From the Keeper’s Desk – July 28

Greetings,

If you’re wondering why there haven’t been any updates since last Monday, it’s because things have quieted down a bit on the construction front. Mike and Billy have gone as far as they can until the main barn doors arrive. We’ve heard they might show up on August 7, but I’m not holding my breath.

That said, progress hasn’t come to a halt. Our fearless painters have been hard at work both inside and outside the barn and summer kitchen.

Josh and Deion are holding off on additional work until all the new bottom window sashes are completed.

The Park mowed the grass this morning—thank you! It looks great.

Mike and Billy were back today to take care of some odds and ends. Billy crafted trim pieces to go around the electrical box plaster rings in the hayloft. We needed those because we opted for a plaster finish on the hayloft walls and ceiling instead of wood paneling. By the time that decision was made, the sheetrock was already installed and there wasn’t time to switch out the plaster rings that would’ve been used with paneling. Since the rings stick out past the finished walls, the trim pieces help make everything look neat. The painters will paint them to match the wall color—except for the one with two switches near the stairwell window. That one will match the window trim instead.

Mike and Billy also installed the storm windows on both the barn and the summer kitchen.

There was a gap beneath the plywood covering the unfinished barn opening—large enough that someone could crawl underneath it. We’ve now added two sheets to fully cover the opening.

Mike installed a locking door knob on the hayloft door and a non-locking knob on the barn closet door.

He mentioned he’ll install the stairwell handrail in the barn once the painters have sealed the stairwell walls.

We’re also exploring the possibility of replacing the lighthouse roof with red metal Victorian shingles—the same style used on several of our sister lighthouses and many others from the same era. They’re still manufactured today. Mike had a roofing contractor visit Eagle Bluff Light Station today to provide an estimate. While reviewing an 1883 photo of the station, I noticed that the privy had a standing seam metal roof. So, while we’re at it, we also requested an estimate to replace the privy’s asphalt shingles with a red standing seam metal roof.

On a final note, the marigolds in the kiosk planter along the sidewalk near the barn are looking great! Unless someone planted new seeds, it seems they came back from last year’s blooms. We’ll need to make sure they stay watered.

—Ed