Before and after photographs of the tower, after an outbreak of mold was cleaned in March 2013.
Historic preservation and the maintenance of historic structures is a never-ending challenge. Our team recently made a great step forward in the ongoing caretaking of the Lighthouse. Improper maintenance back in the 1970’s destroyed the surface of the brick on our keeper’s house, presenting us with a special problem today. Mold grows on the side of our tower (especially on the north side, like moss on trees) and it must be regularly cleaned. Previously, we used scaffolding or harnesses to do so, a process both expensive and dangerous. This year the maintenance team at the Lighthouse put their heads together and developed a special cleaning system, consisting of a pressure washer suspended and controlled from a series of lines running from the ground to the top of the tower. The pressurized spray of bleach and water, controlled like a marionette by our maintenance staff, worked great, and the new tower looks fabulous! Kudos to our Operations team, including Site Supervisor Brenna Ryan and Maintenance staff David Popp, Brian McNamara, and Blake Soulder, and directed by Deputy Director of Operations Rick Cain.
Click below to see some more before/after shots of the tower.
This final before photo was taken the morning of cleaning. Our team had to be on site by the crack of dawn in order to have time to finish the cleaning before our visitors arrive.
Here is Maintenance staff member Brian McNamara tending lines for the suspended pressure washer. Brian also volunteers as a LAMP archaeologist for several days each week so you have probably seen him on this blog before!
Here is the cleaning system in action!