Newsletter - February/March 2002
Contents:
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| Newsletter - February/March 2002 Contents: |
| A message from NLM President of Sam Radin |
| As we begin to see the Museum take shape, we are in "the best of times and the worst of times." We now have our mobile museum and are beginning in-school programs for elementary school children throughout New York City. We are about to move the Lightship Nantucket 112 from Bridgeport to Staten Island. Through the significant efforts of Ben Butler, we have not only obtained the largest lightship built, but have been the fortunate recipients of donations of towing services by Kay Sea Marine and use of a pier at which to dock her by Sal Cartucci, American Stevedore's, Inc. The construction on the Museum building is scheduled to begin this year and be completed in early 2003, and the exhibits will be installed shortly thereafter. On the other hand, since September 11, donations to museums have fallen off nationally. We do not anticipate that our experience will be much different. In short, we like other museums, including those with large endowments, expect fundraising to be more challenging. Fortunately, the Museum's opening will not be delayed. We recently met with the New York City Economic Development Corporation regarding the space that will be allocated to the museum itself, in the complex of buildings at the site. We were assured that we could have as much space as required, subject to our ability to raise the necessary funding. Initially our space will occupy the first floor of the old Lamp Shop, about 5,000 square feet. We now know that we can have use of the entire building of 28,000 square feet as our needs expand. The Economic Development Corporation has also advised us that the City has committed $200 million dollars to modernizing the ferry terminals and purchasing new ferries. This will make our site adjacent to the ferry terminal all the more attractive and accessible. Our exhibition of the Lightship at the Museum's site has been delayed because the pier was closed by the Department of Business Services as unsafe. Until it can be repaired, we will use a temporary pier nearby in Red Hook Terminal or Staten Island. We hope that "our" pier will be usable before the building opens in 2003.Since the last Newsletter, we have made real and positive progress. The Board of Trustees will meet at Fort Wadsworth in April. We expect the meeting to accelerate the Museum's progress this year. We have applied for significant grants and we are optimistic that we will receive wide support so that we can expand our educational initiatives and develop The National Lighthouse Museum as a preeminent exhibition, research and teaching facility.
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 | Jim Dunlap,on staff since last year has been named Curator. Mr. Dunlap, a retired Coast Guard Lt. Commander, was Curator and Facilities Maintenance Manager at the Ponce de Leon Inlet Lighthouse Museum. He owns and operates the Lighthouse & Lens Restoration Corp. |
 | Collections: We've had donations of some great artifactsand documents, some of which are mentioned here. Thanks to all - it is greatly appreciated Lighthouse Service coat buttons, hat insignias, antique prints and postcards Donated by: Jaques Jacobsen, Staten Island Origional Account of Oil, Wicks and Chimneys Expended Daily, dated 1912, Old Orchard Point Light. Donated by: Mrs. Valerie Jacobson, Staten Island Donated by: Joe Esposito, Staten Island Sextant Purchased in 1939 whiile serving on the Lighthouse Tender ACACIADonated by: H. Emery Sterling, Lighthouse Service 1934 US Lighthouse Service rowboat. Loaned by: Long Islang Chapter of the U.S. Lighthouse Society |
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