The Avery Point Lighthouse Society

On July 4, 1997, a photograph of the Avery Point Lighthouse appeared in the [New London, Connecticut] Day Newspaper. The caption appearing with the photograph stated the lighthouse, after being inspected by officials and maintenance workers of the University of Connecticut (UCONN), was found to be “in dangerously poor condition” and a “safety hazard”. The inference of the article was the structure was in such poor condition it was being considered for demolition.

James Streeter, a Groton City councilor at the time, in an effort to quell any possible suggestion of demolishing the facility, contacted Tom DuGuay, Executive Assistant of the UCONN Avery Point campus. After some discussion it was agreed if it could be shown that the lighthouse was at any time an aid to navigation or had some significant historical value, it might be possible to develop a strategy to restore the structure.

Investigation was immediately initiated to develop any historical information concerning the lighthouse. Although very little [historical] information was garnished over the next few months, in December of 1997, Dale Treadway, a Gales Ferry resident, learned of the threat to the structure and made contact with the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) of Wells, Maine. ALF is a nonprofit organization of volunteers dedicated to the preservation of lighthouse, lightship and lifesaving station artifacts and documents. ALF also publishes the Lighthouse Digest, an internationally recognized publication concerning lighthouses. Through the efforts of Mr. Treadway, an article concerning the Avery Point Lighthouse appeared in the Digest magazine and the structure was placed on the magazine’s “Doomsday List”, a list of endangered lighthouses.

In January 1998 contact was made with Mr. Sidney J. Holbrook of the Connecticut Governor’s Office. His assistance was requested to save the lighthouse from the wrecking ball.

Subsequent correspondence received from Mr. Holbrook stated he had communicated with officials at the main campus of UCONN and was assured that the University had no intention of raising the structure.

In February 1998, correspondence was received from Mr. DuGuay indicating he was preparing a grant application for partial funding for stabilization and restoration of the lighthouse to be processed through the Long Island Sound License Plate Fund program. NOTE: In August of 1998, Mr. DuGuay relayed that the request for the funding had been rejected; however, he was going to resubmit the request after January of 1999.

A feature article about the Avery Point Lighthouse appeared in the April 1998 issue of the Lighthouse Digest. The Digest also announced that ALF had established a tax-deductible fund for contributions specifically dedicated to the restoration of the Avery Point Lighthouse.

In February of 2000, Steve Gulyas, a young PhD working at Pfizer, Inc. in Groton, contacted Mr. Streeter and Mr. Treadway for the purpose of holding a meeting to discuss the possibility of requesting that Pfizer fund the restoration of the lighthouse through its philanthropic program. As a result of this meeting an informational committee, calling itself the Avery Point Lighthouse Society (APLS) was established. NOTE: The request for restoration was subsequently submitted to the Pfizer philanthropic program. In May of 2000 it was learned that the request had not been approved.

At the same time the Pfizer philanthropic program request was being considered, a third grant application from UCONN to the Long Island Sound License Plate Fund was also in progress. It was subsequently learned that this request had also been rejected.

Feeling that the lighthouse was becoming more and more susceptible to demolition, Messrs. Gulyas, Treadway and Streeter subsequently agreed to officially develop the APLS into an organization dedicated to saving, restoring and relighting the lighthouse.

A steering committee of approximately ten members was established to create a plan of development for the restoration effort.

APLS subsequently became a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) of Wells, Maine and as such maintains tax-exempt status under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. ALF has worked very closely with APLS in its restoration efforts.

A series of meetings held with the representatives of UCONN at Avery Point and APLS resulted in a “Memorandum of Understanding” between the two groups to pursue the common goal of saving, restoring, re-lighting and improving the Avery Point Lighthouse.

Since the inception of APLS and through the dedicated efforts of its steering committee the following have been achieved:

Through fund raising events, sales of Avery Point Lighthouse related merchandise, donations, miscellaneous contributions and walkway dedication bricks, over $200,000 has been raised for the restoration effort.

Obtained over 25,000 signatures on petitions requesting Governmental funding assistance (State and Federal) to ensure complete restoration and continued operation of the lighthouse.

Secured support letters and contributions from local governments, specifically the Town of Groton and City of Groton, and the Southeastern Connecticut Chamber of Commerce as well as numerous civic and community organizations.

Distributed in excess of 50,000 information brochures and newsletters concerning the lighthouse to raise awareness and seek public support for the restoration effort.

Raised public awareness and support for the restoration effort through the establishment of computer web site http://averypointlight.com . Since being posted this site has been visited over 30,000 times.

It is interesting to note that when APLS was first organized in 2000 a search of the Internet reflected only five references to the Avery Point Lighthouse House. Today there are over 20,000 references to the lighthouse and the efforts to save, restore and relight the structure.

Continue to provide presentations and talks about the history of the lighthouse and the restoration effort to various civic and community organizations throughout southeastern Connecticut.

In April of 2001, U.S. Representative Rob Simmons of the 2nd District in Connecticut introduced a Bill to the House of Representatives “To require the Secretary of the Interior to provide $200,000 for the restoration of the lighthouse”. Representative Simmons indicated he had a keen interest in the project as he believed his father may have been an engineering foreman overseeing the construction of buildings, and possibly the lighthouse, at the Avery Point Coast Guard facility in the early 1940’s.

Three months after the bill was introduced to the House of Representatives, Congressman Simmons, Groton Town Mayor Dee Hauber and APLS representative Jim Streeter testified in Washington before a subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands in support of the bill. Unfortunately the bill died in committee and no monies were funded.

In June of 2001, thanks to the efforts of State Representatives Lenny Winkler, Andrea Stillman and Nancy DeMarinis and State Senator Cathy Cook, the Connecticut General Assembly passed a bonding package that included authorization for the issuance of bonds in the amount of up to $150,000 for the renovation and improvements associated with the Avery Point Lighthouse. In December of 2001, the Bonding Commission and Governor authorized and allocated the monies to the Department of Environmental Protection who subsequently provided the money to the University of Connecticut as the restoration progressed. In a public statement announcing the allocation of the monies the Governor stated, “This picturesque lighthouse is one of Connecticut’s Treasures”.

In December of 2001 the first, and most visible, phase of the restoration effort was initiated. The structure’s wooden lantern room was removed from the lighthouse and moved to a storage area on the Avery Point campus where a duplicate room was to be constructed. Steve Jones, a professor at the Avery Point Campus and the owner of the West Mystic Wooden Boat Company had offered to provide the labor to duplicate the lantern room as an in-kind donation.

In June of 2003, some eighteen months later the University relayed that, due to liability problems, their facilities could not be used to construct the duplicate lantern. The lantern room was subsequently transported from Avery Point to the West Mystic facility to be replicated.

Also in 2001 the Avery Point Lighthouse Society initiated a fundraising program that has garnered national attention. They began selling “commemorative/dedication” bricks that will become a permanent part of the restoration project’s landscaped walkways and apron around the lighthouse. Many individuals from throughout the country have purchased these bricks to not only assist in raising funds but also to help relight a part of our country’s maritime history. Groton Utilities became a major sponsor of this program in 2004 as part of their 100^th anniversary program. By of the end of April 2005 (2005) over 3,100 bricks had been purchased.

On June 16, 2002, the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Board unanimously approved the Avery Point Lighthouse Society’s nomination to place the Avery Point Lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination was forwarded to the United States Department of Interior’s National Park Service.

On August 23, 2002, the United States Department of Interior approved listing the Avery Point Lighthouse on the National Register of Historic Places.

In September 2002 the University of Connecticut solicited bids for the primary phase of restoration, specifically the replacement of the blocks, windows and door. Several bids were received and the contract for the first phase of work was awarded. Unfortunately, because the company receiving the contract could not complete the work for the agreed price, the contractor was disqualified and the contract negotiations were initiated with the second highest bidder.

In December 2002, it was discovered that one of the thirty-six marble balusters on the balustrade on top of the lighthouse had fallen approximately thirty-six feet, striking a cement foundation below, causing it to break into several pieces. The balusters had been imported from Italy and were a major consideration in placing the lighthouse on the National Register of Historical Places.

In early March of 2003, informational meetings were held between elected officials and the Town Manager of Groton and representatives from the offices of Senators Christopher J. Dodd and Joseph I. Lieberman and Representative Rob Simmons. During these meetings specific information relating to federal funding requests for local projects was discussed. One of the requests was for funding to complete the lighthouse restoration. Representative Simmons subsequently submitted a second bill to congress requesting funding for the lighthouse project.

In June of 2003 the contract was awarded to the second highest bidder after APLS provided additional funding to insure the completion of the phase one restoration work.

Also in June 2003, another baluster was found to be in imminent danger of falling. Restoration work was immediately placed on hold while a special plywood barrier was installed to prevent any further damage to the balusters. The cost of installing this barrier was close to $5,000.

In September 2003, the first and most major portion of the restoration, replacement of the structure’s blocks was initiated. By mid November the replacement phase was complete.

On November 3, 2003, Congressman Simmons held a press conference at the Lighthouse announcing an appropriation of $100,000 from the National Parks Services “Save America’s Treasures Act” for the Avery Point Lighthouse restoration project. The appropriation had received the support of both Senators Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman. The money was sorely needed to insure completion of the restoration project.

With the announcement of the federal funding it was anticipated that the restoration work would resume in the spring of 2004; however, delays were incurred in applying for and receiving approval for the appropriation of funding from the Save America’s Treasures Act.

Finally, in June 2005 the federal funding was secured by the University and a contract was award for construction of the second and final structural phase of the restoration.

Work on the final structural phase began in July and was completed in early November of 2005.

Beginning August 2005, after the staging had been removed from the construction area, installation of the dedication brick walkway at the area of the lighthouse was initiated. The walkway, consisting of over 3,100 engraved and 17,000 blank filler bricks, is over 840 feet in length. This beautiful and stunning walkway begins at the lighthouse and travels in a westerly direction towards the Thames River and overlooking Long Island and Fisher Island Sounds. The final sections of the walkway were installed in May 2006.

Once the walkway was installed APLS was inundated with requests to purchase additional bricks. The overwhelming public interest has promulgated APLS to open up the “Buy-A-Brick” program for additional sales and to extend the length of the walkway.

The Avery Point Lighthouse Society, through the American Lighthouse Foundation is presently working very closely with the University of Connecticut to obtain approval from the United States Coast Guard to relight the lighthouse and have it again used as an official aid to navigation. It is hoped that approval will be obtained and appropriate lighting will be installed in time for the official relighting/rededication ceremony of the lighthouse on October 15, 2006.

In the interim, the Avery Point Lighthouse Society will continue its fundraising efforts until the necessary funds are acquired to complete the restoration project and to provide an endowment to the University for the future upkeep and maintenance of the structure.

A primary goal of the society is to ensure that public access, even if on a limited basis, be made available into the lighthouse once the restoration is complete. It is also extremely important that the lighthouse, through a small museum to be constructed in the lower floor, be used to educate people not only about the history of the lighthouse but also the important role lighthouses and lighthouse keepers have played in our country’s maritime history.