This fall marks the completion of FILA’s first twenty years. As the expression goes, “we’ve come a long way baby.” The boathouse was a major early focus. The 1867 Lighthouse has been our restoration showcase. Securing buildings has been a key objective. Windows on the skeletal tower, roofs on the workshop and fog signal. […]
The “close up” team returned yesterday after yet another weather-shortened trip…a theme that permeated the season more than usual this year. Here’s the 1867 light before things were closed up. …and a view from the water Photos courtesy volunteer Tom McBride
Last week’s repair of the water-damaged floor joists in the Assistant Keeper’s quarters started us on planning for next year….restoring the damaged flooring and baseboard above the repair. In a day before plywood, diagonal planks were laid across the joists. We’ll need true dimension lumber to repair properly. The hardwood flooring will similarly need to […]
There are several openings built into the 1867 tower stairway. Two were clearly built to access the weights used by the clockwork that rotated the lens. One contained a cabinet whose use is unknown. Its door has long been missing. Skilled carpenter Doug Noren rebuilt it this past winter. It is curved tongue and groove […]
The Indiana-based carpentry team of Ben Eichorst & Jim Greenwell headed out on Monday after a two-day weather delay. When reinstalling the restored basement windows last year, they discovered one of the frames was rotten — that’s among their projects this week, along with a floor joist in the Assistant Keeper’s that is failing due […]
A parting shot from the lantern room team prior to their departure last Thursday. Tom McBride photo Few people will appreciate how much effort this required. We at FILA do and are very thankful for the work and talents of lantern team members Jeff Brearly, Barb Falkenhagen, Tom McBride and Marty Rosalik. After some “onshore” […]
The team accomplished their goal of installing five acrylic panels in the 1867 lantern room. It looks terrific! Marty Rosalik photo This involved a lot preparation, problem-solving and hard work. The posts over the last several days highlight Marty, Tom, Barb & Jeff’s work. Many thanks to this team! This photo was taken yesterday, but […]
Volunteer Barb Falkenhagen provides an excellent log on her Facebook page. Here are some selections from her July 3 entry: “It rained heavy during the night and I kept hearing one of the shutters on the lighthouse tower banging, so I finally got up and latched it shut. Tom also latched a shutter on one […]
We’ve separately reported on today’s major accomplishment in a News post. It was truly an historic day with the first of nine panels restored in the 1867 lighthouse lantern room. Lots of preparation was required to make this happen. Planning in 2023 along with removal of corroded sheet metal at the base of the lantern […]
This was a significant day in the restoration of the 1867 lighthouse. The team of Marty, Tom, Barb & Jeff installed the first of nine replacement panels to open up the lantern room. Why nine? The decagonal lantern room had a single glass panel remaining when FILA began restoration in 2006. Here’s what FILA faced […]