Lighthouse Move Underway
The 1886 Roanoke River Lighthouse, which was relocated to Colonial Park on the downtown Edenton waterfront, will soon be moved to its permanent location over the waters of Edenton Bay. The State of North Carolina has approved all necessary contracts and in February crews moved a crane into place to begin driving pilings, the first step toward its final resting place. Once the piling are set, the lighthouse can be placed on top and secured.
This drawing by architect Mark Williard for the Roanoke River Lighthouse shows the location where the lighthouse will be placed in Edenton Bay and the design of the ramp for access to the lighthouse. The octagonal-shaped landing is designed to contain a bench and exhibits about the lighthouse on the railing opposite the bench. This ramp design was approved by the Edenton Preservation Commission May 9.
In the meantime, generous donations of furnishings have been coming in and are now on display in the Barker House 2nd floor gallery. But, more donations are needed! When the lighthouse is ready to open to visitors, we want to be ready to display these wonderful finds for all to see and get a feel for the life of a Lightkeeper. (See a list from the State Curator’s plan.)
We’re also looking for photographs of the Roanoke River Lighthouse from when it stood at the mouth of the Roanoke River and from when it was originally floated across Albemarle Sound to Edenton in the 1950″s. And hopefully, somebody is willing to donate original Lighthouse Service Bulletin’s published by the Department of Commerce in the early 1900′s.
Or please consider making a monetary donation in support of the Roanoke River Lighthouse. Donations should be made payable to the Edenton Historical Commission and mailed to: Edenton Historical Commission, c/o Lighthouse Fund, 505 South Broad Street, Edenton, NC 27932 (252) 482-7800.
