Rock of Ages Lighthouse work trip 2012

Everyone will be thrilled to know that Rock of Ages Lighthouse will be transferred from the Coast Guard to Isle Royale National Park by Spring 2012. Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society has been given permission to start planning work trips to the Lighthouse, the first of which will be this Spring 2012 after the transfer has taken place. Please check our website for information on how you can help out and for more details.

https://sites.google.com/site/rockofageslighthouse/

Update on the Dock

As you can see the dock was damaged over the winter of 2010-2011. The end of the dock has cracked and fallen, it is now resting on the end of the wooden crib. It is only connected to the rest of the dock by some re-bar and steel pipe.

Rock of Ages Dock - Built 1909

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Thought I would share a few photographs of the dock at Rock of Ages Lighthouse so everyone can get a better idea of its current condition, as it will be one of the first projects that will need to be undertaken so as to improve access to the Light Station for future work.

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Notice the lack of any dock cleats or anything proper to tie up your boat to.

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You can see the "U" shape damage to the top of dock, 100 years of Lake Superior storms and winter ice flows.

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The Dock was constructed the summer of 1909. It consists of a heavy timber crib structure filled with large rock. The timber crib sits just below water level, on top of the crib sits a large slab of concrete reinforced with steel. A plate steel skirt was later added around the dock to help protect against wave and ice action, but it has since fallen away. The concrete at water level has been slowly eaten away over the years and is now dangerously cantilevered with only a small pillar supporting the end of the dock.

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Nice view of the lake bottom around the dock.

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Closer view of the "U" shaped damage on the top of the dock and the arrangements for tying up a boat.

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Cover located on the dock. If anyone can tell me what this may have been used for I would appreciate it.

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Walkway leading from the dock up to the stairs to Lighthouse pier.

That is all I have for now. As always, feel free to E-mail me at rockofagesLPS@gmail.com if you would like to join our efforts. Only with the help of folks like you, can we save this magnificent Lighthouse for future generations to enjoy. It's going to be an amazing adventure so E-mail and find out how you can get involved.

Rock of Ages Lighthouse video

Thought I would finally get around to uploading a quick video for everyone to enjoy, you may want to let the video load all the way before playing as the file is rather large. Look it up on YouTube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aSO9JMavmY
"Rock of Ages Lighthouse."
-Enjoy


Our website (http://sites.google.com/site/rockofageslighthouse/) has been undergoing updates as well so be sure to check it out.

Isle Royale Trip 2009 - Part 2

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This is just a few pictures to highlight a some of the rooms as you climb the tower.
Enjoy
The cast iron stairway leading to the top of the crib, the crib is 30ft tall and 50ft wide and contains the basement (boiler room) and sub basement (pump room.) The walls of the crib are 12ft thick of solid concrete and lined with brick on the inside and thick iron plating on the outside. 2500 yards of concrete was poured to form the walls of the crib. The crib protects the lighthouse from the thick sheets of lake ice that are heaved up against the light station during the long cold winter months, and also to keep the waves from washing directly against the tower during violent Lake Superior gales.


Looking up at the tower from the top of the crib. The tower walls are 3ft thick at the base are are made with a steel skeletal framework and brick masonry, faced with concrete parching. The lighthouse is 132ft tall containing 10 levels. Sub-basement, basement, engine room, Galley, Office, sleeping quarters, more sleeping quarters, watch room, lower lantern room, upper lantern room.
Chain fence atop the crib.
Engine room, just inside the main storm doors at the base of the tower. The engine room and both basement levels have poured concrete floors.
Engine room ceiling, due to extensive water damage the plaster ceiling is falling in. Notice the structural steel framework.
Galley level is in poor condition with rotten wood floors and extensive water damage.
Lots of paint coming off the walls and fair amount of rust on the cast iron stairs.
Most of the wood floors have rotted away in the galley, office, and both sleeping quarter levels.
There is new metal grating laid over the floors for safety and since all the interior floors are supported by original steel beams they are safe to walk on, as long as you stay on the grating.

The lower lantern room is the only level with an intact wood floor, baseboards and door frames.

Prism glass in the upper lantern room floor is intact and the cast iron stair is in good condition.


Looking out at the Rock of Ages Shoal from the upper lantern level (117ft).
Ladder leading to the roof.
Hope this gives everyone a better idea of the condition of the lighthouse and a better idea of how the levels are laid out.
The next few entries will detail certain areas of the lighthouse, including the dock, the basement levels, lantern room, and more. So stay tuned.

Once again I am asking that if there is anyone out there who has inside or outside pictures of Rock of Ages Lighthouse when it was still manned, or anyone who was stationed at, or has first hand knowledge of the Rock of Ages Lighthouse, please contact us at (rockofagesLPS@gmail.com) We could really use your help piecing together what the inside looked like before automation, as all the rooms have been stripped bare. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Website- http://sites.google.com/site/rockofageslighthouse/
E-mail- rockofagesLPS@gmail.com

Isle Royale Trip 2009

I have returned from Isle Royale and am pleased to inform everyone that with the help of the wonderful Park Rangers at Windigo, I was able to get out to the Rock of Ages Lighthouse and survey its current condition first hand.
Over the next week I will be posting some pictures from the trip so everyone can get a better idea of the work that has to be done.

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Check back soon to see more pictures and video of the outside, inside and the lantern room.

The work ahead

I'm pleased to inform everyone that we have received our 501c(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. Which means we can finally start the real work, we are going to need a lot of dedicated volunteers and a lot of funds to save this Lighthouse. So if you have not already joined, visit our website now, fill out the form, become a member, and get involved. http://sites.google.com/site/rockofageslighthouse/

Here are a few pictures to give you an idea of why we need your help.

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