- Caretakers of Maine's Pemaquid Point Lighthouse believe they can rebuild damaged parts of the lighthouse after recent storms.
- Pemaquid Point Light is a nearly 200-year-old lighthouse whose 19th-century bell tower suffered significant damage.
- The town, which manages Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park, plans to rebuild the damaged portion before the storm hit the area.
Managers of some of Maine's most beloved lighthouses said Thursday they believe parts of the storm-damaged lighthouses can be rebuilt this week.
A strong storm that brought high winds and heavy rain to the North East caused major damage to the Pemaquid Point Light property in Bristol. Built almost 200 years ago, the lighthouse is located in the state district and is a popular tourist attraction along the coast.
The lighthouse's bell tower, built in the 19th century, suffered the worst damage, its parts reduced to a pile of bricks. Sherry Gallagher, Beach Manager for the City of Bristol's Parks and Recreation Department, said the area was hit by high waves and wind gusts of up to 110km/h.
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The town maintains and maintains this site as Pemaquid Point Lighthouse Park. Town officials will have to work to secure the site ahead of another severe storm that is expected to hit the area Friday, but they believe the damaged areas can be rebuilt, Gallagher said. Ta.
The iconic bell tower building at Pemaquid Point Light undergoes a makeshift renovation on January 11, 2024 in Bristol, Maine, a day after being battered by damaging winds and waves from a powerful storm. It is standing. The lighthouse represents Maine in the center of the state. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati)
“We believe there is enough structure left that we can rebuild it,” Gallagher said. “We'll be ready again. We'll be ready again in the summer.”
The lighthouse tower itself is maintained by the Friends of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Gallagher said there was no damage to the tower.
Gallagher said the belfry was once home to the lighthouse's fog bell, which was used to warn sailors. The bell itself, forged in the 1840s, was intact as it was removed in August due to rotting wood.
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Gallagher said the town plans to seek federal funding to help with rebuilding costs.
The winter storm hit New Hampshire and Maine, causing significant damage to waterfront businesses, piers, and ships. Cape Elizabeth's Portland Headlight, another popular lighthouse in Maine, also suffered some damage.
Patrick Kelliher, director of the Maine Department of Marine Resources, said the storm caused “unprecedented damage to properties along Maine's working waterfronts” and that the full extent of the damage was still being assessed.
