GLOW UP: St. George Lighthouse renovations complete

ST. GEORGE ISLAND — The Cape St. George Lighthouse is ready to shine once again.

After a month-long renovation, the St. George Lighthouse Association (SGLA) and the Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce will join to host a ribbon cutting ceremony and grand re-opening of the lighthouse at noon (EST) Monday, Feb. 1.

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The Cape St. George Lighthouse has been closed for the month of January to complete a significant restoration project — the largest restoration project since the lighthouse was originally reconstructed at the center of St. George Island in 2008, according to Amy Hodson, SGLA executive director.

"The lantern room cage was suffering with extensive rust and cracked glass panes, and the masonry tower was in need of some TLC," Hodson said in an email. "Specialized contractors mitigated the lantern room cage of rust and painted the cage with a three-step industrial coating. Additionally, the masonry tower was cleaned and painted, and all the glass windows in the lantern room were replaced, offering a clear panoramic view of the Island."

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The first lighthouse on St. George Island was built in 1833. The 65-foot tall light was damaged by storms in 1846, and a new lighthouse at the island’s southern cape was called for. The second light, completed in 1848, was about 75-feet tall and was flattened by a hurricane in August 1851, according to historical information provided by the SGLA online. 

The third light, 72-feet tall, now stands in the center of St. George Island. Completed in 1852, it was believed to have been "built to last," but storms, erosion and hurricanes eventually overwhelmed it, and it collapsed into the Gulf in 2005.

The SGLA, established in 2004 to "rescue the light," worked with the state to salvage pieces of the structure, which was rebuilt at the center of St. George Island and opened to the public in December 2008.

"Thousands of hours of planning, research, fundraising, cleaning of bricks, and countless other tasks by members of the community restored the Cape St. George Lighthouse to its proper condition," Hodson said. "Since that time, it has welcomed guests to the Island every day, a shining beacon of what our community can do when asked."

However, the past 15-plus years have taken a toll, with salt air, storms and corrosive elements damaging the lantern room with extensive rust and cracked glass.  

The recent repairs, completed in mid-January, were in part assisted by a $24,000 grant from the Florida Lighthouse Association, which SGLA members received in October 2020 during the Florida Lighthouse Association meeting in Pensacola. The grant came from the Florida Lighthouse Association’s Gene Oakes License Plate Fund, supported entirely by the Visit Our Lights license plate and used only for the preservation of Florida’s historic lighthouse stations.

SGLA contracted with Razorback LLC out of Tarpon Springs to handle the specialized repairs. The scope of work brought the total cost for the repairs to $100,000, Hodson said. 

"We have the potential to receive an additional $10,000 from FLA to further offset the costs," Hodson said. "Our nonprofit organization has self-funded the remainder. 2020 has been a crazy year, and with the challenges associated with COVID-19 our organization has suffered significant financial losses from which it will take considerable time to recover."

SGLA is running a fundraising campaign called “Keep Our Light Shining Bright” in order to help raise money to offset some of the repair costs. 

Hodson also praised the president of Razorback LLC, Anthony Houllis: "Anthony has a passion for historic preservation — a former FSU (football) player doing good in the world."

The Florida Lighthouse Association is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 to promote and preserve Florida’s historic lighthouses. Likewise, SGLA is a non-profit Florida corporation organized to preserve, maintain and promote the Cape St. George Lighthouse. Funds raised by SGLA are used for the ongoing maintenance and enhancement of the Lighthouse, the Keeper’s House and Lighthouse Park. Visitors also help via their climbing fees, donations, memberships and purchases from the lighthouse gift shop. For more information, visit the website, www.stgeorgelight.org

"Here at the Cape St. George Lighthouse, we have navigated a very challenging year," Hodson said. "Through COVID and closures, we have remained steadfast in our mission in educating the public about the history and importance of our lighthouse and by creating a positive experience for all those who visit us. ... You have kept us going in this very trying time, and we can’t thank you enough for your continued support."