Restoration work continues on Rock of Ages Lighthouse this summer
Standing 137 feet tall, the remote Rock of Ages Lighthouse at Isle Royale has provided navigational aid for ships and fishermen for over 100 years.
The historic lighthouse, located 22 miles from the Minnesota shoreline, was built in 1908 and last staffed by a lightkeeper in 1978. It has fallen into disrepair throughout the years, particularly following the transition to an automated lighthouse in the late 1970s.
In 2008, a non-profit organization called the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society was formed to help repair the disheveled historic lighthouse. The society has made great strides in restoration since the work on the grounds began in 2016.
WTIP spoke with David Gerth, board chair of the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society, to learn more about the restoration that has been done and what is planned for the upcoming season.
Most recently, the society has worked hard to conduct interior restoration work. Gerth said the society has fully restored three of the ten floors to allow keepers and volunteers to stay on the premises while working.
While plenty of work is yet to be done on the interior, Gerth said the society is focusing its efforts on exterior restoration during the 2023 summer season.
“Now we’re moving to the exterior work to try and tackle some of those big projects outside of the tower,” Gerth said. “We’re going to be working on the masonry of the tower and painting the masonry of the tower.”
Gerth said it is very specialized work, and the society has hired a contractor to repair and paint the masonry.
Looking towards the lighthouse’s future, Gerth said he hopes to open it up to the public one day.
WTIP’s Mark Abrahamson spoke with Gerth, the board chair of the Rock of Ages Lighthouse Preservation Society, to learn more about the upcoming restoration work in the summer of 2023. Audio from the interview is below.
Kalli Hawkins March 23, 2023
