Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
Restoration Project
The following
information is courtesy of ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, East Providence,
Rhode Island:
Project Plans:
♦
The goal of the project is to restore and
preserve the Pomham
Rocks Lighthouse, an historic and picturesque light tower and
keeper’s residence that sits on a small island in the Providence River off
East Providence, RI. The restoration also seeks to instill an appreciation
of the lighthouse’s role in Rhode Island’s maritime history and to ensure
the facility’s future for the enjoyment and education of the community.
♦
The restoration work will follow a phased
approach with the initial
focus on the most important exterior and interior components,
including roof replacement, tower stabilization, pier repair, and window and
gutter replacement. Another key objective is to reinstall the island’s
navigational beacon into the lighthouse tower. Future phases would include
other interior and exterior components, as funding allows. As an historic
structure, restoration work must comply with the standards of the Rhode
Island Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission.
♦
Increased public access to the lighthouse and
educational outreach
initiatives with area schools and the broader community are
additional project objectives.
♦
The initial phase of restoration work is
expected to begin in June
2005 and continue through the summer and fall months.
Partnership:
♦
The restoration project is a cooperative
effort of the American
Lighthouse Foundation, the Friends of Pomham Rocks
Lighthouse, and the ExxonMobil East Providence Terminal.
♦
The American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) is a
nonprofit
organization of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of
lighthouse, lightship, and lifesaving station artifacts and documents. It is
using its expertise in preserving lighthouses throughout the United States
to oversee and manage the restoration of the Pomham Rocks facility.
♦
The Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was
established as a
chapter of ALF in December 2004 to generate and
coordinate local support for the restoration project. The individuals,
businesses, and organizations that makeup the Friends are assisting with
project planning, fundraising, and community awareness.
♦
The ExxonMobil East Providence Terminal, a
storage and
distribution facility for gasoline, diesel fuels, and other
petroleum products to New England states, has been the owner of the Pomham
Rocks Lighthouse since 1980 and is providing access and project planning
services to the project. ExxonMobil has granted ALF a no-cost lease for the
lighthouse to enable the restoration, and is providing a portion of the
ongoing financial support needed by the project.
Project Action Steps:
♦
Secure additional support from local
residents, businesses, and
organizations to assist in the restoration of the Pomham
Rocks Lighthouse. Volunteer and funding assistance are welcomed through the
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse.
♦
Commence restoration work in June 2005 with
the goal of returning
the navigational beacon to the lighthouse tower by the end of
the year.
Lighthouse History:
♦
The Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was built in 1871
by the United
States Lighthouse Service and came under Coast Guard
jurisdiction in 1939.
♦
After over 100 years of active service to the
maritime community,
the Coast Guard deactivated the station and removed the light
from the tower in 1974.
♦
ExxonMobil purchased the lighthouse when it
was offered for sale
in 1980 because of its proximity and navigational benefit to
the company’s East Providence Terminal.
♦
The cooperative effort to restore the
lighthouse between ALF, the
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, and ExxonMobil was
established in the fall and winter of 2004.
Contact Information:
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
Chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation
P.O. Box 15121
Riverside, RI 02915
Email:
pomhamrockslighthouse@yahoo.com
Phone: Don Doucette at (508) 226-1185 or
Laura McNamara at (401) 438-1212
