PRESERVATIONS AWARDS 1999

As part of its annual effort to recognize exemplary restoration or adaptive reuse projects on Long Island, the Society presented two 1999 Preservation Awards at its annual spring Country House Party. The first of two recipients was Save Huntington’s Lighthouse, which is near completion of a long term restoration of Huntington Harbor’s historic Italian Renaissance lighthouse and establishing a permanent museum at the site.

After the US Coast Guard determined that in 1983 the lighthouse was beyond viability for repair, Save Huntington’s Lighthouse was formed as a nonprofit corporation in 1985 solely for the purpose of raising funds to restore thestructure. Since that time, an extensive on-going exterior restoration program has been accomplished including stabilization of the rubble foundation, repair and reinstallation of shoring and boat access, restoration of the historic concrete facades, replacement of the failing roof, and installation of bird control systems.

On hand to receive the award were Save Huntington’s Lighthouse President, Pamela Setchel, and Vice President, Hank Bungart. SPLIA’s new President, Paula Youngs Weir, center, also accepted the award on behalf of the Montauk Historical Society’s President, Peggy Joyce, who could not attend.

Save Huntington’s Lighthouse now also plans to establish a lighthouse museum and is actively collecting original interior elements integral to the lighthouse and working closely with former lighthouse keepers and historians to create an authentic period appearance. The Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Museum will soon become the result of this effort, and is targeted to open in late summer of 2000.

The second 1999 award recipient, the Montauk Point Lighthouse Museum Committee of the Montauk Historical Society, was cited for completion of a recent massive exterior restoration of the historic Montauk Light. For the first time in its 200-year history, the nation’s fourth oldest operating light station and the oldest surviving lighthouse in New York State underwent a major restoration effort, beginning with a comprehensive study of the exterior in 1997 and restoration work beginning in 1998.

With the assistance of preservation consultants a three-phase effort was undertaken. The exterior metal decking was repaired and restored, arresting all corrosion including severely deteriorated support brackets (that had supported thousands of seasonal visitors and were close to failure!). The exterior sandstone tower was restored including repair of all major bulges and cracks, repointing with historically correct lime mortars and repainting. In addition, restoration of the interior of the tower and museum was undertaken including repair of cracking masonry, repair of portholes and brass windows, stabilization of steps and chimneys, and repainting. In 1996 in order to provide for the continued maintenance and preservation of the lighthouse, President Clinton signed into law the transfer of the Montauk Lighthouse reser- vation from the US Coast Guard to the Montauk Historical Society Lighthouse Museum Committee. The museum, which was formed in 1987, is the most visited lighthouse in the nation with over 100,000 visitors annually.