The efforts of many have made it an interesting year. Tom Harris, Park manager, and his staff have been hard at work. Our meetings are now held in a warm and cozy setting, [thanks to the new furnace], and we have been able to enjoy the beautifully refinished hardwood floors. New lantern glass has arrived and will be installed as soon as the weather allows. Tom and his workers have also tested the interior walls for paint removal and are awaiting cost estimates. An old refrigerator and stove are now resting in the first floor kitchen. They give visitors an idea of what once was and what might be if we can proceed with restoration plans.
Len Carpenter and Lee Wayner recently clarified our bylaws which were then approved by the Board of Directors. Copies will be available at the next meeting. We appreciate their job well done.
Hopefully, by the first of June, we will hear about a grant application to the New York State Preservation League. We have asked for funding to conduct an engineering assessment. The work would be carried out by International Chimney Corporation, whose lighthouse work is well known. Their appraisal would give us a starting point and prioritized plan for improvements and restoration. International Chimney has worked on Block Island Light, Cape May, and Cape Hatteras Lights. Thirty Mile Point would be in good company! Ben Frombgen is responsible for the legwork on this project and Tom Harris' assistance has been invaluable. Keep your fingers crossed!
Another aim of the Friends of Thirty Mile Point Lighthouse is to promote and educate the public. With that in mind, we are undertaking a project to audiotape Len Carpenter's booklet, "Sturdy Silent Sentinel." We have been given permission by the Town of Somerset to proceed and will set up rehearsal and taping appointments in the next month.
Plans for the summer season are progressing. We need assistance "manning the lighthouse" and assisting with the many tourists. Currently, the lighthouse is open from 2 - 4 P. M. Friday through Sunday. If you are able, please volunteer to help. We especially need workers for Sunday afternoons. Believe me, it is an easy and pleasurable way to spend two hours on a Sunday! The visitors are terrific and love to hear all about Thirty Mile Point. Many tourists are lighthouse "collectors" and are more than willing to share stories of the many lights they have visited. If you can help, please call Jane or Kathy Schumaker at 716 - 735 - 3326.
Many of our ideas are "on hold" for the time being pending approval of the New York State Parks, but that hasn't stopped us from making plans to sell needlework kits and stamp pins in the near future. Barb Braunscheidel, Cindy Harris, Jane Cleary, Lorraine Wayner and Beth Ingham have been busy investigating all of our options.
Speaking of finances . . . current memberships are expiring this month. For the year June 1 to May 31, family membership is $5.00 and individuals may join for $3.00. Please help us make all of our plans come true! Dues payments may be sent to Secretary Suzanne Harris, at P. O. Box 20, Barker, NY 14012.
Have you seen the new Sea Way Trail issue of Journey Magazine? It has a beautiful print of Thirty Mile Point on the back cover. Entitled "January Thaw," the work by Ron Kleiber features red-head ducks in flight just off the shore.
We hope to see you soon at the lighthouse. Join us for our monthly meetings -- the second Thursday of each month at 7 P. M. Both the refreshments and the good company are hard to beat! Recent meetings have been capped off with Bob Schumacher's diving/shipwreck videos and photos of the lighthouse work by International Chimney. Mrs. Bev Rutland delighted everyone with long lost original papers from the early days of Thirty Mile Point. We are planning for the summer season and would really like to hear from you.
Keep the lights burning!
Summer Meetings are scheduled for:
June 13th July 11th August 8thAll meetings are at 7 P. M. at the Lighthouse with notice given in local newspapers.
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