Plum Island Update - East End Lighthouses New York

East End Lighthouses puts together Plum Island Restoration Team.

East End Lighthouses, Inc. has reassembled the team that rebuilt the Long Beach Bar Lighthouse in sixty days, an accomplishment that has gone down in the annals of U. S. Coast Guard history. The team, led by Merlon Wiggin, consisting of architectural and engineering professionals, craftsmen, contractors, and dedicated volunteers, in partnership with the town of Southold, are already in the first phase of the planning and support for restoration of this historic lighthouse.

April 24, 2007 -- Resolution 2007-408 adopted for transfer of Plum Island Lighthouse to the Town of Southold.

The following sequence of photos illustrate the extent of the erosion that has taken place since the construction of the Plum Island Lighthouse in 1870.

Plum Island Lighthouse circa 1879 (Click to enlarge)	Plum Island Lighthouse circa 1976 (Click to enlarge)

Plum Island Lighthouse 1980's (Click to enlarge)	Plum Island Lighthouse 2004 (Click to enlarge)

The preservation and restoration of the Plum Island Lighthouse, including its reactivation as a Federal Aid to Navigation, is a major project with an estimated cost of 1.7 Million Dollars ($1,700,000).

View of Plum Gut, Orient Point Lighthouse and Plum Island Lighthouse

East End Lighthouses has been working diligently on the Plum Island Lighthouse with two specific goals: Stop the erosion in front of the lighthouse before the lighthouse becomes more endangered, and have the lighthouse re-lit so as to improve the safety of vessels traversing the hazardous waters of Plum Gut. A number of things have been accomplished in the last two years towards these goals. They include:
Accomplishments in 2001:
1.) Thanks to the Corps of Engineers, and Senator Schumer's Office, the first part of 15,000 tons of quarried stone from the Sag Harbor breakwater project have been delivered and stockpiled at Plum Island [pictures]. This stone is of just the right size for building the erosion control rock revetment in front of the lighthouse and is valued at approximately $700,000. What a great first step.



Delivered rocks at PIADC and PIADC director Dr. David Huxsoll
2.) Total re-roofing of the oil storage building by the Plum Island contract maintenance staff. This building is now protected from the elements.

Accomplished in 2002:
1.) The remaining of over 15,000 tons of stone slated for the construction of the rock revetment have been delivered to and stockpiled on Plum Island from the old Sag Harbor breakwater. Plum Island provided funds, approximately $70,000, to stockpile the stones. 2.) Plum Island (PIADC) has already added to their 2002 budget $1.5 million dollars for erosion control, the bulk of which will be used to construct the revetment in front of the lighthouse. 3.) Cross Sound Ferry service have added their written support to East End Lighthouses efforts to relight the Plum Island Lighthouse to improve the navigability and vessel safety through Plum Gut. 4.) East End Lighthouses held three fund raisers, which were all great successes, in support of the preservation and relighting of the Plum Island Lighthouse. Over $20,000 was raised. Additional events are in the planning stages for 2003 please visit our events page. 5.) Specific support from the American Lighthouse Foundation. 6.) Reconfirmed support from Plum Island USDA officials, Dr. David Huxsoll and Carlos Santoya, in support of our goals. 7.) Resolution of the South Town Board in support of the relighting of the Plum Island Light see Oct. 6 log entry for complete wording. 8.) August 9th, 2003 confirmed by Plum Island officials for East End Lighthouses barbecue and picnic at the lighthouse. This is only made possible with the assistance and support of the various Plum Island operating entities. If everything goes well the erosion control project should be underway and we even may be able to turn on the light. Mark your calendars. 9.) Harbour Lights is considering on doing a Plum Island Lighthouse historic replica in time for the relighting. 10.) Historical review and evaluation of the lighthouse is nearly complete. Copies will be made available to East End Lighthouses to assist Fairweather Brown Design, pro bono architects, in the submittal to the New York State Historic Preservation Office for preparation of applicable rehabilitation documents.

Accomplished in 2003:
1.) Held fund raisers in support of preservation and restoration of Plum Island Lighthouse. 2.) Confirmation by Homeland Security officials that funds for the construction of the revetment are still in place with work to start in early 2004. 3.) Established good communications with new Plum Island and Homeland Security officials. 4.) Confirmation by the President of the Long Island Chapter of the U. S. Lighthouse Society that the funds raised at the 2001 Barbecue and Picnic specifically for the Plum Island Lighthouse and are retained in their bank account will be available for the lighthouse restoration.

Planned for 2004:
1.) Supporting efforts for the Lighthouse to be relit. East End Lighthouses has offered to support rehabilitating the lantern room to permit the installation of an automated Coast Guard optic. 2.) Offshore Lighthouse Cruise to benefit the offshore lighthouses of Southold Town. 3.) Construction of the erosion control revetment by the Corps of Engineers. 4.) Initial planning to establish a Southold Town Lighthouse Museum. 5.) Harbour Lights to issue a Limited Edition replica of the Plum Island Lighthouse circa 1879.

Time is of the essence if the reactivation of the lighthouse light and the first phase of the erosion control is to occur this year. Waiting another year only extends the stated hazard to the boats and vessels traversing Plum Gut and allow erosion of the bluff to accelerate and further jeopardize the future of this historic lighthouse.