Pepper's Fenwick Dream Fulfilled

06/29/03 3:38 AM

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It seems like a long time ago when Paul Pepper made that first phone call to the Coast Guard protesting that the Fenwick Island Lighthouse had been darkened and decommissioned.

He had fond memories of that grand old beacon. After all, that lighthouse was in his blood. His great-grandfather, David M. Warrington was the third keeper of the light, his grandfather, Edward Pepper, was an assistant keeper there, and his father Fred and most of his aunts and uncles were born at the light.

For 60 years he had watched that beacon shine its light from his home at night and his wife, Dorothy had written many articles on the lighthouse that had been published in newspapers, books and magazines over the years. Paul remembers that time clearly. He recalled, "They just closed it up and walked away. They didn't tell anybody, When they left, they took the prisms, the wiring, everything." Paul and his wife started a campaign to tell everyone they knew to write letters of protest and that they did - they flooded every government office they could think of with letters and phone calls. It worked.

On September 21, 1981, the U.S. Coast Guard transferred the ownership of the lighthouse to the State of Delaware which, in turn, leased it to the Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, Inc. Paul Pepper was elected president of the group.

Over the years, the Friends group, under Paul and Dorothy's leadership, took good care of the lighthouse. They kept it painted, clean and looking good, and, in 1982 they relit the beacon in the grand old tower. They maintained a small museum at the base of the lighthouse, and Dorothy, who Paul said was "the real historian", would listen to all the old timers and write everything down so that it was recorded properly. Many of those recollections became a book about the history of the county.

However, it soon became apparent that the lighthouse, built in 1858, needed major repairs if it was to remain standing, repairs that were well beyond the Friends resources.

Through the help of Senators Codrey and Sharp, both summer residents of Fenwick Island, and both staunch supporters of the Friends of the Lighthouse, they worked with local legislatures to get some much needed funding for the lighthouse. And they came through with $400,000 to restore the old lighthouse that had only cost $25,000 to build.

There is much more to tell about the hard work and years of dedication that Paul Pepper and his wife Dorothy did to save this lighthouse that can be allowed in the space provided for here. There is also more history, stories of people working together in a common goal to save history, to save a lighthouse.

Today, the lighthouse looks like it was brand new, and, quite frankly, it's now in better shape than when it was built. A rededication ceremony was held this past July, and Paul Pepper was the guest of honor. His wife Dorothy wasn't there, she passed away in September of 1996.

At the ceremony, Paul was given a plaque that will be displayed at the lighthouse in honor of his and Dorothy's work. He said, "When I look at the lighthouse now, I sorta feel like I have been the manager or quarterback of our team of The Friends of Fenwick Island Lighthouse and we have just scored a big winning touchdown by convincing the State of Delaware to do a complete renovation job for us. This would not have happened if we had not all pulled together, donating our time, effort and money. I want to thank everybody . . . I am so happy. I just wish Dorothy could have lived to see this accomplished. She would have been thrilled."

He then announced that at age 89, after 17 years as the president of Friends of the Fenwick Island Lighthouse, he was stepping down. He had accomplished his goal. It was now time for a new person to take over and become keeper of the light.

He only had one wish on announcing his retirement; that he be allowed to keep a key to the lighthouse. His wish was gratefully granted.

This story appeared in the September 1998 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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