The City of Oswego will begin work on the exterior of the West Pierhead Lighthouse with the hiring of a contractor this year.

The restoration will be funded by a $100,000 grant received in 2015 from the Dormitory Authority of the State of New York. The possibility of additional funds in 2017 and 2018 is expected to bring the exterior of the lighthouse to a complete restoration.

As the warm weather rolls around, the West Pierhead Lighthouse is a common destination and sightseeing opportunity for residents and visitors alike. Despite the constant conversation, the current state of the lighthouse is not always brought to light.

Michael Pittavino, curator of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum, said the goal of restoration and future public access all began when the City of Oswego acquired the lighthouse in 2009.

“In 2006, the Lighthouse was offered to federal, state and local agencies and not-for-profit, educational and community development organizations under the auspices of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000,” Pittavino said.

This acquisition, along with the H. Lee White Maritime Museum lease of the lighthouse from the city in 2014, expedited the restoration process. Pittavino said that because of a strong partnership with the City of Oswego, the final vision of a completed restoration with regularly available public access to the site is expected to be complete by 2019.

“Essentially, we have a giant metal structure sitting in the water,” Pittavino said. “Annual maintenance, upkeep and preservation techniques will never cease to exist. So, while we may have restored the lighthouse by a certain date, we will always be working to preserve the physical and intellectual integrity of the site – forever.”

The swift progress was first seen in 2012, when the City of Oswego received a $250,000 grant for the remediation of hazardous materials and a few access improvements at the Lighthouse. Along with this, the introduction of lighthouse tours in the summer of 2016 allowed the public to finally see the restoration up close.

“Large quantities of bird guano, PCBs and asbestos had to be removed so as to make it possible for any future work to be performed,” Pittavino said.

In 2014, a preservation architect conducted an exterior restoration survey and access, as well as a security survey, for roughly $10,000. This was a result of two grants received by the museum when it first leased the lighthouse.

Community service has been the backbone of the museum and city’s efforts and absolutely crucial in fully restoring the lighthouse. Ron Wilson, a member of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum Board of Trustees, said a dedicated group of museum volunteers make it all happen.

“[Volunteers] go to the lighthouse every Thursday from 10 a.m. to about 3 p.m., weather permitting and do a great many repair and improvement to items,” Wilson said. “The top three stories are almost completely renovated and we are now focused on the basement area.”

Pittavino said that since the remediation of hazardous materials, over 2,000 hours of volunteer work has been conducted at the lighthouse. The IRS values the work performed as roughly $24 per hour, which is an estimate of approximately $48,000 total. Since 2014, an additional $50,000 has been raised by fundraising efforts, capital expenses and actual investment by the museum.

“Many talented, hard-working, community minded individuals have contributed their skills and time in this effort and we’re grateful,” Pittavino said.

The lighthouse is not only a national landmark, but also a symbol of home to Oswego residents. Dalton Sargent, a junior at Oswego State, believes the lighthouse is extremely important to maintain because of its status as a symbol of the City of Oswego.

“When I think of Oswego, I think of that white and red lighthouse we all are so used to seeing as we drive across the bridge,” Sargent said. “It’s like a mascot in a way because it represents what Oswego was and is about: community.”

The collaboration of the H. Lee White Maritime Museum and the City of Oswego has created a big vision for the West Pierhead Lighthouse for years to come. Pittavino believes the final vision is a completed restoration, with sustainable maintenance and long lasting public access to the site.

“I’d further argue that we’d like to see it remain the symbol of this city, as a landmark, if you will, that continues to inspire and represent the powerful history, heritage and culture of Oswego, New York,” Pittavino said.