How Would You Like to Own a Lighthouse?

It may sound “too good to be true,” as the old cliché goes, but the Federal Government is actually giving some away—FREE!

It seems that this occurs each year in May as lighthouse records are reviewed and classified.

The GSA (General Services Administration) wants to preserve these properties, and others like them, which are mostly 100 or more years in age!

According to what I have discovered, ten lighthouses are on the books to be auctioned off or given away because someone has decided that with GPS systems and other modern technology, the tall beacons are not essential to boat and aircraft travel. It seems that “essential” means one thing to some folks and another to others.

So, I am glad to hear that the government has been wise enough to try to preserve these beautiful and historical structures for the entertainment and historical learning value to photographers, tourists from all over the world, amateur and professional artists, and journalists/ writers.

You know, lighthouses were often the “homes” of families or lone operators who made it possible for ocean-going vessels to have safe trips in otherwise dangerous coastline areas and also made it easier for settlers and business owners to “set up shop” in those areas.

Some of my students may remember a long poem, titled The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, and the event of a needless killing of an albatross. We learned that a “mariner” is a seagoing person, and discussed that even back in the pre-1900s, they needed warning lights along the shores. (O. K., John and Kelly and others, before you call me, “Yes, we learned that the poem’s theme is that ‘we should not needlessly kill God’s creatures!’”) Through the most recent records I have found, the GSA has reportedly “gifted” about 80 historical lighthouses and auctioned off another 70 or more, which brought in approximately 10 million dollars ($10,000,000.00).

To qualify for receiving these “priceless” old structures, the lucky receptors must be ready, willing, and able to offer them as available for the PUBLIC to use for recreational, cultural, educational, and other like purposes, which means whoever agrees to take over one must be able to afford it! It appears to me that non-profits, educational institutions, philanthropists, or local governmental units are probably first on the list as choices if this program continues.

I read that over the years, prices paid have ranged from $10,000 to $933,888 (ten thousand to almost one million dollars).

One structure that “caught” my attention is located in Massachusetts and is called the Plymouth/Gurnet Light, which is wooden, eight-sided, and has been in operation since 1842. Interestingly historical is the fact that this was not the first lighthouse there. That distinction belongs to 1768 (or possibly earlier), when an earlier beacon structure lighted the path to safety. And, it gets better: one previous “light” at this site was staffed by the 1st FEMALE Lighthouse Keeper!

Other offerings I see are in Long Island Sound—Fairfield, Connecticut—Chassell, Michigan—Harpswell, Maine—Falmouth, Massachusetts— and I think there are others……..I recommend that if you are really interested or know of an entity that is, do a little research and put in a bid.