Future Projects Planned at Historic Round Island
Restoration Work Scheduled This Month

Though the Round Island Lighthouse has been stabilized since 1972, when heavy storms and waves washed away the southwest corner of its foundation, there are still several restoration projects left to be done.

Future projects include painting the entire outer surface of the lighthouse, using colors as close to the current ones as possible. Existing paint will be hand scraped, followed by a pressure powerwash to remove bugs, dirt, and cobwebs before being repainted. The job is scheduled to begin September 8 and will probably take the remainder of the month to complete. The lighthouse may need to be covered in a shroud to protect it from water spray and allow the paint to dry.

A second major project involves excavating the foundation of the lighthouse. The foundation is about eight feet deep and the outer layer of brick will need to be removed. New brick, identical in size, shape, and composition to the historic bricks, will be used to replace crumbling and failing brick near the bottom. The boulders which surround the lighthouse will be pulled away to allow access to the foundation. If the foundation is not excavated, water and weather can work further into it, creating a safety hazard and structural damage.

Boy Scout Troop 323 has a number of projects they plan for the future as well. These include recreating spindles once used on the inside staircases. A walking surface which surrounds the lower level of the lighthouse also needs to be refinished. Several posts along the surface are loose and must be put in more solidly, while a connecting chain needs to be painted.

The goal of these projects is to completely restore the outside of the Round Island Lighthouse to the way it would have looked during its years of operations.