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.
Local News
Related Photos
-
WARREN DILLAWAY
Discussion
Not taken lightly
Preservation society takes over ownership of Ashtabla Lighthouse
- Local News
-
-
2-1-1 system aids people in need
Imagine being in this situation: A guy you met on the Internet shows up at your house and takes you for a ride in his pickup truck.
-
Woman climbs out of icy river
A Painesville Township woman is being treated for hypothermia after her car plunged into the Grand River near Vrooman Road Thursday morning.
-
Port project gets Pa. funds
A proposed warehousing/transportation project involving ports in Conneaut and Erie, Pa., has received a big financial boost from the state of Pennsylvania.
-
Ashtabula tax forms in the mail
Check your mailbox this week because postal carriers are delivering 2011 city income tax returns.
-
Conneaut woman, 89, hurt in crash
An 89-year-old Conneaut motorist remains hospitalized today in a Cleveland hospital with serious injuries suffered in a two-vehicle crash earlier this week.
-
Platinum workers aren’t being paid
Employees of a local health care provider aren’t being paid while the business is under investigation for fraud, an official at Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine’s office confirmed Thursday.
-
Flu mild, so far
Coughing, sneezing, aching, nausea and fever are all symptoms of various flu viruses common this time of year, but according to area experts, flu activity in Ashtabula County has been mild.
-
State program designed to cut number of juveniles sent to ODYS
State funding is being finalized for training and implementation of programming aimed at reducing the number of juvenile offenders that Ashtabula County sends to the Ohio Department of Youth Services facilities.
-
Geneva American Legion remembers Four Chaplains
The story of the Four Chaplains is a solemn narrative of courage, sacrifice and selflessness.
-
Commissioners to help with sewer
Commissioners promised Linwood Drive residents that they will do all they can to reduce the financial burden of extending mandated sewers to their lakefront street.
- More Local News Headlines
-
2-1-1 system aids people in need
