Digest>Archives> Mar/Apr 2014

Preparing for the Move at Cape San Blas

Comments?    


You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
The disassembling of the 3rd order lens at Cape ...
Photo by: Wes Locher

As part of the preparation to move Florida’s historic Cape San Blas Lighthouse to a safer location, its magnificent 3rd order bivalve lens was recently removed from its lantern room.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
The gigantic 3rd order bivalve lens at Cape San ...
Photo by: Drew Green

Removing the lens was no easy task and required a lot of delicate and precise work while combatting some pesky and unexpected wasps that had decided to make their home in the tower.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
Joe Cocking working on disassembling the ...
Photo by: Wes Locher

The dismantling, crating, and removal of the lens was done by Joe Cocking, a professional certified lampist who packed each piece in special packaging to keep out moisture before they were placed in specially constructed boxes to be lowered by ropes and pulleys from the top of the outside of the 90-foot tall tower.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
The first of several boxes crated with parts of ...
Photo by: Wes Locher

On hand for the lens removal was Arlyn Danielson, curator for the Coast Guard who oversaw the project, and Kathleen McCormick, the Director of Collections at Florida’s St. Augustine Lighthouse, who helped to dismantle the clockwork mechanism.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<
The Cape San Blas Lighthouse, now threatened by ...

It is hoped that the lens can be reinstalled in the lantern room once the lighthouse is moved to its new and safer location. Threatened by erosion, the Cape San Blas Lighthouse is currently on the Lighthouse Digest Doomsday List of Endangered Lighthouses.

This story appeared in the Mar/Apr 2014 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.


Subscribe
to Lighthouse Digest



USLHS Marker Fund


Lighthouse History
Research Institute


Shop Online












Subscribe   Contact Us   About Us   Copyright Foghorn Publishing, 1994- 2024   Lighthouse Facts     Lighthouse History