Specialists work to repair Cape Meares lighthouse vandalism

Specialists who work with historic lighthouse lenses and on historic structures descended on the Cape Meares Lighthouse to evaluate damaged caused by vandalism January 9-10. Gunfire shattered portions of the 1890 Fresnel lens, and caused other damage to the historic building and Coast Guard equipment.

Technical experts from Lighthouse Lamp Shop, Inc., led by Joseph S. Cocking and followed by a team from US Coast Guard and Oregon Parks and Recreation Department, completed the following tasks:

+ Recovered salvageable pieces of lens glass, cataloged them, and placed them in secure storage.
+ Reinforced loose or hanging pieces of the lens still attached to the metal frame.
+ Temporarily sealed bullet holes in the exterior glass window panes that surround the lens, then fitted them with wood panels.

The Lighthouse Lamp Shop, Inc. is based in Florida, but works nationwide on historic lighthouse lenses, and assisted the US Coast Guard recovering lenses damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In the next two weeks, the organization will provide a repair recommendations report complete with estimated costs. The group is donating their time and expertise. Their travel, a $4,000 expense, was funded by the Friends of Cape Meares Lighthouse and Wildlife Refuge.

The Friends are seeking donations to fund upcoming repairs, and have collected just shy of $12,000 from private and corporate donations. Donations may be made online at < http://www.capemeareslighthouse.org/html/news_events.html>, or through the TLC Federal Credit Union (PO Box 160 - Tillamook, OR 97141). The Friends may be reached by regular mail at PO Box 262, Netarts, OR 97143.

The US Coast Guard owns the lighthouse, but leases it to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. The Friends, other private donors and the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department are offering a $5,000 reward that is available for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the vandalism. The Oregon State Police tip line phone number is 800-452-7888.