The Maritime Society Acquires its Second Lighthouse
In 2011, one hundred and thirty-three years after it had spent nearly $280,000 to build Race Rock Light, the federal government offered it to qualified stewards under the provisions of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
The Maritime Society forwarded its application to the General Services Administration in 2012, and eight months later, on June 27, 2013, a ceremony at the Custom House Museum transferred the deed of stewardship to the Society.
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The next month the Society announced "New London Lighthouse Saturdays," a summer-long series of boat tours, exhibitions, lectures, and special events under the heading SENTINELS ON THE SOUND with a handsome color photograph of Race Rock Light.
One of the special events was an exhibition about the history of Race Rock Light at the Henry L. Ferguson Museum on Fishers Island.
Race Rock Light had been added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. In its 2012 application for ownership the Maritime Society noted that "with the exception of roofing materials, windows and doors, the entire lighthouse is virtually unaltered from when it was originally built...The stone elements show no sign of substantial cracks or missing pieces...it has stood up well to the elements through more than 125 years since its construction. It continues to withstand the strong tidal currents of The Race off Fishers Island, where it remains a prominent landmark and example of the use of Gothic Revival styling in American lighthouse design."
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The Society's primary goal for Race Rock Light is preservation: keeping it in the public domain "as part of the nautical fabric of eastern Long Island Sound and the Port of New London." As with Harbor Light, Race Rock Light will provide opportunities for maritime education, but its offshore location and the nature of the waters surrounding it will limit public access.
A few visits have been made since the Society took ownership, but most trips out to the Light in the coming years will be by people engaged to make repairs and carry out restoration. To that end, in the summer of 2022 the Society announced a two million dollar fundraising campaign, and a grant of $100,000 from the Ludwick Family Foundation was received at the end of the year.
An assessment and restoration plan was developed by Walter Sedovic Architects, which reported the good news that the "massive drum base, granite quarters and timber framing are remarkably in very good condition." The initial effort will focus on preparing the lighthouse as a construction site and safe place for workers and equipment. Railings and gutters must be repaired, the landing improved and the building made waterproof before actual restoration can be undertaken.
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The 24-hour "Harborcam" mounted on the roof of the Custom House Maritime Museum has had thousands of viewers since it was installed a few years ago. The telephoto lens allows for unusual perspectives such as this view of the Coast Guard training ship Eagle, some dredging activity beyond, and the castlelike profile of Race Rock Light as seen from the historic waterfront headquarters of its owner and custodian.
