Fundraising for restoration Bayham council considers next steps for lighthouse

While Bayham council is looking at the next step to be ready in case a grant becomes available to refurbish the Port Burwell Lighthouse, the community is already starting fundraising to cover a portion of the costs.

Council was looking at rehabilitation efforts in 2022, when structural deficiencies with the 1840 wooden lighthouse were discovered.

As a result, the lighthouse was closed in January 2023, along with Robinson Street adjacent to it, for fear of collapse of the structure. A collar and stabilizing cables were put in place to keep the lighthouse from toppling over.

An estimate was received from a+ LINK architects last August that put repairs at $1.5-million to keep in line with the heritage designation of the lighthouse.

At council’s June 20 meeting, Bayham Administrator Thomas Thayer presented council with a report suggesting completion of the pre-design, design and construction documents to better plan the approach to renovating the lighthouse and to be “shovel-ready” in case a grant came along.

The report had several options to cut the cost, including removing the door and window replacement, flashing and ventilation for a savings of $203,000 and using Hardie board instead of clapboard on the exterior.

The municipality has $53,000 in a lighthouse reserve fund currently. That would leave a shortfall of $40,000 to $45,000 for what it would cost to complete the suggested documents.

Mr. Thayer said clapboard would need to be repainted every five years but using Hardie board that needed to be painted less often – but was heavier – might require structural updates.

Cr. Tim Emerson said he has Hardie board on his home, and had been told it would have to be repainted every seven to 10 years.

“I was advised not to put Hardie board on it, but I was advised by my wife not to put vinyl on it,” he added.

Council made a decision to get a revised cost estimate with alternate cladding for the lighthouse.

What is the issue?

Although no one would go on record to describe the problems, several off-the-record sources described the lighthouse’s deficiencies.

When the posts that hold the lighthouse up rotted out in the 1980s, the bottom 10 to 12 feet were replaced with pressure-treated lumber by Amish carpenters.

Not knowing better at the time, the new pressure-treated beams were embedded in concrete. Since then, it’s been found that concrete causes rotting with pressure-treated lumber.

As a result, there is supposedly nothing holding the lighthouse to the ground except gravity – and the new cables.

Some of the blame for the lighthouse’s condition has been put on the liquid vinyl paint that was like a plastic sealer and was purported to be the best thing to keep the weather out.

One source said the problem wasn’t the paint, but that it was to be applied in temperatures above 65 Fahrenheit, which wasn’t done.

Several sources said one of the cost issues was that the municipality was the owner of the lighthouse and contractors often charged governments more for a job, plus the standards set for work were higher.

Fundraising efforts full steam ahead

Beer, wine and music are all fundraising tools for the restoration efforts. As of June 30, the Port Burwell Historical Society had raised $6,700.

One of the challenges was getting a group together to start the efforts, which has now happened. It has already held an online auction and set up a Go Fund Me page.

A fundraiser is underway with Frisky Beaver wine and a special “Save the Lighthouse” beer being brewed by Railway City Brewery. It can be purchased at Rose’s Variety in Straffordville or through the Church of Perpetual Faith in Music.

Asked about the committee’s goal, chairman Roy Sullivan, said “It’s getting it done as soon as we can. A lot depends on the municipality because they are owners of the lighthouse.

“We’re there ready to support them whenever they say keep moving forward.”

Cr. Emerson, who purchased the former St. Luke’s Anglican Church in Vienna with his wife Tami, is organizing musical fundraisers with Ken Kokko. When the church was for sale at a good price before COVID, the Emersons purchased it with the condition of not turning it into a residence.

“Life has treated my wife and I pretty well, so we figured this is a good way for us to give back,” he said. “We’re well aware there are people who aren’t as well off.”

When the decision was made to turn the church into a music venue, the Emersons searched for a cause to fundraise for.

“We decided it’s the lighthouse,” Tim said. “Once we get past that, it’s more community and public needs.”

A series of concerts is being held through the summer, with Sarah Smith being the next one on July 11.

Jeff Helsdon, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Aylmer Express