ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP - - There is nothing new about the Ashtabula Lighthouse except the owners.
After years of application to the General Services Administration, the Ashtabula Lighthouse Restoration and Preservation Society took possession of the historic lighthouse Sunday afternoon in a deed transfer ceremony.
"We are proud and happy to be here today to take ownership of the lighthouse. So many people have worked for this," society president Joe Santiana said.
Five years ago the 15 members of the society realized the U.S. Coast Guard's plans to release Great Lakes lighthouses from it's inventory. Santiana knew then he had to save the historic lighthouse.
With the help of State Rep. George Distel, D-Conneaut, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources leases the lake bottom under the lighthouse and the Army Corps of Engineers leases the breakwater space to the lighthouse owner.
An audience of supporters watched as Distel presented the golden key to the lighthouse to society members.
"This lighthouse is an important part of history. I hope more groups will step up to preserve and restore these lighthouses for our children and their children and grandchildren," Distel said.
Brooke Barton of the U.S. Coast Guard said the lighthouse and her father's love for the old structure directed her to a career in the Coast Guard.
"I grew up hearing stories about this lighthouse and those stories provided the inspiration for my career," she said.
Now the society must take on the arduous task of preserving the structure, a process that will take up to five years and $1 million.
"We are looking for a major corporate sponsor to help fund our restoration. Businesses and county residents can sign up for membership, which will help us a lot," Santiana said.
"We have a five-year restoration plan that includes a complete engineering assessment and a lot of hard work to get the building cleaned and open for some tours by the end of next summer," Santiana said.
The final stage of the restoration includes a museum and gift shop.
The national average for lighthouse tourism is 3.000 to 5,000 visitors a year, though Santiana said the Ashtabula Lighthouse's off-shore location may only bring 1,000 visitors a year.
"We are here to acquire and restore this historic structure. Anything our work does to benefit the county is an added bonus," Santiana said. "But we do feel the lighthouse will bring more people into this area."
Santiana said the society will work toward grants and fund-raisers to help boost the restoration. It also has a wish list of supplies and equipment, including extension cords, stepladders, saws, blades, grinders, brooms and flat shoves, garbage cans, a welder, putty and scraping knives and overalls and dust masks, that can be donated toward the restoration.
"Someone may have an old ladder they aren't using and would like to donate. We can use these tools to help us get started on the cleanup," he said.
To view the society's complete wish list of items needed to make temporary repairs to the lighthouse, visit www.ashtabulalighthouse.com or call Santiana at (440) 224-0750.
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Preservation society takes over ownership of Ashtabla Lighthouse
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