After all these years, serious restoration work has finally begun!!!



The view of the restoration work as you approach on the entrance road.



NELL Member, Brian Anderson, presents Bill with an antique bell, one of the items Bill was the high bidder on during the fund raising auction.



L to R: Bert Guerin, Bob McKeon, Harry Hines, & Jim Johnson. (Note: Wacko Badges were in place!)




More pics to follow...

Bob

Additional pics from the "Benefit on the Block"...

NELL President, Ron Foster, looks over some HL pieces as Ron's brother (Auctioneer wearing the hat) prepares to get the bid going.



L to R: Harry Hines, Bob M., Lorna M., & Bill.



The "Johnsons" had a wonderful time at the "Benefit on the Block".



On the return ferry at the end of the afternoon: Harry, Lorna, Paula (HL Area Rep), & Maura.



Frank Carbone, Paula (HL Area Rep), & Bill go over the sales of the special "Southeast Block on the move" lights near the end of the day.




Bob

Thanks for sharing, Bob!!

It is really nice seeing the pics of our friends but it is even nicer seeing the work being done on the lighthouse...

You know how much that lighthouse grabbed my heart..

Great Pictures, Bob! I am so bummed I missed this event, but at least I'll have the piece from it!

Thanks for the photos, St. Bob! Wish I was there, too.

Hey, I didn't know there was going to be beer!!!

Nice photos Bob, and it seems to have been ok, weatherwise too.

It was a great day on Block Island, especially for the Southeast Light. I don't know what the final figures were regarding funds raised, but I know the event coordinators, Frank & Carolyn Carbone, were quite pleased. NELL President Ron Foster's brother, George S. Foster III, our Auctioneer, went well beyond the call of duty during the auction to get the maximum bids on all the great items that were auctioned off.

We were very fortunate that the weather cooperated. It was raining earlier in the day, but it stopped prior to the beginning of the festivities. Bill and Harry must have had writer's cramp by the end of the day after signing all the lighthouses sold for the benefit, plus the event buttons. They worked very hard and their efforts were greatly appreciated.

ALL the NELL Volunteers deserve a lot of credit for all their efforts to make the "Benefit on the Block" a tremendous success, Special kudos go to Frank & Carolyn Carbone for organizing this event at the light. I'm sure they slept very well last night.

Bob

P.S. Hey Bert, ...Let's see some of those pictures you took!

Bob,

Thanks for the great pictures and info.

I had planned to be there, but had to cancel out after my little fiasco on the way back from my vacation.

I'm glad things went well and the weather coperated for you.

Dennis

Here are a few more pictures from the Benefit on the BLock.



Just look at that magnificent First Order Fresnel!



It was quite foggy when we arrived around 10:00 AM



Another shot similar to Bob's that shows the work being done on the light. The roof behind the tower, the right half, seems to be done. There was some brick work being done at the left end of the roof. If you take a close look at the white part just above the steps. They put this up to show us what the post and railings will look like when the job is done.




Take a look inside the First Order Lens with its Green 1000 watt bulb. I'm told it's the only green FIrst Order in the USA.





A view from the top of the tower looking towards the South.



Here is a view looking towards where SE BLock once stood. I'm told the tower was where the rock is in the top part of the picture near the fence. The shadow on the window belongs to me.

You heard correctly, Bert. That rock indicates where the light used to be before it was moved. If it hadn't been moved, it may not still be with us today.

Thanks for the pics! Your turn, JJ!

Bob

If anyone who was unable to attend wants to know what the button looked like, that was given to the volunteers who worked the event, here it is next to the original Southeast Light Button from many years ago.



Bob

Thanks for sharing your photos Bob and Bert. It was great seeing you both at the event. You to Jim! Looking forward to seeing you all on Long Island next month.

I'm going to start another thread for some of my photos since it took me forever to get this thread loaded at home. No DSL for me yet.

Wow! Looks like a great time was had by all! I am sure it was a lot of work to put it together. Congrats on having a great day! Thanks for sharing all of the pictures! It's nice to put the names to faces, too.

Special Thanks and Congratulations to Frank and Carolyn Carbone who worked many hours to make this event happen.