Restoration Project

Restoration Of The Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station

There are four buildings at the light station. When the Town undertook its restoration program, all four were in need of serious attention. The restoration has been guided by a Historic Preservation Plan prepared by Historic Building Architects of Princeton, New Jersey. In 2017, the restoration work received the Keeper Of The Light award from the American Lighthouse Foundation, for “provid[ing] the national lighthouse community with a shining example of preservation excellence.” In 2022, the restoration project received an Honorable Mention in the annual Maine Preservation Honor Awards, for “[bringing] together the local and summer communities on the island to honor local history and maritime traditions.” The preservation work carried out to date is summarized below:

The Keeper’s HouseTasks Completed:

  • Sealing and stabilization – a new roof deck and new roof sealed the house from water intrusion. First floor framing required stabilization. Portions of the foundation had to be rebuilt. Chimneys needed repair.
  • Exterior renovation – new clapboards; restored soffits, trim and door frames; new gutters and drainpipes; new entrance doors. Window sashes removed, restored and repainted; window frames repaired, sashes reinstalled, storm windows installed.
  • Interior renovation – the three main downstairs rooms are restored and in regular use in the summer season for historical displays, art displays, and special events. We also designed and installed a new kitchen and handicapped accessible bathroom.
  • Hazmat removal – following guidelines in a professionally prepared report on hazmats, each room was cleared of hazardous materials such as lead paint prior to restoration.
  • Upstairs apartment – the upstairs rooms have been transformed into a small apartment that is available for summer rentals.

The Light Tower

For renovation of the light tower, we followed a detailed engineering cost study and workplan commissioned by the Town in 2013 and prepared by Resurgence Engineering of Portland. The plan was carried out in phases. Phase 1, interior wood and metal, was completed in 2016. Phase 2, exterior masonry, catwalk, railing and foundation, was completed in 2019. Phase 3, Interior masonry, windows and foundation, was completed in 2021.

Tasks Completed:

Phase 1

  • Cupola window panes removed, metal frames and astragals repaired, panes returned and professionally reglazed, window frames and metal exterior wall beneath the windows repainted.
  • Wooden wainscoting in the lantern room was removed, restored and returned to the lantern room.
  • Leaks in the metal shell of the cupola were repaired.
  • Rust and lead paint were removed from all wood and metal surfaces in the lantern room and the watch room, and from the stairs.
  • Lantern vents were removed, repaired, restored and reinstalled.
  • All wooden and metal interior surfaces were refinished with architecturally approved paints in historically accurate paint colors.

“Before and after” photos of the tower restoration can be seen in the photo gallery, Tower Restoration Phase 1.

Phase 2

Phase 2, restoration of the exterior masonry, catwalk, railing and foundation, was completed in summer 2019. This major project was made possible by a generous grant from the National Maritime Heritage Program, which was administered by the National Park Service and the Maine Historic Preservation Commission, and a grant from the Davis Family Foundation. These grants were matched with funds raised by the community. Scaffolding went up in early May. Repairs to the masonry required removal and replacement of damaged and failing bricks, plus extensive repointing. Bricks were temporarily removed to allow rust abatement and treatment of the underside of the catwalk. The ventilation ball at the top of the tower was removed to a metal shop, repaired and replaced. The railing around the catwalk was replaced with a stainless steel replica of the original cast iron one, and the foundation and drainage system were repaired. Finally, the tower was primed and repainted with a special industrial strength coating that should stay bright white for many years. Photos of the Phase 2 Restoration may be seen in the Photo Gallery. Restoration Project Phase 2

Phase 3

Final work on the tower was completed in 2021, and included repairs to interior masonry and replacement of the damaged glass block windows with historically correct, 6 over 6 double hung sash windows.

Keepers House Re-roofing Project May 2024

On May 6, 2004 a seventeen-person crew from Home Roofing Solutions arrived at Burnt Coat Harbor Light to begin replacement of the roof on the Keepers House.  The existing roof had suffered many lost shingles over its lifetime and was sorely in need of repair. A skylight which had originally been on the Keepers House roof was also installed.

The Lighthouse Committee thanks the Maine Lighthouse Trust who provided a grant which covered substantially all of the cost of this project.

Click here to see PHOTOS of the Re-Roofing project.

Other Buildings And Landscaping

Exterior restoration of the Fuel (Oil) House and Bell Tower has been completed. Work remains to be done on the paths around the light station buildings. A Photo summary of the entire restoration project can be seen in the Photo Gallery. Restoration Gallery

Volunteers

We are so grateful to our dedicated volunteers! If you would like to help out at the lighthouse, these are the volunteer opportunities:

  • Be an on-site volunteer when the Keeper’s House is open for visitors, answering questions, managing donations, and making sure everything runs smoothly.
  • Volunteer for a work day on the trails or at the Keeper’s House, or volunteer to be on call for maintenance tasks during the summer months
  • Join the Lighthouse Committee or become a Board Member of the Friends of the Swan’s Island Lighthouse
  • Research and writing: Help develop informational materials, research the history of the light station, look for grant opportunities
  • Help with fundraisers

Information about volunteer opportunities is occasionally posted on Facebook, or send us an e-mail.

Thank You To Our Donors

So many people have helped make things happen at the Light Station and Lighthouse Park. We would especially like to acknowledge foundations and other grantmakers that have helped make so much progress possible:

  • Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
  • MBNA Foundation Conservation Grants Program
  • Hart Family Fund for Small Towns, administered by the National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • State of Maine, Maine Historic Preservation Commission, New Century Community Program
  • Walmart Foundation
  • Maine Humanities Council
  • Davis Family Foundation
  • Maine Recreational Trails Program/Maine Conservation Corps
  • Maine Community Foundation, Belvedere Fund
  • Maine Coast Heritage Trust
  • Maine Lighthouse Trust
  • Maine Seacoast Mission
  • Maine Department of Transportation, Small Harbor Improvement Program
  • National Maritime Heritage Program of the National Park Service

Key Planning Documents For The Restoration

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