Goal Is To Relocate And Restore The Light
by Ed Tiley
Publisher
Interested citizens gathered last month at the Franklin County Courthouse Annex to discuss the plight of the Cape St. George Lighthouse, nominally located on Little St. George Island. Nominally, because erosion has caused the island to recede from the lighthouse, leaving it standing in the surf.
Because a boat is required to get to the lighthouse, many of the folks in attendance had one primary question. What did the hurricanes do to the light? There is good news and bad news. The chimney that served the keeper’s cottage was washed away by Ivan’s wind and rain. It is no longer standing. The good news is that the lighthouse itself was spared damage, this time.
Then the discussion, informally chaired by Roy Ogles of the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve (ANERR), turned to what might be done. Stressing that he was not acting in an official capacity, Roy introduced Roger Martin, Dennis “Snave” Barnell, Lauren Levi, and myself as his co-conspirators. It was the five of us who met and began the process now ongoing.
He then updated the group on our efforts so far. The condition of the lighthouse, the fact that the lighthouse is located in an area of critical erosion (an ugly big red spot on the map), and the prospects for the lighthouse long term are bleak unless something is done.
Had Hurricane Ivan come ashore only two hundred miles east of its landfall, it is possible that the lighthouse itself would have joined the chimney on the ground.
Phillip Winsley, with the Florida Division of Historical Resources (DHR), came down from Tallahassee to attend the meeting as their representative. He outlined the basic grant process for getting help from the State. Although he limited his remarks about the grant process to FL Statute 267.0617, which created the DHR as a part of the Department of State, Mr. Winsley identified a couple of sources of monies available to a Citizen Support Organization that was properly incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 (non-profit corporation).
The amounts available were pretty slim, however, and he professed not to know much about FL Statute 380.285. That’s the one that says, “The Coastal Management Program and the Division of Historical Resources shall take a leadership role in implementing plans to stabilize lighthouses and associated structures and to preserve and protect them from future deterioration. When possible, the lighthouses and associated buildings should be made available to the public for educational and recreational purposes. The Department of Environmental Protection should consider these responsibilities to be a priority of the Florida Coastal Management Program, and implementation of this act should be a priority in the use of coastal management funds.”
Whatever is done to preserve the lighthouse, the Division of Historical Resources will be an important part of the process since the Cape St. George Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places. They will have to sign off on whatever plans are proposed. But, they, DHR, are also charged with taking a “leadership” role in protecting lighthouses from “future deterioration.” If Mr. Winsley is doing what he is supposed to be doing right now under 380.285, he is planning how to get the Florida Coastal Management Program to loosen up on some coastal management funds. And pronto, because the lighthouse is in real danger of becoming unstable at any time.
Also in attendance was Gene Oakes, a Jacksonville resident, and the incoming president of the Florida Lighthouse Association. He suggested to the group that they form a lighthouse association and join FLA. By doing so, he said the group would become part of the state decision making processes of FLA, and would be in a position to get help and advice on how to raise the funds necessary for relocation and restoration of the Cape St. George Lighthouse.
The Florida Lighthouse Association has been instrumental in the preservation and management of lighthouses all over the state. They are a top notch organization with plenty of clout in Tallytown. For the $35 it would cost us to join FLA, the local group would gain a big brother who could help in a lot of ways.
One other guest, Mr. & Mrs. Jay Wiggins of St. Marks, took the opportunity to address the group, showing them pictures of the condition of the worksite at the end of the last restoration effort, including pictures of abandoned equipment, trash, and debris. Mr. Wiggins suggested to the group that they seriously consider clean-up from the last effort be part of the current restoration project.
Seth Blick, the head man at ANERR, was able to provide some reassurance to Mr. Wiggins stating that progress was being made in cleaning up, but that work was slow because ANERR had no budget for the job. Mr. Blick told him that the ANERR folks were doing what they could do as the opportunity arose.
If there was anything concrete that came out of the meeting, besides public awareness of the need to act, it was the firm realization that if anything is to be done the citizens of Franklin County have to get behind the effort in an organized way. It was the birth of a new Forgotten Coast buzzword. CSO, Citizens Support Organization, is a phrase you will hear again.
It became clear to all in attendance that for progress to be made, and to manage any funding that might be forthcoming, it is necessary to form our own local “lighthouse association.”
Well, GOMILY! (Go Mad It’s Leap Year!) Never the shy one, yours truly made a motion to the assembly that we form the Cape St. George Lighthouse Association with Dennis “Snave” Barnell as its “organizing president” to oversee formation of the group and the development of the by-laws required by law. Folks thought that was a pretty good idea since Snave has long been an advocate for the lighthouse, and has already done most of the paperwork to create a 501 (c) 3.
Last time I saw him, he was busy collecting names of folks who would be willing to be on the Board of Directors. If you would like to get on that list, or to be on the list of prospective members, give Snave a call at 850 927-2972
At this point the consensus of folks is that the lighthouse should be moved to a location more accessible to the public and restored to its former glory. There is definitely a feeling that the lighthouse shouldn’t be moved farther inland on Little St. George for both environmental reasons, and for reasons of making the lighthouse more accessible to the public for educational and tourism purposes.
The alternative is to let this proud 152 year-old landmark crumble and fall into the sea. For it come to that end would be a real waste and a real shame when it could serve future generations of Franklin County residents and visitors alike for hundreds of years more.
