Lighthouse Stairs Nearing Completion

Carpenter Stan Holliday sands a stair tread in Dennis Barnell's workshop. Please see the Photo Gallery for up and down views of the staircase in the lighthouse.

More than 60 stairs have been installed in the Cape St. George Light, and SGLA President Dennis Barnell expects the installation to be completed by Friday, August 22.

Dennis and Stan Holliday have been working in Dennis' shop to build the individual stair treads and then transporting them to the lighthouse for installation. Only eight treads remain to be built. Yesterday the construction effort was aided by SGLA members Fred Stanley and Jim Kemp.

Once the installation of the stair treads is completed, the mounting of the handrail on the brick wall will begin. Eventually a second handrail will be mounted on the center post, and risers will be added to the stairs.

But once the treads and one handrail are completed, the lighthouse will be safe for climbing. We hope to offer a special Preview Climb on Florida Lighthouse Day, which is Saturday, September 20!

Park Work Begins

The road to the east of the lighthouse has been removed and fill dirt added to the site.

While the construction of the staircase continues inside the lighthouse, work has also begun on the park around the lighthouse.

Luberto Sand and Stone of Eastpoint, the same contractor who successfully salvaged the fallen lighthouse on Little St. George, has completed the removal of the abandoned asphalt street between the lighthouse and the Visitor Center & Museum. Parking is now only available in the lots on the west and east ends of the park. Several loads of fill dirt were brought in to level the area around the lighthouse.

A landscape design and installation company has been engaged to finalize the plans for the park. Features will include brick pathways and benches, and native plant materials will be emphasized. Eventually the Keepers House will be built, and a small vegetable garden may be added. Leonard Montgomery, son of the last lighthouse keeper, says that his family always had a garden when they lived at the lighthouse on Little St. George Island.

Door Up, Fence Down

The Cape St. George Light is picturesque with its new door and without the chain-link construction fence.

The door to the lighthouse was installed this week and looks great! The door, custom-made of cypress and weighing several hundred pounds, was donated to the lighthouse by E.F. San Juan, Inc. of Panama City.

With the door up and security bars installed on the lowest window, we were able to remove the chain-link fence which surrounded the construction site.

Elaine Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum located next to the lighthouse, happily noted, "We have reached two important milestones -- the dumpster is gone, and the fence is down!" Now visitors have a better chance of getting a good photograph of the magnificent lighthouse, and plenty have been taken during this busy holiday week.

SGLA has finalized the contract with Franklin County that will enable us to start landscaping the park around the lighthouse with funds from a Florida Department of Environmental Protection grant. Stay tuned for grass, benches, brick pathways, and beautiful landcaping that will make our little park an oasis at the beach!

Lighthouse Door Arrives

Stan Holliday and Dennis Barnell admire the new lighthouse door donated by E.F. San Juan, Inc.

The door for the lighthouse was delivered on June 25. The cypress door was custom-made for the Cape St. George Light by E.F. San Juan, Inc. of Panama City. E.F. San Juan generously donated the door to the lighthouse.

The door has a small plaque with the inscription "To the People of St. George Island and Franklin County, from Your Friends at E.F. San Juan, Inc."

The door will be attached to the lighthouse with large metal brackets made by Richard Saucer and Dennis Barnell. Once the door is installed, the construction fence will be removed. Landscaping will begin, as work on the installation of the stairs continues.

Pretty as a Picture

The lighthouse makes a pretty picture when viewed from the angle introduced to us by artist Lori Putnam. Actually, it's pretty from any angle!

Progress on the Cape St. George Light continues, and the project gets more publicity and recognition each day.

Two of the brickmasons from Masonry, Incorporated are back on site this week to do some touch-up and clean-up work. Most of the lantern room windows are installed with the exception of several that have been purposely left out to allow for ventilation of the room while work continues. About a dozen stairs have been built and fitted, but not yet permanently installed.

Several significant contributions to the lighthouse and the museum have been or are about to be received. E.F. San Juan, a custom door company from Panama City, Florida, is making and donating a customized door for the lighthouse. Linda and Harry Arnold, owners of The Tin Shed in Apalachicola, have donated two antique brass cage light fixtures for the lighthouse. Cliff and Denise Butler have given us an old ship's anchor chain, and our reliable benefactor Bill Roberts has donated his father's oars from the old lighthouse boat for the museum.

Meanwhile, we keep getting good press. Both WCTV TV station from Tallahassee and WJHG TV station from Panama City have included live stories about the lighthouse on their evening newscasts in the past week. A reporter from the Associated Press did a story on our unprecedented reconstruction of the lighthouse for release to the nation's newspapers this weekend. And Dennis Barnell is featured on the local Forgotten Coast TV channel's "Community Heroes" program!

Plein Air Artists Paint the Light

Lori Putnam chose to paint the lighthouse rising above a bed of blooming oleanders. Please see the Photo Gallery for other photos of the artists.

The Great Plein Air Paint-Out came to the Cape St. George Light on Thursday, May 15. Four of the 22 artists invited to participate in the 10-day event spent the afternoon painting the lighthouse from their own unique perspectives.

Florida's Forgotten Coast Plein Air Invitational featured artists from all over the U.S. converging on the Panhandle to paint on our beaches, across our marshes, beside our lakes, and up and down the streets of our towns. Plein Air artists paint on location, seeking to capture the atmosphere of the moment. The majority of the painting is completed on site.

In addition to the lighthouse on St. George Island, subjects were found on and off the beaten paths of Mexico Beach, Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Eastpoint, Carrabelle, and points in between.

After the daily painting demonstrations, evenings were filled with socials and receptions, many of them in the Apalachicola Sponge Exchange building, which had been turned into a "wetroom" for the display and sale of completed paintings.

Artists painting at the lighthouse included Sally Evans of Dunedin, FL; Mitch Kolbe of Tarpon Springs, FL; Lori Putnam of Nashville, TN; and Tom Sadler of Orlando, FL. Also joining in was local artist Lynn Wilson Spohrer of Apalachicola.

The St. George Island Visitor Center and Lighthouse Museum welcomed the artists with cookies and lemonade on the porch, and the festive day concluded with a wine and cheese reception hosted by Sea Oats Gallery.

Looking Good

The Cape St. George Light with first coat of paint.

The first coat of paint on the lighthouse was completed today, and the second coat begun.

The painting is being done by Dave Armentrout and Scott Ogden, while Stan Holliday has been working on installing the windows in the lantern room. Painting should be completed tomorrow.

The original daymark of the Cape St. George Light, white tower and black lantern, is now almost complete. The sight of the beautiful lighthouse as you cross the bridge onto St. George Island will take your breath away.

Getting Dressed Up

Exterior painting begins, as the lantern room polycarbonate (looks like glass) panels are installed.

Painters began applying the first of two coats of white sealer and paint to the outside of the Cape St. George Light on May 12.

Painting should be completed by the end of the week.

Cinco de Mayo a Huge Success!

The large crowd enjoyed chef Lisle Millard's fajitas, Mexican beer and margaritas, and music by Fred & Lola and WOYS Radio.

The Cinco de Mayo fundraiser for the Cape St. George Light exceeded everyone's most optimistic expections by raising $18,000 for the Cape St. George Light!

The Mexican holiday has offered an annual fundraising opportunity for the lighthouse. This was the fourth year that the event has been hosted by Joe and Charolette Bacher of Sometimes It's Hotter Seasoning Company on St. George Island. New this year were Preview Days for silent auction items held at Sea Oats Gallery over the weekend, and a raffle for an Apalachicola bay cruise.

The "Champagne Cruise" on the Heritage of Apalachicola, a 45-foot wooden sailing vessel owned by George Kirvin Floyd of the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, was won by islander Richard Saucer. George, a member of the St. George Lighthouse Association, generously donated the bay cruise on the Heritage, which was designed by the Hereschoffs of America's Cup fame, to be used to raise funds for the lighthouse.

This year's Cinco de Mayo event produced double the proceeds of last year's very successful fundraiser. The auction, expertly organized by Susan McClendon, brought in 50 per cent more revenue than last year, and the raffle netted almost $4,000.

But the real stars of the day were the many people who attended, the artists and others who donated auction items, and the volunteers who made the event a tremendous success. The lighthouse thanks you!

See the Photo Gallery for more fun photos from the Cinco de Mayo event.

Cinco de Mayo Auction Preview

Bidders view the many lovely pieces of auction art on display at Sea Oats Gallery. (Photo courtesy of Susan McClendon.)

Preview and Advance Bidding Days on Silent Auction items for the Cinco de Mayo fundraiser for the lighthouse were held on May 2, 3 and 4 at Sea Oats Gallery on St. George Island.

Many people stopped in to get an advance look at the more than 100 pieces of unique art and other items representative of the Forgotten Coast experience on display at the gallery. Bidders enjoyed sangria and spicy snacks as they browsed the auction items and placed their bids.

Many thanks to gallery owner Joyce Estes, manager Jean Collins, and artist Daphne Evanoff for making the gallery available and assisting with this festive prelude to Cinco de Mayo!

What a GREAT DAY!

The stucco work was completed and the scaffolding removed from the Cape St. George Light.

April 29 was a great day for all of Florida's lighthouses, and for the Cape St. George Light in particular.

The legislation creating a license plate for Florida's lighthouses was approved by the legislature tonight, and is now on the way to Governor Crist for signature. The Senate bill was approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 118 to 1. The license plate, which was the Number One Priority of the Florida Lighthouse Association, will provide funds to the state's remaining 29 public lighthouses through an application process administered by FLA. Because of the state's difficult financial situation, the plate is a great way to raise funds for lighthouses without burdening the budget or the taxpayers. Many thanks to the Florida Lighthouse Association and President Stan Farnham for the relentless pursuit of this goal. You were successful, and we thank you.

And now to our own special guy: Representative Will Kendrick agreed to be a co-sponsor of the legislation in response to the commitment shown by the St. George Lighthouse Association and the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association, representing two of the four lighthouses in his district. Rep. Kendrick, who is terming out after this year, was instrumental in gaining approval of the grants that made the reconstruction of our lighthouse and the refurbishment of the Crooked River Lighthouse possible. With tight state budgets making that kind of support unlikely in the near future, Rep. Kendrick agreed to help gain passage of the lighthouse license plate legislation. Thank you, Will, for this wonderful parting gift!

Now it is up to us to purchase the Lighthouse license plates, and encourage our Florida friends and family members to do so as well. The top selling tags raise about $2 million annually. Just think of what that amount of money could do for our lighthouses. But it's all dependent on how many tags we sell, and we all are the sales force!

On the local front, another huge milestone was reached today. The stucco work on the Cape St. George Light was completed, and the scaffolding was removed. As the scaffolding gradually came down, island residents marvelled at the difference in the look of the lighthouse -- like a lovely butterfly emerging from a cocoon!

A white finish coat of paint will be applied when the stucco cures. Stay tuned for a couple of weeks. And meanwhile, welcome back, Cape St. George Light.

Stucco Work Begins

WOW!!! It looks more and more like the Cape St. George Light!

Stucco work on the exterior of the Cape St. George Light began this week. The stucco was initially applied to the top third of the lighthouse, in three coats. The first coat contained abrasive additives, enabling the stucco to adhere to the bricks. The second coat of stucco and the third finish coat complete the job.

The stucco team, from Fisher Stucco in Eastpoint, will take down the scaffolding as they complete an area. It is expected that completion of the stucco will take at least two more weeks.

A St. George Morning

This photo of the Lighthouse and Visitor Center was taken from the St. George Inn by Stan Farnham early Sunday morning.

Florida Lighthouse Association President Stan Farnham and his wife Mary visited the Cape St. George Light on April 12 after the FLA quarterly meeting in Tallahassee. They, along with several other FLA officers and members who made the detour to visit us, were delighted with our progress!

Also stopping by were Hib Casselberry and Jack Burrie from south Florida, Terry Collins from Panama City, Diane and Gordon Levi from Pensacola, and Al King from Tampa. Hib, 84 years young and a founding member of FLA, did not hesitate to climb up the ladder inside the lighthouse for a better view of the interior. "I've climbed lots of lighthouses in my life, and this one's no different," Hib commented as he worked his way around the job site.

The meeting in Tallahassee focused on the quest for a Florida Lighthouse License Plate and the prospect of a lean year for historic preservation funding. Rep. Matt Hudson, a co-sponsor of license plate bill HB 371 along with Rep. Will Kendrick, was optimistic about the bill's chances for approval by the legislature. His report about the legislation's favorable progress through House and Senate committees prompted Stan to comment, "We have climbed a long and arduous trek up the mountain and can see the summit." The approval of the license plate would provide a much-needed source of funding for lighthouses in a year when Fred Gaske, State Historic Preservation Officer, and Malinda Horton, Executive Director of the Florida Association of Museums, both expressed concern about budget cuts that will likely affect historic preservation funding.

After the business meeting, members drove to St. Marks to climb the St. Marks Lighthouse, the second oldest in Florida. The St. George Lighthouse Association and the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association will co-host FLA's October meeting, to be held at the Eastpoint Firehouse.

Plantation Pine Lives On at the Lighthouse

Pieces of the St. George Island Pine Tree that will be used for the staircase of the Cape St. George Light.

A 30-inch diameter pine tree, damaged and hanging over the main entrance road into the St. George Island Plantation community on the west end of St. George Island, was cut down on April 8, but will live on as part of the Cape St. George Light. The majestic old tree, which had become a potential hazard on the main road into the gated community, will be planed into boards to be used in the lighthouse staircase.

SGLA President Dennis Barnell got a call from SGLA member Mason Bean early Tuesday morning, saying that the tree was about to be cut down. Dennis quickly made arrangements to purchase the tree and have it transported to a lumber mill in Eastpoint. It was one of the few trees yielding heart pine left in the area.

How wonderful it will be to have a St. George Island pine providing some of the lumber for the staircase of the Cape St. George Light!

Introducing...The Cape St. George Light!

The crane pulls away with a final salute to the Cape St. George Light.

With the permanent installation of the lantern room shortly after noon today, the Cape St. George Light is finally looking like her old self once again! The historic moment came on April 2, 2008, as the lantern room was raised to the top of the tower.

The installation was not without its tense moments. After yesterday's successful trial run, coring the openings for the lantern room's legs took longer than expected. Day turned to night, and the coring was still not completed.

Under the cover of early morning fog, the coring was finished, and the crew called the ready signal to the crane operator. Everybody in the gathered crowd raised their cameras.... and nothing happened. Suddenly brick mason superintendent Lee Wigglesworth was sawing inches off the legs of the grounded lantern room, as we all nervously waited.

Then, almost catching us off guard, Richard Saucer gave the start-up sign from the top of the tower, the crane motor roared, and the lantern room began to rise slowly off the ground.

As the iron lantern room swung over the top of the tower, those of us who knew that the legs needed to fit perfectly into the cored openings held our breath. And then a cheer erupted from the crew at the top of the tower, and we knew that the lantern room was home. The crowd below responded in kind, with resounding applause and cheers to welcome the lighthouse.

The long journey has almost come to an end. The brick masons, who have been part of our lives for the past four months, packed up their equipment and left the island. We say goodbye and thank you to our friends. Jim Magee's crew from Masonry Incorporated did a great job, and we will miss them. Tomorrow we continue with the finishing details, but today we celebrate the achievement of our goal to "Rescue the Light!"

Dress Rehearsal!

Dennis and Matt in front of the lighthouse with the lantern room temporarily positioned on top.

It's a perfect day for raising a lantern room at the Cape St. George Light, and so we did! The lantern room was raised to the top of the brick tower this morning, April 1, for a temporary stay so that holes for the legs could be marked on the soapstone. The first raising went perfectly, and the lantern room looked fabulous during its 50-minute stay at the top.

Then it was gently lowered, again without a hitch, so that the holes can be cored and the roof of the lantern room painted black. When that work is completed, it will be raised again to its permanent home.

Please check the Photo Gallery for minute-by-minute photos of this morning's drama. Or better yet, check out the Collins Vacation Rentals website for a short video of the action, filmed by Rusty Amos. You will see the button on their home page at collinsvacationrentals.com. The site also has a webcam for live viewing of the construction.

Soapstone Raised to Top of Lighthouse

The brick masons wait as a crane lifts a piece of the soapstone deck to the top of the lighthouse. (Photo by Susan McClendon)

On March 27 the pieces of soapstone for the deck were raised to the top of the lighthouse. The 18 pieces of Brazilian soapstone, cut to the required sizes at the shop of Johnny Guy in Alabama, will be mortared into place on top of a concrete pad poured to create a level area at the top of the lighthouse.

When the lantern room is raised, the positions for holes to accommodate the legs of the lantern room will be marked on the stone. The lantern room will be lowered, and the holes will be cored. Then the lantern room will be raised to the top and permanently positioned.

The thrill of seeing the Cape St. George Light reborn continues!

Center Post Installation Begins

The pine center post is supported by a PVC and concrete inner core.

The installation of the center post which will support the wooden staircase is almost completed. The post, built of heart pine by island cabinet maker Paul McBee, came in five sections and three were set in place on March 25.

Installing the post was a complex process designed by Dennis Barnell and Richard Saucer. First PVC pipe with rebar supports was set in the lighthouse. Then the pipe was filled with concrete. Finally the wooden sections of the post were lifted by crane and lowered over the PVC.

And they fit like a glove!

See the Photo Gallery for a few more shots of the installation in progress.

Brick Work Completed

Aerial view of the completed tower by Debbie Hooper, Joe Bay Aerials, www.joebay.com.

The masonry work on the lighthouse was substantially completed today, March 21. While there still remains a little touch-up work to do, the tower of the Cape St. George Light now stands at its original 65 feet.

While we do not know how long it took to build the lighthouse in 1852, we do know that our brick masons from Masonry Incorporated completed the job in about 100 days. At least one mason will remain on site to notch the interior brick walls during the installation of the staircase.

It is wonderful to see the lighthouse almost completed, but there is also a twinge of sadness to see the crew of brick masons preparing to leave our job site. Everyone on the island was awed by the sight of the tower rising; people would stand on the deck of the Visitor Center for minutes or hours watching the brick walls grow. It was a truly captivating sight.

Our heartfelt thanks go to Jim Magee of Masonry Incorporated, to superintendent Lee Wigglesworth, and to all the masons and laborers. It was great having you guys here; please come visit us any time.... The Cape St. George Light will be waiting to welcome you back.

Final Phase Begins

Brick masons position the mold for the brick dome of the watch room.

The final phase of the masonry construction of the lighthouse began yesterday, as the brick walls were built to within eight inches of the top, and the wagon wheel which has guided the tapering of the walls was removed. A fiberglass mold for the domed ceiling of the watch room was raised into position at the top of the lighthouse.

Meanwhile, in a preview of the drama to come, the lantern room was lifted from its position on the wooden deck and set down on the ground in the park. The big boom truck proved to be unable to hoist the weight of the lantern room, and the little Lull was again pressed into service, necessitating a rethinking of the plan for raising the lantern room to the top of the lighthouse. (A bigger crane will be brought in for this job.) Now the soapstone pieces will be assembled on the wooden platform, and the Lull will raise and reposition the lantern room on the soapstone so that the location of the leg openings can be marked.

The heart pine center post was moved from Paul McBee's shop this morning, and the assembly of the post in the lighthouse is next on the agenda. See the Photo Gallery for more shots of these developments, and stay tuned to this site in the days ahead. Exterior construction will soon be coming to a dramatic finish!

Soapstone Arrives at Lighthouse

Dennis Barnell and Leslie Guy direct Lee Wigglesworth on the Lull unloading the soapstone for the lantern room deck. In the foreground are the two pieces that form the center of the deck.

Six tons of cut soapstone for the lantern room deck were delivered to the lighthouse job site in a cold driving rain on Friday, March 14. The soapstone, mined in Brazil, was cut at the shop of lighthouse benefactor Johnny Guy, owner of Mid-American Machine & Equipment in Sylacauga, Alabama. Johnny's brother Leslie delivered the stone to the island on his flatbed truck Friday morning, and Masonry Incorporated superintendent Lee Wigglesworth used the masons' Lull to unload the stone.

The 18 pieces have been stacked next to the lantern room like pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle. The pieces will be laid on the ground and the completed puzzle will form the circular soapstone deck, 13'10" in diameter.

The lantern room will be raised off its platform and centered on the deck so the position of the holes for the legs of the lantern room can be marked. Then the iron lantern room will be removed so the holes can be cored.

Next the 18 pieces will be lifted to the top of the masonry tower, steadied with metal pins, and epoxied into place. This high-risk drama will be taking place in the next week.

Right now, we say a huge THANK YOU to Johnny Guy for all his hard work, and to SGLA member Larry Poston who convinced Johnny that helping with the reconstruction of our historic Cape St. George Light was a job worth doing!

New Platform Added

Bill Sanders, Richard Saucer, Jim McClendon, and Jim Kemp work on building the latest construction platform. SGLA President Dennis Barnell supervised from below.

The last wooden construction platform was added to the lighthouse on March 2. The wooden platforms, which support the brickmasons for their interior work, have been added periodically on weekends by SGLA volunteers. It is expected that this will be the final platform needed before completing the masonry work at the top of the lighthouse.

Equipment and materials for the platforms are hoisted up the tower by rope pulls. The volunteers at the top cut the planks and nail them in place to create the platform, in time for the brick masons to resume work on Monday.

In addition to participating in the opportunity to help build the lighthouse, the volunteers were able to enjoy a great view!

Lighthouse Wins Best Chili Booth Award!

The award-winning Lighthouse booth at the SGI Chili Cook-Off on March 1, with the Cape St. George Light under reconstruction in the background.

The Lighthouse Chili Booth at the 26th Annual St. George Island Charity Chili Cook-Off won the coveted "Best Booth Award" with a booth designed to resemble the Cape St. George Light. The Chili Cook-Off is a popular event attended by thousands of people, including world-class chili chefs competing for the opportunity to participate in the national competition of the International Chili Society later this year.

The winning booth was designed by SGLA member Richard Saucer utilizing a PVC framework covered in white cloth to create a 16-foot illusion of the lighthouse. The many visitors to the booth on this beautiful spring-like day were enchanted by the recreation and inspired to seek more information about the Cape St. George Light and how to participate in its reconstruction -- which was visible just beyond the Chili Cook-Off site.

Chili Chef Jim Kemp, SGLA Treasurer and one of 52 entrants in the professional chili competition, cooked up a mean pot of chili. We did not take top honors, but Lighthouse Chili was praised for its great flavor and will compete again next year.

We thank all of the people who visited our booth, and who stopped at the Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum. It was a great day and a wonderful tribute to the creativity and continuing hard work of our volunteers!

Brick Cleaning Concludes!

Brick cleaners gathered in front of the brick cleaning table for a final group shot.

Volunteer brick cleaners finished cleaning the original bricks that will be re-used in the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light on Friday, February 22, 2008. The last bricks to be cleaned were the bricks that were hand salvaged after the lighthouse fell. These bricks had been stored at the lighthouse job site, so brick cleaners were able to finish their work in the shadow of the lighthouse.

Over the last 17 months, 58 people worked 1,763 hours to clean 22,440 bricks on 48 work days. The project began on October 6, 2006, with a test work day, and ramped up to full speed ahead on the first anniversary of the collapse of the lighthouse.

Once again, we thank all the individuals and businesses who made this effort possible: Home Depot stores in Tallahassee and Panama City for donating rotary hammers; Lowes stores in Tallahassee and Panama City for providing rotary hammers at cost, and Bruce McLeod, Harold Byrd, and Walter Hoch for picking up the remainder of that cost; Rick Plessinger and Oyster Radio for the use of the Begonia Street brickyard; the Eastpoint Water & Sewer District for providing electricity; Taylor's Building Supply for storing and moving the pallets of bricks; Roy Ogles and ANERR for the fencing; Karen Rudder for sandwiches; Jim Kemp for cooking the burgers, hot dogs, and other good lunches that helped keep us going; Dee Grinenko for the much-anticipated treats and sweets; and Joe and Charolette Bacher for the cold ones that rewarded the end of each work day.

But most of all, a huge salute goes to each and every one of you who worked through the heat, the cold, the dust, and the aching bones to help clean the bricks. The lighthouse thanks you. Your dedication is responsible for the incredible progress we have made. All this humble brick cleaner can say is, "What a ride!!!"

Brickyard At Rest

The brickyard under the Oyster Radio tower on Begonia Street in Eastpoint sits empty except for piles of brick rubble. The huge chunks of bricks that once covered the site have all been cleaned and are ready for use in the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light. Please see the Photo Gallery for more shots of the last weekend of brick-cleaning in Eastpoint.

The brick-cleaning project at the Begonia Street brickyard in Eastpoint came to an end on Saturday, February 16, 2008. What was once a seemingly insurmountable pile of bricks, both inside and outside of the fenced area, has been reduced to several piles of rubble over the 17-month effort.

During this time, 58 volunteers worked 1,698 person-hours over 47 days to clean 21,718 bricks. The project began with a test cleaning day on October 6, 2006, and kicked off in earnest on the anniversary weekend of the collapse of the lighthouse later in the month. Volunteers from the local area were joined by folks from farther away places like Mobile, Atlanta, and Pensacola -- all united by the desire to rebuild the Cape St. George Light.

A small load of bricks that were recovered by hand after the lighthouse fell remain to be cleaned and are waiting near the lighthouse construction site. These bricks will be cleaned on Friday, February 22, and a celebration for all those who participated in the brick-cleaning effort will follow. We salute each and every one of you for a job very, very well done!

Rep. Kendrick Surveys Lighthouse Progress

Rep. Will Kendrick (right) checks on the interior brickwork in the lighthouse with SGLA President Dennis Barnell.

State Representative Will Kendrick, the architect of the State of Florida funding package which is making the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light possible, visited the job site on February 12. Rep. Kendrick, viewing the lighthouse project for the first time since reconstruction began, was awed by the progress we have made. "It gives me chills to stand inside this historic lighthouse once again," he said.

Rep. Kendrick was anxious to don a hard hat and climb inside the structure. He agreed that the original brick walls in the interior of the lighthouse are an impressive sight, along with the original granite surrounds for the door and windows.

In a meeting afterward with SGLA officers Dennis Barnell and Terry Kemp, Rep. Kendrick agreed to co-sponsor House Bill 371, which will authorize a Florida Lighthouse license plate. The license plate, to be administered by the Florida Lighthouse Association, would raise funds for the ongoing restoration and maintenance of Florida's lighthouses. Rep. Kendrick noted that State budget funds would be extremely tight for the next few years, impacting funding for historic preservation projects. The license plate, if approved by the legislature in their session which begins next month, would provide a non-tax-related source of funds for the State's historic lighthouses.

If you are a resident of Rep. Kendrick's district, take a minute to send him an email thanking him for his support. If you live in another district, contact your legislators and ask them to follow Rep. Kendrick's lead!

Richard Risks All for the Light!

Richard perched on the blades of the Lull.

When the need arose to remove an unsightly and defunct power pole from the front yard of the Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum, our wonderful brick masons from Masonry, Incorporated offered the use of their Lull (the vehicle that raises the brick pallets and mortar to the heights of the lighthouse) during their lunch hour on Friday, February 8.

Brick Cleaning Chairman Richard Saucer saw the need to position a canvas strap around the pole to secure it, and keep it from falling on the lantern room or the volunteers who were re-priming the metal. So Richard hopped onto the blades of the Lull and performed the death-defying feat of travelling into mid-air to strap the pole. We are very happy to report that both Richard and the pole returned to Earth without incident!

But take a look at the photo above. Aren't you glad it's not you???!!!?

Visible from the Bridge!

An additional layer of scaffolding makes the lighthouse visible when crossing the bridge to St. George Island!

The growing height of the lighthouse required the installation of another layer of scaffolding on Monday, January 28.

The tower, now about 30 feet tall, is visible when crossing the bridge from the mainland onto St. George Island.

It is exciting to imagine the sight of our lighthouse watching over the Gulf once again, but now also visible from the bridge across Apalachicola Bay, welcoming travellers to a safe harbor on St. George Island!

Soapstone Cut for Deck

Four of the 18 soapstone pieces are set on the special spin table that will allow the round edge of the outside pieces to be cut. See the Photo Gallery for a few more shots of the soapstone project.

Cutting of the soapstone for the lighthouse deck began this week at the shop of St. George Lighthouse Association member Johnny Guy in Sylacauga, Alabama. Dennis Barnell and Larry Poston travelled to Sylacauga from St. George Island to supervise the initial cuts.

The soapstone, imported from Brazil because supplies of the soft stone in the U.S. are largely depleted, is being cut into 18 pieces to form the round deck under the lantern room. The straight cuts to the five-inch thick pieces should be completed by January 25. Then the pieces will be assembled on a specially-made table which will rotate to enable the round edge to be cut with a water jet cutter.

The pieces, weighing about seven tons, will be delivered to the island within the next two weeks. Johnny Guy donated the construction of the special table and his own time along with a three-man crew to cut the stone. The Cape St. George Light is extremely fortunate to have such a generous and skilled supporter to facilitate this critical phase of the construction project. THANK YOU, JOHNNY!

Visitor Center & Museum Officially Opens!

TDC Chairman Paul Parker cuts the ribbon at the Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum while County Commissioner Russell Crofton awaits his turn with the scissors. (Photograph courtesy of Rusty Amos.)

The St. George Island Visitor Center and Lighthouse Museum officially opened for business on Friday, January 11, 2008. Doing the honors at the ribbon cutting were Tourist Development Council Chairman Paul Parker, Franklin County Commissioner Russell Crofton, and Visitor Center Executive Director Elaine Rosenthal.

Dennis Barnell gave the large crowd in attendance an update on the progress of the lighthouse construction, while brickmasons continued to work at the adjacent site. Volunteers greeted attendees and served refreshments on the deck of the new center.

Bill Roberts, whose father and grandfather were both lighthouse keepers at Cape St. George, attended with his wife Verner and left several wonderful artifacts from his father's collection for display at the museum. Bill has loaned us his father's brass binoculars, acquired in 1916 during Walter A. Roberts Jr.'s service in World War I, and used by the lighthouse keeper during his years at Cape St. George. Bill donated a unique metal tool used for removing roof shingles, also used by his father. We thank Bill wholeheartedly for sharing these historic items with us!

And so the small collection of memorabilia and images in the Lighthouse Museum continues to grow. Please stop in for a visit soon. The Visitor Center & Lighthouse Museum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. six days a week, and is closed on Wednesday.

Visitor Center & Museum Sign Installed

The new sign for the St. George Island Visitor Center and Lighthouse Museum was strategically placed with the lighthouse lantern room in the background.

The sign identifying the St. George Island Visitor Center and Lighthouse Museum was installed today, in preparation for a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony tomorrow, January 11.

The facility is ready to go, with lots of information from businesses and attractions in Franklin County, plus Cape St. George Light artwork and a small lighthouse artifact display. During the days before the official opening, visitors from Maine to Texas have stopped in.

The center is a tiny treasure chest of fun items, made all the more welcoming by an enthusiastic staff of volunteers under the leadership of Executive Director Elaine Rosenthal.

Come visit us soon!

Header Rows

A header row of vertically laid bricks tops the horizontal rows to strengthen the wall. This photo offers a good view of the original bricks cleaned by our volunteers which are being used on the interior wall. The door to the right and first window to the left have been expertly worked into the structure by our brick masons.

As construction of the lighthouse continues, observation of the techniques involved in the masonry construction provides fascinating insight into the methods used in 1852 that are still viable in 2008.

The rows of horizontal bricks are tied together periodically with "header rows" which are laid perpendicular in order to tie two rows of bricks together. In addition, the header rows are offset with partial bricks so that the "tying together" concept extends through all four feet of the brick wall width at the base of the lighthouse.

Stop by for a peek at this rare opportunity to view a lighthouse under construction -- but if you visit during work hours, be warned that you need a hard hat and steel-toed boots to enter the job site. You can, however, get a great view of the action from the Visitor Center -- in your visor and flip-flops!

Lighthouse Door Installed

Granite door surrounds were installed in the lighthouse. Original bricks lining the interior walls are visible through the doorway.

The recovered pieces of granite that formed the door surrounds on the old Cape St. George Light were installed in the new lighthouse. From the many large chunks of granite that were salvaged from the collapsed lighthouse, SGLA President Dennis Barnell was able to identify which pieces made up the doorstep, lintel, and side pieces for the doorway. The doorstep was the only piece of granite that was broken in the fall, and the brickmasons were able to cement the two pieces together.

Getting the old granite pieces in place to form a square and plumb doorway was a bit of a challenge for the masons from Masonry Incorporated, but they were more than up to the task.

The remaining pieces of granite are believed to be a sill and lintel for the lowest window, and lintels for the four windows positioned higher up in the tower. Because the granite pieces are so large, we believe that all the pieces were recovered. It is the intention to use as much of the material recovered from the historic 1852 lighthouse in the reconstruction as possible.

Brick Cleaners Rejoice!

Original bricks from the 1852 lighthouse, which were painstakingly cleaned by dedicated volunteers, are being used for the interior walls of the lighthouse.

The interior wall of the lighthouse is being built with the thousands of original bricks cleaned by volunteers after the collapse and recovery of the Cape St. George Light. There are enough old bricks to line the entire interior wall, so that a visitor inside the lighthouse will see only original bricks. The decision was made to use the old bricks on the inside of the tower because the exterior wall will be covered with stucco and painted, so the brick surfaces will not be visible.

If there are more original bricks than needed to cover the interior wall, they will be used elsewhere in the structure. When the skilled brickmasons from Masonry Incorporated were asked if it was more difficult to lay the old bricks, which are often uneven and misshapen, they diplomatically replied that they are up to the challenge. Not every day do you get to build a lighthouse using materials that are more than 150 years old!

Volunteers during the past year have cleaned almost 20,000 bricks. The estimate is that there are several thousand yet to be cleaned, and brick cleaning will resume after the holidays.

The sight of the cleaned bricks actually in place in the reconstruction of the lighthouse should bring a great deal of joy and satisfaction to the many volunteers who have invested so much time and effort in this historic undertaking!

Granite Door Sill Installed

The original granite door sill was installed in the lighthouse doorway.

The original granite door sill, recovered from the collapsed lighthouse, was installed in the new tower today. Of the many granite sill and lintel pieces recovered, the door sill was one of the few that broke in the fall. Because of the unique size of the door surround pieces, Dennis was able to identify them from among the multiple window pieces. After moving the two pieces of the suspected door sill into place, it became obvious that the pieces fit together to form the threshold.

Once the requisite three feet of bricks were put in place, the two pieces of the doorsill were positioned and cemented together. The base of the lighthouse is now built to floor level. Several steps will lead up to the door, as was the case with the original lighthouse.

Tomorrow the brick base of the Light, with its four-foot thick walls, will be filled with concrete to form the floor of the lighthouse. Progress is rapidly being made; stay tuned for the latest updates!

Brick Construction of Lighthouse Begins!

Job superintendent Lee Wigglesworth sets the first brick in the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light. Lee is descended from a family of brickmasons who have worked with Masonry Incorporated for several generations.

The first brick in the construction of the Cape St. George Light was mortared into place on Monday, December 10. Two brickmasons from Masonry Incorporated began the process by setting five rows of brick.

The historic event, which had been expected for weeks, took place without fanfare but still drew a crowd of St. George Lighthouse Association members and brick cleaners who had been waiting to witness the beginning of construction on the masonry tower. Once the first few feet of bricks are laid, the concrete floor base will be poured. Then construction will proceed rapidly, with a probable crew of four brickmasons and four laborers. It is expected that brick work on the tower will take about 90 days.

The work of the skilled brickmasons drew the admiration on onlookers, as the Masonry Incorporated masons perfectly trowelled mortar into place almost without spilling a drop. Frequent level and plumb checks made everyone feel confident that our lighthouse will truly be a beautiful and perfectly crafted structure.

On a gorgeous day that felt more like September than December, what better Christmas gift could we have received!

Please see the Photo Gallery for more shots of today's events.

Grant Restores Crooked River Lighthouse

The Crooked River Lighthouse, our neighbor down the road in Carrabelle, is looking beautiful with her new red and white paint job!

Restoration work on the Crooked River Lighthouse in nearby Carrabelle was recently completed with the help of a Lighthouse Grant from the State of Florida. Rep. Will Kendrick fought for the grant funds for the Cape St. George and Crooked River Lighthouses in the 2007 legislative session.

The restoration of our neighbor lighthouse included repainting the red and white daymark colors, and installation of an acrylic replica of the original fourth order Fresnel lens. The light was relighted during Carrabelle's holiday celebration on December 8. Congratulations to Arlene Oehler and all our friends with the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association.

It's amazing what a little grant money can do. The Cape St. George and Crooked River Lighthouses thank Rep. Kendrick once again for a wonderful Christmas gift!

See the Photo Gallery for another shot of the historic relighting.

A Merry-Go-Round?

The guides will show the brickmasons how to position the bricks to create the conical structure of the lighthouse.

The guide lines set up by Masonry, Inc., our brick contractor, look a lot like the beginnings of a carousel ride. But the guide lines tell the brickmasons how to angle the bricks, so they can duplicate the conical structure that was created in 1852. Pallets of bricks in yellow shrink wrap surround the site, waiting to be installed. The pile of sand, donated by Jimmie Crowder Excavating, will be used in the mortar mix.

The setting of the first bricks is scheduled for the week of December 9. We can't wait!

Concrete Foundation Poured

Jimmy Crenshaw, center, directs his crew in the pouring of the concrete foundation for the lighthouse.

The concrete foundation for the Cape St. George Light was poured today. Three and a half truckloads of concrete, totalling 32.5 yards, were delivered and poured over the pilings and rebar webbing.

The first truck arrived around 10:30 a.m., and by lunchtime all the concrete had been poured and smoothed. Touch-up work continued into the afternoon, and the new foundation was left to dry. Jimmy Crenshaw, owner of Crenshaw Concrete and Blue Water Pools, said that 98% of the concrete will be cured within 28 days, and the other 2% will continue curing for years.

The wooden forms will be removed on Monday, and bricklaying will begin early next week. When about three feet of the wall is completed, a second concrete pour will create the lighthouse floor, which will be several steps above ground level.

Please see the Photo Gallery for more photos of today's work.

Rebar Set in Foundation

Dan and Dave of Blue Water Pools work on installation of rebar to strengthen the lighthouse foundation.

A complex web of iron rebar was set over the pilings as construction of the lighthouse foundation continues. The rebar was installed according to engineering specifications within the wooden forms that will hold the concrete base.

Once the project engineer approves the rebar installation, concrete can be poured. Work on the foundation is being performed by Blue Water Pools of St. George Island.

Today the area underneath the foundation will be treated for termites to prevent future investation of the massive wooden pole that will be installed to support the spiral staircase.

Ready to Pour

Forms for the concrete foundation were set today. Each day brings us another step closer to our goal!

The forms for the concrete base of the lighthouse were set today, in preparation for the pouring of the foundation next week. Rebar to stenghten the base will be positioned before the concrete is poured.

What a View!

Imagine looking east from the top of the lighthouse!

This is the expected view from the top of the lighthouse looking east. SGLA President Dennis Barnell along with Mark Vail and Captain Dave Armentrout had an opportunity to use the tall basket rig from the SGI Fire Department to check out the sightings from the estimated height of the tower.

The pilings for the foundation of the lighthouse are within the orange fencing. Directly in front of the lighthouse construction site is the new Visitors Center and Lighthouse Museum; the Lighthouse Lantern Room is to the left. For perspective, looking east the Gulf of Mexico is to the south (right), and Apalachicola Bay is to the north (left).

The view from the top of the lighthouse will take in all of these beautiful vistas!

Pilings Installation Completed

Over $14,000 worth of pilings have sunk into the sand, and soon will disappear from view forever!

After pounding the lighthouse foundation pilings into the ground as far as they would go, the contractor completed the installation today by cutting off the pilings to a uniform height.

The next step will be to pour the concrete foundation pad upon which the lighthouse will sit. The pad will be poured over the exposed tips of the pilings, thus providing an anchor 35+ feet into the ground to support the lighthouse.

Change of Plans

Pounding of the base pilings is finally completed.

The pilings contractor returned to the job today with instructions from the engineer to pound the pilings further into the ground. It now appears that the pilings are driven as far as they can go, and the process of sawing them off to the required height has begun.

Unfortunately, the saw suffered a breakdown from the stress of sawing our exceptionally strong pilings, so completion of the job is detained. The piling work should be completed tomorrow. Check the Photo Gallery for more excitement of the day!

Pounding of Pilings Continues

The pilings are installed and will be cut to a uniform height as construction of the lighthouse foundation continues.

The 16 pilings for the foundation of the Cape St. George Light were partially pounded into the ground, until the ground decided to fight back.

The original intent had been for the inner ring of eight pilings to be pounded about 40 feet down, and the outer ring about 35 feet down. But the installation of so many pilings in a small space caused the ground to compact, and pounding was halted rather than risk damage to the pilings.

The tops of the pilings will be cut off to a uniform height before the concrete base is poured over them, but this won't happen for another week. The lull in the action is taking place because the piling contractor's crew has to take time off to fulfill another commitment. So if you are on the island, enjoy the sight of our "piling garden" for a few days before they disappear from sight forever!

Pilings All Set

All the pilings for the reconstruction of the lighthouse were set on Tuesday.

The 16 concrete pilings that will support the Cape St. George Light were all set in the ground on Tuesday, and several were partially pounded. Tests and monitoring of the depth of the pilings continued, to assure the proper strength for the foundation.

Late in the day the construction engineers made the decision to pound the inner circle of eight pilings to a depth of approximately 40 feet, and to stop the outer circle of pilings at the hardpan layer at about 35 feet. Seven of the eight pilings in the outer circle will have to be cut at the top.

More excitement to come tomorrow!

Please see the Photo Gallery for a step-by-step lesson on how to set a lighthouse piling. This information might just prove to be useful to you one day!

First Lighthouse Piling Driven

The first piling is driven into the ground for the foundation of the Cape St. George Light.

On a cold and blustery day that seemed to mark the official end of summer on St. George Island, there was another cause for celebration! The 16 pilings that will support the Cape St. George Light were delivered to the construction site, and the first piling was driven into the ground.

The pilings, 40 feet 6 inches in length, are being pounded almost 40 feet into the ground. A concrete and rebar base will then be constructed over the pilings, forming a stable foundation for the 400-ton lighthouse. The piling foundation is designed to withstand any tidal surge that might wash away the soil around the lighthouse. An engineer from Earth Sciences was on hand to monitor the installation, and deemed the combination of the pilings' strength and the soil strata more than sufficient to support the structure.

Curious onlookers and jubilant members of the St. George Lighthouse Association happily endured the loud pounding noise to observe history in the making. The reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light is now truly underway!

Please see the Photo Gallery for many more photos depicting the day's events.

Ground Broken for Lighthouse!

Fred Stanley, Jim Kemp, and Dennis Barnell were on hand to watch John Law of Crenshaw Concrete Construction, Inc. break ground for the lighthouse reconstruction project.

Ground was broken for reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light on Tuesday, October 22, 2007. The long-anticipated event came about somewhat unexpectedly and with little fanfare.

The scheduled date for start of the piling installation had been November 1, based on the expected convergence of two important events -- the receipt of the first grant check from the State, and the availability of the piling contractor. But on Monday morning the piling contractor arrived on St. George Island to start a previously-scheduled residential job, conveniently within view of Jim and Terry Kemp's front deck. Word travelled quickly to SGLA President Dennis Barnell, who took a break from the construction of the Visitors Center and Lighthouse Museum, to negotiate an accelerated start-date with the piling contractor while his equipment was already on the island.

With the possibility of setting pilings as soon as the end of this week, Dennis had to arrange for the excavation of the area around the base of the lighthouse so that the wooden frames for the concrete foundation could be in place before the piling installation begins. A quick call to concrete contractor Crenshaw Concrete Construction, Inc. resulted in the appearance of John Law and a backhoe at the lighthouse site several hours later.

And so, with not a single drop of champagne and only a few lucky individuals on hand to witness the historic event, the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light was begun -- two years and one day after its collapse on October 21, 2005.

Brick-Laying Ceremony Kicks-Off Lighthouse Reconstruction

Rep. Jimmy Patronis, Rep. Will Kendrick, Franklin County Commission Chairman Russell Crofton, and Tourist Development Council member Alice Collins participate in the brick-laying ceremony. Rep. Kendrick was instrumental in obtaining the Special Appropriation that will fund most of the reconstruction of the lighthouse.

An enthusiastic crowd of about 200 supporters of the Cape St. George Light participated in a Historic Brick-Laying Ceremony to kick-off reconstruction of the lighthouse on Florida Lighthouse Day, September 15, 2007.

St. George Lighthouse Association President Dennis Barnell told the crowd that reconstruction of the masonry tower, last rebuilt in 1852, should be completed around year end. Representative Will Kendrick presented the Lighthouse Association with a "ceremonial" check for the $350,000 Special Appropriations Grant that will fund most of the reconstruction. Rep. Kendrick also presented Franklin County Commission Chairman Russell Crofton with a check for $175,000 representing a Parks Grant that will be used for enhancement of St. George Lighthouse Park once the lighthouse is rebuilt.

Representative Jimmy Patronis from Panama City attended the ceremony and offered his best wishes and support for the historic project. Rep. Patronis represents the western half of Franklin County, including Apalachicola, in the Florida House of Representatives.

Florida Lighthouse Association President Stan Farnham led a delegation of 14 FLA officers from around the State, and presented Dennis with the proclamation from Governor Charlie Crist declaring September 15 to be Florida Lighthouse Day.

Also speaking at the ceremony were Sharyn Heiland and Crista Hosmer, Grant Specialists with the Bureau of Historic Preservation, and Seth Blitch, Manager of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve. ANERR is a local agency within the Department of Environmental Protection, owner of the lighthouse.

Special guests at the ceremony were 23 descendants of former Lighthouse Keepers, including family members of Edward G. Porter, Keeper from 1893 to 1912; U.M. Gunn, Keeper from 1913 to 1916; Walter A. Roberts Sr., Assistant Keeper from 1894 to 1902, and his son, W.A. Roberts Jr., Assistant Keeper from 1925 to 1930, and John Montgomery, Keeper from 1938 to 1951, when the lighthouse was finally automated. Bill Roberts, son and grandson of Lighthouse Keepers, delighted the audience with stories about his life growing up at the lighthouse.

The large crowd reflected the geographical diversity of the membership of the St. George Lighthouse Association, with more than 30 per cent of the attendees traveling from outside of Franklin County. Lighthouse lovers from as far away as Mobile, Alabama, and Falls Church, Virginia joined local residents for the historic occasion honoring their beloved Cape St. George Light.

Please check the Photo Gallery for more photos of the historic event!

(Photos courtesy of Lisle Millard, Dennis Barnell, and Rick Plessinger of WOYS Radio.)

Lighthouse Museum and Visitor Center Underway

A temporary Lighthouse Museum and Visitor Center is being built in the County Park at the center of St. George Island, steps away from the future site of the Cape St. George Light.

Construction of the temporary Lighthouse Museum and St. George Island Visitor Center is proceeding according to schedule. SGLA President Dennis Barnell is directing a crew of Franklin County Work Camp carpenters in the construction of the small building, which is being funded by the Franklin County Tourist Development Council.

A permanent Lighthouse Museum and Visitor Center will eventually be built in the likeness of the original Keeper's House, and the temporary facility will be converted into a pavillion for the use of park visitors.

SGLA is looking for old photographs and memorabilia from the Cape St. George Light for use in the museum. And best of all, the building will provide a welcome shady vantage point from which to view construction of the historic Cape St. George Light!

You can keep up with the progress of the Visitor Center project on a live web cam, generously made available by Collins Vacation Rentals. Go to www.collinsvacationrentals.com, and click on "About the Island" and then "Live Web Cam" to see Dennis and crew in action!

Reconstruction of Cape St. George Light to Be Celebrated

You are invited to the Historic Brick-Laying Ceremony which will kick-off reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light.

History will be made on September 15, 2007, when the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light will officially get underway.

In a celebration scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. in the County Park on St. George Island, members of the St. George Lighthouse Association will be joined by government officials, descendants of former Keepers, reconstruction contractors, and lighthouse enthusiasts from around the state for a Historic Brick-Laying Ceremony. Governor Charlie Crist and Representative Will Kendrick, both of whom were instrumental in obtaining the funds that will make reconstruction possible, have been invited to attend. Also expected are Florida Lighthouse Association officers, led by President Stan Farnham from Naples, Florida. FLA has been a major supporter of the effort to rebuild the historic lighthouse.

The ceremony will be followed by a Low Country Boil for lunch at the park pavilions, and will conclude in time to allow people to attend Florida Lighthouse Day events at the Crooked River and St. Marks Lighthouses. Governor Crist recently signed a proclamation declaring September 15 as "Florida Lighthouse Day."

The beginning of the reconstruction of our 1852 lighthouse will make this Florida Lighthouse Day especially memorable for the many supporters and volunteers who have given of their time and money to make this dream a reality!

Core Sampling Completed

Drilling apparatus prepares to take a core sample at the planned lighthouse site on St. George Island.

The first step in the reconstruction of the Cape St. George Light was completed on July 2 when Southern Earth Sciences performed the required subsoil investigation on the site in the County Park. The drilling apparatus cored down 60 feet through sand, shells, and clay to get a sample for laboratory analysis. A report on natural moisture contents of the site and the results of a sieve test will be provided to the engineer working with Ken Smith, Architects, for design of the lighthouse piling system.

Work on the architectural drawings and construction documents will be funded with the Small Matching Grant awarded to the St. George Lighthouse Association by the State of Florida. Actual construction is still tentatively scheduled to begin around mid-August, with funds from the Special Appropriations Grant from the State. SGLA is expecting contract agreement packages from the State for both grants in the near future. No disbursement of State funds to SGLA will be made until the contract agreements have been signed. SGLA was the recipient of a $50,000 Small Matching Grant and a $350,000 Special Appropriations Grant approved by the State Legislature and signed by Governor Charlie Crist earlier this year.

Lighthouse and Park Get $575,000 in State Budget!

The efforts of volunteers to rebuild the Cape St. George Light were rewarded this week with several major appropriations in the state budget, which will make it possible to start reconstruction of the lighthouse this summer. Signed into law on May 24 by Governor Charlie Crist, the budget for the 2007-2008 fiscal year includes three appropriations that affect our lighthouse:
* The Small Matching Grant of $50,000 from the Division of Historical Resources;
* A line item of $350,000 for reconstruction of the lighthouse; and
* $175,000 for the St. George Lighthouse Park.

Although the governor vetoed many items in the fiscally conservative budget, all three of our appropriations survived! Governor Crist kept his commitment to support Florida's lighthouses, which he recognizes as an important part of the maritime heritage of our state.

Special credit for all of the state funding goes to Representative Will Kendrick, who fought on our behalf to include the money first in the House budget and then in the final budget negotiated by the House and Senate Conference Committee. SGLA President Dennis Barnell and Secretary Terry Kemp visited with Rep. Kendrick in his Tallahassee office during the final stages of the budget discussions, and left him with a number of photographs of our volunteers cleaning bricks and rebuilding the lantern room. After the legislature presented the budget to the governor for his signature, Rep. Kendrick met with members of the governor's staff to urge continued support for our funding. The governor's aides were impressed with our efforts and asked to share our photographs with their boss. Rep. Kendrick said that this evidence of SGLA's commitment to the lighthouse was the key factor that convinced Governor Crist to include funding for our efforts -- including the unanticipated money for the park -- in the budget!

The funds become available after the start of the state's new fiscal year in July. After allowing some time for preparation of the required agreements between SGLA and the state, Dennis said that we should look forward to breaking ground for the lighthouse in mid-August!

Funding for Light Added to State Budget!

In an unprecedented action, the Florida House and Senate have agreed to add line item funding for three lighthouses to the state budget. Included in the funding is $350,000 for the Cape St. George Light. Other lighthouses benefitting from the total $1 million appropriation are Crooked River Lighthouse in Carrabelle and Anclote Key Lighthouse near Tarpon Springs.

Also included in the budget is funding for the $50,000 Small Matching Grant for SGLA which received preliminary approval last month. The money is specified in the budget proposal hammered out this week by the House-Senate conference committee. The next step is a vote on the budget by the full legislature, expected to be taken before the regularly scheduled end of the legislative session on May 4. Then it will be up to Governor Charlie Crist, who will have the final say on whether the lighthouse funding remains in the budget. The governor had asked for $5 million for lighthouse preservation in his original budget request, so he is expected to support the final number.

Instrumental in the approval of the funding for the two lighthouses in Franklin County was the tremendous support of Representative Will Kendrick. Since visiting our brickcleaning site and lantern room in early February, Rep. Kendrick has been an enthusiastic advocate for our reconstruction efforts. He has tirelessly lobbied his colleagues in the House for support of this funding, and credits his success to the impressive effort by the volunteers determined to rebuild the Cape St. George Light!

Please take the time to write or email your Representative and Senator to thank them for their support. Also drop a note of thanks to Governor Charlie Crist and let him know that we are ready to start building when funds become available in July! Email addresses for Representatives, Senators, and the Governor can be found on the state's website at www.myflorida.gov.

SGLA Honors Volunteers at Annual Meeting

Recipients of Lighthouse Builder Awards are, kneeling: Don Grinenko, Elaine Rosenthal