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Connecticut’s Governor John G. Rowland has announced a grant-in-aid of $150,000 to be used for the restoration of that state’s Avery Point Lighthouse.
The money will be given to the Department of Environmental Protection who in turn will pass the money on to the University of Connecticut, which has partnered with the Avery Point Lighthouse Society, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, to save and restore the historic lighthouse. Additional funds have come from donations from local governments, private and public donations, and fund raising efforts of the Avery Point Lighthouse Society.
The Governor said, “This grant will help restore one of our historic landmarks to its original glory.
The lighthouse is the only lighthouse built in America as a memorial to the lighthouse keepers of yesteryear. Built in 1943 when Avery Point was the site of a U.S. Coast Guard Training Station the lighthouse was turned over to the State of Connecticut when the Coast Guard relocated to New York. The State of Connecticut has done next to nothing until now to maintain the structure.
However, Jim Streeter, president of the Avery Point Lighthouse Society said this is only part of the money needed to restore the lighthouse, saying, “It’s up to us to raise the balance of the money.”
Donations can be sent to: Avery Point Lighthouse Society, P.O. Box 1552, Groton, CT 06340.
To learn more about the lighthouse visit their web site at http://apls.tripod.com
This story appeared in the March 2002 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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