This weekend I had the honor of representing ST. GEORGE LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION at the FLORIDA LIGHTHOUSE ASSOCIATION meeting. The wonderful people from TAMPA BAY HARBOUR LIGHTS COLLECTORS CLUB (Rip & Weasel are part of this group) gave a check for $1,000 and challenge other groups and clubs to match.

The most recent update is a little confusing. After getting the permit to salvage (which took forever) the weather turned bad and the survey ship could not go out. Before the weather could turn favorable, the water around the location receded (in Winter the tides are lower), therefore the lighthouse was no longer in water most of the time and when it was it was too shallow for the ships to do their work. So, the next logical step would be to salvage from the land, HOWEVER, the permit only covers water salvage SO another permit is needed (can you say red tape). Any way Dennis, the President, expects the new permit to come in any day now. In the meanwhile he has ask for the loan or rent of needed equipment and plans to have volunteers out to collect the little pieces. Dennis and his friend both can do metal work and think they can restore the lantern room, which was smashed one one side in the fall. Dennis believes they have enough money for the salvage, but he won't know until the bills start coming in (depends on how long equipment is needed, weather etc.) As the pieces are collected they have a place to store then until reconstuction starts. They also have a place to re-build the lighthouse, however, they are trying to get a better location. Either way you will be able to drive to the lighthouse in the future. The group is very thankful for the support and help they have recieved.

It's really great to hear this situation progressing so quickly. All too often in our "world", restoration and salvage projects lag on for years, either due to funds, management, etc.. Seeing the SGLA getting on top of the situation and already having stuff like storage and a new site in place only months after the collapse is good to hear.

Oh yeah...and "welcome to doing any kind of project that requires putting two or more pieces of anything together to make anything" and "let's permit and fine you for everything that we can possibly imagine." :rolleyes:

and a BIG "Thank You" to the members of the Tampa Bay Harbour Lights Collectors Club!

Wow! Sounds like a lot of progress has been made, despite tides, permits, etc. Do keep us posted, Eric - great work! Kudoes to the folks of the Tampa Bay HL group for a fantastic contribution!

That Tampa Bay Harbour Lights Collectors Club is the best. That will be great if they can put St. George Reef back together again.