Lighthouse named one of 11 most endangered historic sites

The lighthouse sits in the middle of the Hudson River on 200 wooden pilings, similar to telephone poles, said Kristin Gamble, president of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society.

It was constructed between 1872 and 1874, according to the society. During construction, engineers drove the 200 wooden pilings 50 feet into the riverbed, packed them with mud, and secured it with large rocks to protect against erosion. Its north pier was shaped like the prow of a ship to protect it from ice floe damage.

The lighthouse project will involve foundation design, interior basement wall repairs, replacement of timber frame for the cast-iron bell, asbestos and coal removal, as well as electrical upgrades, which the society hopes to begin and complete soon.

The repairs and restoration are needed as the lighthouse has suffered from 150 years of erosion from water currents, weather and large vessels passing the structure. The currents have removed some of the larger boulders and protective mud infill necessary to protect the wood pilings, with some already damaged from exposure to the air.

The lighthouse faces imminent threats mostly due to unintended damage, erosion, caused by commercial vessels using the close-by navigation channel maintained by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Engineering reports indicate that this erosion and other preservation challenges put the building at risk of collapse within three years in its current state.

Engineers indicated the lighthouse could start to tilt and eventually sink into the water, Gamble said.

Other preservation challenges include lighthouse roof leaks from plaster damage, facade cracks, rusting of railings and rotting timbers that support the fog bell.

An estimated $7.5 million in funding is needed to stabilize the pilings and address preservation needs, according to the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

The society received some funding over the past three years for the repairs, including a $500,000 state grant in 2021 and another $500,000 state Regional Economic Development Councils grant at the end of last year.

“We have gotten some grants that we will have to match but it wouldn’t cover it all,” Gamble said. “It will be enough to stabilize the above water structure but not fix the underneath water pilings.”

Carol Quillen, president and CEO of the National Trust for Historic Preservation said with more people knowing about the lighthouse, there is hope.

“The Hudson-Athens Lighthouse has stood tall in the middle of one of America’s great rivers for over a century,” Quillen said. “We hope that including this iconic beacon on the list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places will help keep it standing for generations to come. With more investment and support, the inspiring people working to keep the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse open will be able to protect this iconic landmark and restore the building to its full potential.”

The lighthouse continues to serve as a navigation aid, helping commercial and leisure mariners safely navigate the Hudson River. It is also open to the public as a museum where visitors can learn about the lightkeepers and their families who lived in the building until the 1940s.

The tower of the lighthouse remains in use by the Coast Guard as a navigation guide.

The lighthouse restoration is expected to be a multiyear project and the society hopes to find contractors to complete the work by getting the information about the lighthouse out to the public, celebrating the structure and providing tours to visitors, Gamble said.

“We’ve attracted interest already by different organizations,” Gamble said.

In an effort to continue to raise awareness about the lighthouse, the society will hold a boat parade June 1.

The parade will begin at Athens Riverfront Park, then travel to the lighthouse, followed by a trip south to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge and returning north where it will finish at Henry Hudson Riverfront Park in Hudson.

“Boaters use the navigation tower already and it’s on the Hudson River so we thought it was a good idea,” Gamble added.

The parade will set sail at noon from Athens, led by the US Coast Guard and followed by the New York State Naval Militia, as well as participating boats from the Mohawk Hudson Council of Yacht Club, Hudson River Boat and Yacht Club Association.

Gamble said the lighthouse is a place to learn about the area’s history in the area and it brings people together.

She hopes the lighthouse will become a gathering spot for visitors, not only to learn about the history but also enjoy the surrounding views. For more information on the boat race, visit halps.org.

To learn more about the places on this year’s list of endangered historic places and to find out more ways to help preserve them, visit www.SavingPlaces.org/11Most.