Well, I have to apologize for not keeping up on this blog. With finals, graduation and the holidays, I just couldn't find the time to write about the current happenings with lighthouses. But all of that is behind me now, so I hope to rededicate myself to this blog once a week as promised in my welcome messsage.
I am happy to report that my blog has picked up its first follower - christyzee. Thank you Christy. I hope that you enjoy following this blog as much as I enjoy writing it.
For this week's story, I would like to highlight the upcoming 150th anniversary of the lighting of the Barnegat Lighthouse in New Jeresy. Barnegat was first lit on January 1, 1859. It was designed by Lt. George G. Meade (the same General George Meade of the Union Army won fought victoriously at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863 during the Civil War) three years prior to its lighting. The sixteen story, 162 foot lighthouse has 217 steps and is commonly known to local residents as "Ol' Barney". 675,000 bricks were used in the construction of the lighthouse. Ol' Barney's light flashed once every 10 seconds.
In 1927, Barnegat was decommissioned as a lighthouse and the Barnegat Lightship installed to replace it. The lighthouse was turned over to the state and now resides in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park.
What will make the 150th anniversary of the Barnegat Lighthouse's inaugural lighting is that local residents have recently completed the installation of a new light and new windows. On January 1, 2009, Ol' Barney will be relit. Refurbishing the lighthouse with new windows and a new light came at a cost of more than $35,000. Money for the project has been raised by local non-profit organizations.
More information on the community's resotration efforts can be found in the December 19, 2008 edition of the New York Times. The story, Refurbished Barnegat Lighthouse to Shine Out Once Again was written by Coleen Dee Berry.
14 years ago
1 comment:
Thank you for such a warm welcome! I enjoy reading about other's travels. I was so inspired by your blog as well as other blogs and journals I have stumbled across that I thought I'd give it a go as well. Thank you. Keep up the great work, and (if you don't mind) I may borrow a thing or two from time to time :o)
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