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On Friday evening, June 15, thousands of people braved foggy and humid weather to gather at historic Fort Taber Park in New Bedford, Massachusetts for what was most likely the largest lighthouse event in history. It was obvious as the crowd began to gather that the City of New Bedford, which knows how to restore lighthouses, also knows how to plan a lighthouse celebration like nobody else.
As he opened the evening’s ceremony, Michael K. McCormack of the Mayor’s Office said accurately, “Tonight we are making history.” And those in attendance quickly realized that they were witnessing history as has never been witnessed before.
There has been a lighthouse at Clark’s Point at the entrance to New Bedford Harbor since 1797, and the present lighthouse atop the walls of Fort Taber was erected in 1869. It served until 1898 when Butler Flats Light, an offshore “sparkplug” type structure, replaced it. The lighthouse, along with the fort , fell victim to decay and vandalism over the years. In July 1997 the City of New Bedford unveiled an ambitious plan to create a public park in the area.
City officials also decided to fully restore and relight the historic beacon on the fort. Restoration was carried out during the winter months of 2000-2001 inside the city’s wastewater treatment plant’s welding facility, and the wood frame upper portion of the lighthouse was rebuilt by city crews.
The lighthouse restoration was funded in part by a grant from NSTAR. In his remarks, Russell Wright, president of NStar, said it is highly appropriate for the utility company to be involved in the project. “There is nothing more symbolic than for us to be involved in this project,” said Mr. Wright. For 150 years an NStar company has been serving the lighting needs of the New Bedford area.
Captain Gerald M. Davis, U.S. Coast Guard Chief of Staff, First Coast Guard District, delivered the evening’s keynote address. “Someone’s son or daughter will find their way home because of our action,” he said.
The Coast Guard presented New Bedford Mayor Frederick M. Kalisz with a Meritorious Public Service Award, the highest honor given by the Coast Guard to a civilian. Before presenting the award to Mayor Kalisz, Captain Davis said, “Aided by the Bristol County Sheriff’s Department and the City of New Bedford’s Office of Tourism and Marketing, Mayor Kalisz’s vision for unique symbols of New Bedford’s maritime heritage have become a reality. Future generations will benefit from a deeper understanding of how our nation’s lighthouses and lightships guided a safe course for seafarers.”
Captain Davis predicted that soon New Bedford would again be the leading port in the U.S. for the value of its seafood catch. He also announced that the Coast Guard’s tall ship, the USS Eagle, will visit New Bedford on August 3-6.
The night’s most enthusiastic cheers went to Tim Harrison, President of the American Lighthouse Foundation, when he presented Mayor Kalisz with a “Keeper of the Light” award on behalf of the foundation. For the City of New Bedford this relighting followed restorations of Butler Flats Light and Palmer Island Light. Harrison noted this in his remarks, saying, “No city — not Boston, not New York, not Los Angeles — has ever restored three lighthouses.”
Harrison fired up the crowd like a lighthouse evangelist. He said that the gathering at the recent rededication of Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was smaller than the one in New Bedford. He also told the spectators that New Bedford will be the site of an international lighthouse conference in September 2002, sponsored by the American Lighthouse Foundation and hosted by the City of New Bedford.
Mayor Kalisz addressed the crowd, saying “Tonight we bring light back to the historical lighthouse. Join me in being proud of our city. Be proud of where we’re going. Leave here with a renewed spirit.”
Spectators scarfed up copies of Lighthouse Digest as fast as they could, with many lighthouse buffs expressing delight at finding out about the magazine for the first time. The United States Postal Service issued a special cancellation featuring Clark’s Point Lighthouse, available during the evening from a mobile post office, and scores of souvenir items were sold by the City of New Bedford.
Earlier in the evening spectators were treated to a performance by singer/guitarist Jon Nelson, followed by a pops concert by the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Dr. F. John Adams and featuring soprano Susan M. Mello.
The light was turned on at 9 p.m., followed by cannons blasting, fireworks bursting in air and the playing of the 1812 Overture. It was nothing short of breathtaking and inspiring.
Jean Guichard, the world-famous French photographer of lighthouses, was on hand for the event and was acknowledged by the mayor. Guichard was amazed at the celebration’s size and scope, and asked if this was typical for a lighthouse relighting in the United States. He was informed that nobody does it like New Bedford.
Next in line for this historic whaling city is the restoration of the New Bedford Lightship on its waterfront. No city we know of has done more to restore and preserve its maritime history.
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