Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
(FPRL photo)
Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse was one of 16 non-profit organizations recently awarded a matching grant for historic preservation from The 1772 Foundation in cooperation with Preserve Rhode Island. A total of $125,000 in grants, ranging from $3,000 to $10,000 were awarded. The $10,000 grant for Pomham Rocks will assist the volunteer group in installing historically accurate operable shutters on the 1871 light station.
“We are so grateful to be selected to receive this prestigious award,” noted President of Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse Dennis Tardiff. “It will allow us to safeguard this important landmark, so it will be a lasting symbol of the crucial role our community played in maritime safety. This grant,” he added, “will also enable us ensure the completion of efforts to accurately replicate the exterior of the building.”
Old postcard view of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
(USLHS archives)
The shutter project will help preserve and protect Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, while restoring the exterior appearance to its original façade. The project includes the design, fabrication and installation of 19 sets of exterior window shutters on the century-and-a-half-year-old lighthouse. Located on a half-acre island off the coast of Riverside, RI, the lighthouse is vulnerable to the harmful effects of New England weather. Wooden shutters, which can be latched closed, will provide an additional barrier to extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rainfall and winds related to climate change. Once secured, the fully-operational shutters will help to protect the restored interior of the building and the artifacts in the museum, including Pomham’s antique Fresnel lens. The shutters will also restore the exterior of the building to its former historically accurate appearance in its early years. Installation of the shutters will take place in the fall.
To learn more about the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse, visit: https://pomhamrockslighthouse.org/
