Shining a Light on Whaleback at the Maine State House

The commitment to restore and preserve a lighthouse – and share it with the general public, is nothing short of a fascinating, but winding journey. For Maine’s Whaleback Lighthouse, the latest stop on its journey towards a brighter future was the Maine State House in Augusta.

On January 25, 2018, Maine State Representative Deane Rykerson, ALF President Jeremy D’Entremont and ALF Executive Director Bob Trapani, Jr., presented testimony to the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs in favor of LD 1586 “An Act to Appropriate Funds to Provide Sea Protection and Public Access to the historic Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery.”

This Bill provides a one-time General Fund appropriation of $150,000 to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services for the Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery to construct a breakwater, dock and gangway.

LD 1586 is sponsored by Representative Deane Rykerson, and co-sponsored by Senator Dawn Hill, Representative Pinny Beebe-Center, Representative Lydia C. Blume and Representative Mark W. Lawrence.

The $150,000 appropriation is intended to serve as a match for a $150,000 National Maritime Heritage Grant previously submitted to the National Park Service by the American Lighthouse Foundation for Whaleback Lighthouse ($300,000 breakwater repair / dock installation project).

The American Lighthouse Foundation, and its local chapter – Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, have worked closely with Duncan Mellor, P.E., a highly respected marine engineer with the Portsmouth firm Tighe and Bond, to develop a suitable docking system at Whaleback Lighthouse. The engineering plan for the project includes three phases:

Phase I: Consistent with the original construction design of the breakwaters that once protected a boat landing at the ledge, a marine contractor will reestablish staple-like connecting rods to key areas along the existing set stonework to safeguard the breakwater structures and prevent further deterioration.

Phase II: Reset the east and west breakwaters to their original design by utilizing the existing granite rocks strewn about the basin by the sea on the north side of the lighthouse.

Phase III: A landing system will be incorporated along the inside of the west breakwater, making it possible for small-to-medium-sized boats to safely dock at the site. A walkway will be installed, providing access for visitors from the dock to the lighthouse.  The dock system will have a low visual profile, ensuring that the historic appearance of the lighthouse is not adversely impacted.

The three-phase work project has been approved by the National Park Service and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission.

In addition to presenting their testimonies to the Maine Legislature’s Joint Standing Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs in favor of LD 1586 “An Act to Appropriate Funds to Provide Sea Protection and Public Access to the historic Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery,” Rep. Ryerson, D’Entremont and Trapani answered Committee questions on topics ranging from structural design to financial planning.

The testimonies of Rep. Rykerson, D’Entremont and Trapani are listed below:

 

Maine State Representative Deane Rykerson, District 1 – Kittery

January 25, 2018

“Chair Hamper, Chair Gattine, and honorable members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee:

I am Representative Deane Rykerson, District 1, Kittery.

I am here today to testify in favor of LD 1586 “An Act To appropriate Funds to Provide Sea Protection and Public Access to the Historic Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery.”

Whaleback Light is a magnificent granite structure at the southern border of our state. A wave-swept lighthouse is a rare and important historic resource in our state. The American Lighthouse Foundation has been maintaining this resource to keep out the water but they need help in incurring the major expense of public access.

These funds could be matched by a federal maritime heritage grant. I have landed several times on Whaleback Ledge and I can say that it is a dangerous venture. With an engineered dock facility, not only public access, but also contractor access could be accomplished, making repairs easier and less costly.

Maine’s maritime heritage is an underutilized but valuable resource for communities and tourism. As these destinations become more accessible, the multiplier value of dollars makes this a valuable investment. I urge you to vote in favor of this appropriation.”

 

Jeremy D’Entremont, President, American Lighthouse Foundation

January 25, 2018

“Chair Hamper, Chair Gattine, and honorable members of the Appropriations and Financial Affairs Committee:

I am Jeremy D’Entremont, representing the American Lighthouse Foundation and Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. I am here today to testify in favor of LD 1586 “An Act To appropriate Funds to Provide Sea Protection and Public Access to the Historic Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery.”

Whaleback Lighthouse is one of the most familiar icons of the southern Maine coast region, standing a few hundred feet offshore from Fort Foster in Kittery. The present 70-foot granite tower was built in 1872, replacing an earlier 1830 tower that has been cited as the first successful wave-swept lighthouse in the United States.

Lighthouses are among the most visited and beloved landmarks on the coasts of the United States, and that is especially true in the state of Maine, which is blessed with 66 historic lighthouses. Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth has been cited as the most visited and photographed lighthouse in the world, with more than 1.2 million visitors yearly. Nubble Light in York gets more than a half million visitors each year.

Maine Open Lighthouse Day, an annual event in September that is co-sponsored by the American Lighthouse Foundation, draws more than 15,000 people who want to experience the rare opportunity to climb lighthouses that are rarely opened to the public.

When magazines and websites tout the Maine coast as a tourist destination, lighthouses are always in the headlines along with lobsters, beaches, and scenic splendor. People from all over the world visit our coastal communities with lighthouses as one of their prime objectives. While in the area, they are likely to spend money on local restaurants and lodging, maritime museums, scenic cruises, and all the other fun and educational opportunities the coast of Maine has to offer.

Wave-swept lighthouses like Whaleback are perched on exposed rocks and ledges and are subject to the full fury of the mighty ocean. The era of resident keepers at wave-swept lighthouses ended in the 1970s as the last stations were automated. Today, a new breed of keeper – the preservationists – work to maintain these historic monuments. Modern-day preservationists face many of the same daunting challenges that were bravely met by the designers, builders, and keepers of the past.

That brings to me to the reason we are here. When the American Lighthouse Foundation took ownership of Whaleback Lighthouse in 2009, the boat landing facilities that were used by keepers until the early 1960s were long gone. We were presented with a situation where volunteers, contractors, or anyone needing to access the lighthouse has had to disembark from a small boat onto jagged, slippery rocks, then clamber over uneven rocks to reach the lighthouse. We have been able to complete some restoration projects, but our progress has been hindered by this inadequate and dangerous situation.

The docking system that has been designed by award-winning engineer Duncan Mellor will enable us to move forward with the next stages of restoration. And, just as importantly, it will enable us to bring the public to Whaleback Lighthouse to experience a wave-swept lighthouse first hand. There are no other wave-swept lighthouses in the U.S. that offer tours – this will be an exciting and unique experience for local residents and tourists from around the world. Along with the newly restored Wood Island Lifesaving Station, just a few hundred feet from Whaleback Ledge, this will make the mouth of the Piscataqua River a destination for maritime scenery and history that will be second to none.”

 

Bob Trapani, Jr., Executive Director, American Lighthouse Foundation

January 25, 2018

“Chair Hamper, Chair Gattine, and honorable members of the Appropriations and Financial Committee:

I am Bob Trapani, Jr., Executive Director of the American Lighthouse Foundation. I am here today to testify in favor of LD 1586 “An Act to Appropriate Funds to Provide Sea Protection and Public Access to the historic Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery.

Whaleback Lighthouse is a vital part of Maine’s maritime heritage, but its importance to our great State far exceeds its tangible value as a time-honored guiding light.

In many ways, this indomitable beacon, which stands sentinel over a rocky outcropping – the last foothold along Maine’s southern coast, exemplifies the great spirit of Mainers statewide. From rugged and bold to one-of-a-kind and helpful, the lighthouse and its people share an unshakable bond.

The financial support of the Maine Legislature for a project to install a docking system at Whaleback Lighthouse will reach far beyond its vital utilitarian value.

No price can be placed on connecting present-day and future Mainers with their proud maritime heritage – a connection that promises to be profound in nature and produce the types of measureable impacts both economically and educationally that reward such an investment in the fabric of Maine.

Together, we are on the cusp of making modern day history. We heartily invite the Maine Legislature to join the American Lighthouse Foundation on this exciting journey as we passionately work to safeguard and share Whaleback Lighthouse with countless people near and far.

Our collective efforts will build a platform for an educational and cultural experience like no other in Maine – an experience that promises to last a lifetime in the hearts and minds of all those who bask in the southerly gateway to Maine’s sparkling coastal communities!”