the exterior wood siding, rebuild the interior stairs and ladders, lay the newly milled 5/4 pine flooring, and paint and redecorate the interior of the Light Station. The 1 p.m. dedication ceremony will include dignitaries from Luxembourg and Wisconsin. A Luxembourg band will provide the music. A dinner will follow, details yet to be finalized. Come join in the festivities and celebrate the restoration of a symbol of our maritime history.Inquiries may be directed to the website <www.portlightstation.org> or <lindnen@aol.com>