News of the Lighthouse

Roger Hannigan Gilson reported today in the Times Union some distressing news about the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse: "Barge strike on historic lighthouse caused more damage than initially thought." 

The following is quoted from the article:

A report commissioned by the owners of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse, which was struck by a barge in a hit-and-run last April, shows that the blow "significantly" exacerbated structural issues at the 19th-century beacon.

The examination was completed by Troy-based Proper & O'Leary Engineering. It found far greater damage to the base than previously known and estimates the necessary repairs could cost between $1.9 million and $3.6 million. The report also says that a tugboat pushing barges down the river slowed down and moved to the side to make way for another ship--a detail discovered by the U.S. Coast Guard that has not been previously reported and offers greater insight into why the crash occurred. 

At this point, how the damage to the lighthouse will be remedied is not clear. The article explains:

After the crash, Carver Companies said it was suspending the Erin Elizabeth [the tugboat that collided with the lighthouse] pending an investigation. Calls to the company were not returned.

"We are still hopeful that Carver will be good partners by living up to their early commitment to repair all the damage done," Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Restoration Committee Chair Van Calhoun said in a statement. In a later interview, Calhoun said the preservation society has communicated with Carver since the report was finished, but they have not yet met.