KEEPERS of the LIGHT

What she's referring to is the lighthouse's cracks, crumbles and rust. Our unmatched weather patterns have taken their toll on the coastal icon - the outer sandstone layer on the tower's concrete base has deteriorated from freeze and thaw cycles. The lower 10-foot section of the tower is cracked and crumbling. The structure also suffers from poor ventilation, and rust and deterioration has been found at the top near the lantern level.

Refusing to lose the beacon to the same weather conditions that created its necessity in the first place, Easley and a few other likeminded volunteers have come together to form Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse.

A local non-profit organization that got its start back in April, Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse consists several concerned citizens intent on working toward restoring and preserving the historic structure. In cooperation with Washington State Parks, Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse is a subgroup of Friends of the Columbia River Gateway. Advised by Bob Petersen, the organization's board of directors currently consists of Easley, Lona Niemi, Marie Powell, Andrew Renwick and Tim Wilker.

Standing cliff-side over the Pacific Ocean, the 65-foot tall North Head Lighthouse was designed by Carl Leick and built in 1898. The second oldest lighthouse on the Washington coast, North Head guides ships through "The Graveyard of the Pacific" as they approach from the north.

In summer 2008, University of Oregon's Pacific Northwest Historic Preservation Field School spent a week at North Head to assess the damage and make a recommendation on repairs. After finding that they had to chip away 6 to 8 inches of the base to find good stone, the students recommended stone replacement for the outer foot of the base rather than a more costly and labor intensive synthetic fill.

Back in April, Washington State Parks Historic Preservation Planner Alex McMurry said, "It's not in imminent danger of failing, but it's something that we should be looking at fixing in 10 to 20 years. Due to the cost, a project like this will take a lot of planning because we need someone qualified to restore it to the original as close as possible. There are some parts that need a significant amount of work, but it's not so far gone that it can't be saved. Complete rehabilitation of the building is possible and it can be as good as it was when it was new, provided we have the money to do it ... The biggest hurdle is funding for construction."

Following the field school's assessment, Washington State Parks Spokesperson Virginia Painter stated there are "about $2 million in project needs for the lighthouse."

Using the assessment document as a guide, volunteers hope to be the leading force on restoration as well as maintenance projects, such as weeding, filling puddle holes, and addressing soil issues. There are also plans to move the outhouse and create an office space in the property's carriage house.

According to what Niemi calls their "guru of knowledge," State Parks Area Manager Evan Roberts, three things must be completed prior to getting the restoration project underway: a Cultural Landscape Management Plan, which is complete; a Cultural Resource Management Plan, which would include a History Structure Report and Structural Integrity Report; and a fairly expensive Restoration Plan.

Another hurdle is the fact that the lighthouse property's title must change hands from the Coast Guard to Washington State Parks before any projects can get started. The Coast Guard has owned the North Head Lighthouse since 1939. Easley says she has been diligently writing to legislators in hopes of speeding up the title transfer process.

In the meantime, the group's primary focus is building a committed group of volunteers. They're working on the 2010 budget and strategic plan, brainstorming fundraiser ideas, and even planning a 112th birthday celebration for the coastal icon on May 16.

Niemi suspects that the group will need "a lot of fund matching from state and federal grants." Their seed money goal is 10 percent of the total projected restoration expense - approximately $200,000. Lighthouse tour contributions have been redirected from a general fund to a fund specifically for lighthouse restoration. The seasonal gift store inside the barn and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center gift shop indirectly support future lighthouse projects. Financial assistance may also be available through Lighthouse Environmental Programs, which receives proceeds from Washington lighthouse license plate sales.

Keepers of the North Head Lighthouse welcomes new memberships, which start at $20 per year for individuals, $30 for couples, $40 for families and $60 for businesses. They also look forward to gaining support from local service organizations and other non-profits.

"We're looking to generate interest, people who believe in [the lighthouse restoration] and want to walk the journey with us, because it is a journey - probably a five-year journey," Easley explains.

Find the Keepers of North Head Lighthouse brochure - designed by interpretive specialists Jon Schmidt and Steve Wood - at the lighthouse, Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau, and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Starting soon donors will receive a quarterly newsletter featuring the group's successes and upcoming plans.