>> Click to enlarge << The half-ton fog bell from the 1904 Barnegat ...

The half-ton fog bell from the 1904 Barnegat Lightship LV79 has been removed from the decaying and endangered vessel and brought to the community of Barnegat Light, New Jersey for display.

>> Click to enlarge << The Barnegat Lightship LV79 in 1989 when it was ... Photo by: Candace Clifford

The bell, purchased for $9,000 by the Barnegat Light Historical Society, was removed by crane off the 668-ton lightship that is currently sinking in the mud at its mooring at a Camden, New Jersey boatyard. Efforts to save the ship now seem to be cost prohibitive. Estimates in 2017 said it would take $1 million just to build a platform and raise the vessel so that the ship could be worked on. Although there were a number of good intentions over the years to save the historic vessel, none of them were ever able to materialize.

>> Click to enlarge << The mast with the beacon that once saved many ...

The Barnegat Lightship was once stationed offshore from the community of Barnegat Light, New Jersey, first from 1927 to 1942, and then again, from 1945 to 1967.

>> Click to enlarge << The 1904 Barnegat Lightship LV79 fog bell sitting ...

Officials state that the fog bell will have appropriate signage to explain its history when it goes on display.

>> Click to enlarge << The rusting and decaying Barnegat Lightship LV79 ... Photo by: Hilari Seery

>> Click to enlarge << Shown here as an example of what a polished fog ...

>> Click to enlarge << The fog bell is hoisted off the Barnegat ...