Hope this turns out well

Dauphin Island set to take control of Sand Island Lighthouse

DAUPHIN ISLAND, Ala. (AP) -- The prospects for restoring the Sand Island Lighthouse are getting a little brighter.

More than two years after the town of Dauphin Island began the process of taking ownership of the lighthouse from the federal government, the mayor expects to sign for it next week.

Federal officials last week confirmed that Dauphin Island's application had been accepted. Mayor Jeff Collier said he will seek the council's approval to sign the necessary paperwork at Tuesday's council meeting. The town is expected to receive the title within 90 days, according the National Park Service.

"Sand Island Lighthouse will soon finally have a home," said Warren Lee of the Alabama Lighthouse Association. [...]

I hope they are able to save the old light--it sits offshore about four miles south of the east end of Dauphin Island, marking the beginning of the channel into Mobile Bay. Over the last hundred years or so, it has been reduced to little more than the light tower itself on top of a few rocks at the base.

At one time, Sand Island was a real island, with a keeper's house and several other outbuildings. The original light was built in 1838, then replaced with a nice new structure in 1859. This tower was destroyed during the Late Unpleasantness by some Rebs who noticed Yankees had infested it and were spying on Fort Morgan. They blasted it apart, but when the Yankees reestablished federal control in 1864, a temporary wooden tower was constructed which lasted until 1873, when the present structure was built. Two hurricanes in 1906 and in 1919 blew away most of the buildings, and most of the island, too, for that matter. Today nothing but the tower stands.

The Alabama Lighthouse Association's website is here (and they also look after the Mid-bay Light and the Rear Range Light), and The Sand Island Lighthouse Preservation Group has a website here.
posted by Terry at 9:11:00 AM