Gay Head Lighthouse to Undergo Major Restoration Project

gay-head-light-3AQUINNAHAfter being moved last year, the Gay Head Lighthouse in Aquinnah now needs a number of repairs to ensure the Martha’s Vineyard icon remains in place.

The International Chimney Corporation, based in Buffalo, N.Y., recently released a report outlining a two-phase restoration project consisting 30 total repairs, at a cost of approximately $1.3 million. The cost is nearly three times what was originally budgeted for the project.

“Almost 200 years of exposure to the weather high on that bluff has really taken its toll, and so we knew that there was a lot of work that needed to be done,” said Aquinnah Lighthouse Advisory Board Chairman Len Butler.

The first phase of the project would include 20 repairs focusing on structural and safety requirements, while the second phase would feature 10 repairs, including the replacement of brick walls and a new glass curtain for the light beacon.

The Town of Aquinnah had budgeted only $350,000 for the entire restoration project, however those funds will cover most of the phase one costs. Fundraising and grants will be explored to pay for the rest of the project, which will likely be stretched over a period of a few years.

By Mike DeFina, CapeCod.com NewsCenter

 

 

 

 

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