A funny thing happend to me on the way back from Beavertail Light today. The four-lane new Jamestown-Verrazano Bridge had the right travel lane blocked off in each direction. This limited travel to the left lanes in each direction.

Opportunity doesn't always knock so I took advantage of the situation:

This is where I parked. Maybe some people thought I was a potential "jumper". Maybe some thought I was going to use the "porta-pottyi" aka "Johnny-on-the-spot" aka "the can". Little did they know I was an HL Wacko taking advantage of this rare opportunity. (No cops in sight! I didn't look in the mirror.)



There she be! A disgrace in the face of anyone who loves lighthouses, Plum Beach Light.



I was tired of hearing about how nice sailboats look in pictures so I waited for powerboats.



Boats? We got lots of boats! We have a boat fishing, a boat used at the Providence Reunion the Vista Jubilee operated by Bay Queen Cruises, and a fast moving USCG Rigid Hull Inflatable. I told you we had boats!!!



Bob

A once proud light Bob. I hear there is a group working on restoring it. Am I right? I certainly hope so/ It's not only a disgrace, but it is in a spot where it is seen by many a passerby. Wouldn't it be nice if it was restored and people could enjoy seeing a beautiful light.

Bert :rolleyes:

Allegedly, the bird droppings inside the light are several feet deep now and are considered hazardous material. Therefore, they can't shovel it out into the bay, and they can't afford the health risk of removing it. I'm sure if they had enough money they could get something done, but they don't.

Just think of the thousands of cars that go over that bridge every day and look at that rusted relic. What a shame.

Bob

Maybe they could shrink-wrap the lighthouse, using colored shrink wrap.

Hey Bob - I bet you've got a 'FOP' sticker on that 'vette. Right?

No cop stickers on this car. The only stickers on it is an American Flag (side of port side rear window) and the official Massachusetts Inspection Sticker (starboard side, lower corner of the windshield). I prefer to remain incognito on the highways and by-ways. That way I can enjoy the obscene gestures when I drive the speed limit and don't get out of the way of those who choose to travel at "warp-speed".

Bob

That was a great opportunity Bob, I'm always think about hanging out the window as we go over the bridge but I always driving.
"NORTH" on license plate signifies what, Bob?
Bob

I've had that plate since 1966. I graduated from North Attleboro High School in 1964, ordered the plate in 1965, and received it in 1966. The NORTH came from North Attleboro. Go North!!! (Big football town, etc.)

Bob

WOW, what a great looking......porta-john!

Bob, you did just what I didn't react fast enough to do a few weeks ago when I was out there. Was on my way back to the T.F. Green Airport after seeing Beavertail, Rose Island and Castle Hill. Traffic was pretty heavy, and at the last second, I though about parking and getting a quick picture. I'm afraid I'd have eaten the front of the car behind me if I tried it, so I just kept going. Getting in an accident while lighthousing on a business trip 70 miles from where I should have been would have been hard to explain to the bosses!

Mike

Traffic was light when I made my move. I came over the bridge around 35-38 mph so that slowed them down and made it easy for me to pull over. Everyone behind me wanted to pass me. As soon as I put my turn signal on they were rallying for position.

Bob

Bob, I just noticed that it is your sunroof that's open on your car. At first I thought you had a Lightbar on top of your car, which would have certainly helped to get you over. However you got there, thanks for sharing the pictures.

Bert

I passed by Plum Beach light today, on my way back from Beavertail, and it has a couple of barge type workboats tied up to the light. One of the boats appears to have a derrick or crane extended out to the side of the lighthouse. Anybody know of any groups currently working on this light?

Jim,

Here's the latest info I could find.

Here's the link drectly to the site with photos

http://www.lighthouse.cc/plumbeach/history.html

In 1988 a Massachusetts group planned to buy the lighthouse and moving it to Quincy, Massachusetts, where it was to be converted into a lighthouse museum. A local woman, Shirley Silvia, felt the structure should stay put. Silvia and others founded the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse but made little progress due to the question of ownership.

Plum Beach Light continued to deteriorate, a battered hulk that seemed more an eyesore than a guardian.

In June 1998 a Superior Court ruled that the state "owned and controlled Plum Beach Lighthouse" at the times relevant to Osborn's suit. Three months later the suit was finally settled as the state awarded Osborn $42,000.

The settlement of the ownership issue cleared the way for the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse to acquire the lighthouse. In October 1999 the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management transferred the deed for the 100 year-old structure to the nonprofit organization.


At the deed transfer ceremony DEM Director Jan H. Reitsma said, "The determined efforts of the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Inc., have now paid off and will ensure that the lighthouse will continue to have an important place in Rhode Island's history."



Senator John Chafee added, "There are no better symbols of reliability, contancy and guidance than lighthouses... I'm proud to have played a role in this worthy endeavor, and I tip my hat to Shirley Silvia and the Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Inc. Through their dogged persistence, they have made this day possible. Three cheers!"


October 21, 1999 - The day of the deed transfer
L to R: Jan Reitsma, DEM; Shirley Silvia, Pres. of Friends of Plum Beach Light;
Dot Silva and George Silva, members of FPBL; Alda Kaye, Secretary of FPBL
Courtesy of Friends of Plum Beach Light

The Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse have received $500,000 from the federal government under the Transportation Act for the 21st Century, known as TEA-21.

The bid process for the restoration will begin in May 2002, with work scheduled to begin in July.

Local residents remember the lighthouse's active days fondly. Lawrence H. Bradner, in his excellent book, The Plum Beach Light: The Birth, Life and Death of a Lighthouse, wrote:

"The Lighthouse presented images of sight and sound that conveyed a profound sense of beauty, security, dependability, and peace. "

Plum Beach Light can be seen distantly from shore but is best viewed by boat.

To help with the restoration of Plum Beach Light, contact:

The Friends of Plum Beach Lighthouse, Inc.
P.O. Box 451
Portsmouth, RI 02871

Keepers: Joseph L. Eaton (1897-1899); Judson G. Allen (1899-1904); George Erhardt (1904-1911); George A. Troy (1911-1913); Charles Ormsby (c. 1915 - mid-1920s); ? Robarge (c. 1920s); "Moon" Mullins (c. 1920s); Edwin S. Babcock, substitute keeper (early 1920s - 1938); Reuben Phillips (late 1920s - c. 1938); John Otto Ganze, assistant (c. 1933-c. 1940).

POTENTIAL GOODS NEWS RE PLUM ISLAND LIGHT!

I was returning from Block Island this weekend and as I passed the Plum Island Light, it appeared work is currently being done on this light. The lantern room was covered with a tarp and another tarp covered the side of the lighthouse facing south.

One can only hope that this light is now under restoration. Can anyone elaborate on this?

Bob

Bob, here's what I found on th Plum Beach Lighthouse restoration.

http://lighthouse.cc/news.html#anchor1381108

hey, cool! I'll be there this wednesday, and will get pics!!!!

Okay, kids, I passed by the Plum Beach Light today on my way back from Block Island. Here's a pic of what has been done so far:




Things are getting done, little by little!

Bob

Things may be getting done little by little but at least they are getting done! Thanks for posting the updated picture.

Yes...I was going to post photos, but it was two bad photos...the speck where the "new" side was away, and driving over the bridge sticking my camera out the window and ending up getting half of the b pillar in the shot... :rolleyes: but looks good!!!

Thanks for the photos Bob and the great news that something is being done. GREAT NEWS!!!

Bert