Fog shrouds visibility at Rockland Breakwater on the morning of Saturday, May 21, 2011 (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Persistent fog may have obscured clear views of the Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse of late, but that didn’t stop volunteers from the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse from preparing for the 2011 tour season at the site.
Before the lighthouse opens on Saturdays and Sundays, starting Memorial Day weekend, there was much that needed to be accomplished.
On the morning of Saturday, May 21st, the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse (FRBL) volunteers assembled at the breakwater to carry cleaning supplies, merchandise and items like a cash register out over the stone wall – a trek of nearly one mile.
Once at the lighthouse, the volunteers went off in different directions – some sweeping and cleaning the structure, while others were busy reestablishing the light’s popular gift shop inside the station’s engine room.
FRBL volunteer Tricia Dixon cleans the lantern windowpanes (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
As the clean-up work was in full swing, Eric Davis, FRBL chairman, presented a site orientation to a couple of new volunteers. The orientation is vital to help the volunteers understand the many aspects and responsibilities of opening a lighthouse like Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse to the public.
With Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse set to open on May 28th, you might say that thanks to the efforts of FRBL volunteers, the light’s interior has been “polished” and the welcome mat tidied and “placed out” in preparation for another banner year of sharing Maine’s rich lighthouse heritage.
To learn more about the Friends of Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, visit: www.rocklandlighthouse.com
FRBL volunteers carried supplies out the nearly mile-long breakwater (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Dominic Trapani helps prepare the gift shop by stocking the postcard rack (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
(L to R) Craig Mathieson and Brian Trask carry supplies and a cash register out the breakwater (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
(L to R) FRBL chairman Eric Davis explains the duties and responsibilities of a volunteer to George Moody and Craig Mathieson (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
FRBL volunteer Wally Towne helps with work in the light tower (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
(L to R) Dominic Trapani, Sally Cran and Wally Towne help set up the gift shop at Rockland Breakwater Light (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Brian Trask polishes a brass vent inside the lantern (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
Tricia Dixon sweeps clean the tiles inside the light tower (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
FRBL volunteers...Front (L to R) Tricia Dixon, Sally Cran and Dominic Trapani...Back (L to R) Eric Davis, Wally Towne, Brian Trask, Craig Mathieson and George Moody (Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
