Sand Island Lighthouse Gets Sand

After many decades of standing alone in the Gulf of Mexico this southern landmark is getting help.

Sand is being deposited around the lighthouse.

The hundreds of people who have worked many years should be proud of their efforts.

Now if someway to purchase the granite bolders can be found the public park that has always been dreamed of for this location can become a reality.

Congratulations to the town of Dauphin island and the Alabama Lighthouse Association.

Sand

Yes its true... Sand Island Lighthouse will be getting sand around it this year!

Sand Island Lighthouse will get sand.

http://blog.al.com/live/2010/12/sand_island_lighthouse_to_get.html

Sand Island Lighthouse will have its island rebuilt thanks to efforts of many.
See article linked above.

Devon Walsh, News anchor for WKRG TV 5 interviewed Pat Edwards, a member of the Dauphin Island lighthouse committee and Warren Lee, a member of the Alabama lighthouse Association today January 12, 2009 at 9:00AM. The interview was done near Fort Morgan on Dauphin Island, Alabama.

Devon braved the freezing cold temperatures and strong north winds to get the story for you!



The TV news story will be about the new USPS Sand Island Lighthouse Stamp. Stay tuned to Channel five to see it.

It should air sometime over the next couple of weeks!

They may have a surprise scoop about something new for the public when they air the story.

Sand Island Lighthouse Postage Stamp

A new postage stamp has been created using the Sand Island Lighthouse.
Warren Lee worked as a consultant with USPS employees to help develop the stamp.
Slated for release this summer. Warren hopes the publicity of the stamp will increase awareness of the plight they are having attempting to raise the funds to save this great lighthouse. volunteers have been working for years trying to save this great majestic historical building and turn it into a educational, recreational site. Open to the public.

The lighthouse volunteers have been able to raise only a small portion of the needed funds so far. They are spending the funds on the things that are immediatly needed to keep the tower standing as they become available.

100% of the money raised by us is used on the lighthouse. All of the administrative duties and oversight is being done by volunteers.

Many of the volunteers pay for needed items out of their own pockets right now.
A testimate to the dedication of the people associated with this project.

We have over two hundred members and volunteers involved in the project and our membership still continues to grow. The political and popular support is also growing and we believe that it will be possible to raise the several million dollars that are needed to complete this project.

However we are working against the inevitable time that a hurricane will strike the lighthouse. it is possible that it will destroy the lighthouse before we are able to raise enough funding to pay for enough repair work to be done to the tower restoring it to a level where it can once again take the pounding of hurricanes.

The Town of Dauphin island legally owns it, but the lighthouse really belongs to all of the citizens of the United States and we hope that thousands get the chance to visit, stay and enjoy the tranquility and magic that is the Sand Island lighthouse one day soon.

NEW Sand Island Lighthouse Chronicles available

There are now Lighthouse books available again. New printing just arrived.

If you would like to order a copy you can 
Email : bjpedwards@msn.com 

Price is $20.00 per book

Or if you get the chance to visit Dauphin Island Alabama you can get books at the WELCOME CENTER,

Directions;

Coming off the bridge continue to go straight ahead until you reach the stop sign, turn right. The  first two story building on your left (1/2 block) is the Town Hall. The first building/house on the left past Town Hall is the Welcome Center

You can purchase books at the Welcome Center Monday-Saturday 10am till 2pm

Be sure to get your lighthouse passport stamped at Town Hall. (Clerk is upstairs- elevator available look under the building for it)

Tridex creates digital 3D Imagery of Sand Island Lighthouse.

Sand Island Lighthouse was successfully scanned using a new type of device that combines a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device with digital images from a high quality digital camera and survey quality GPS location information all captured in real time into a computer.

The data we captured is considered high quality engineering data that is accurate enough to actually build/rebuild things from.

This scanner is actually a sophisticated robot like device that draws stares and many questions when it comes out of its transport case. It reminds me of R2D2. :)

The Sand Island Lighthouse is the first and only lighthouse in the world to be scanned with such a device using the patented "Life Dimensional Technology".

Tridex Solutions Co-Founder/Director Robert Vashisth traveled to Dauphin Island from UTAH along with his assistant Mark and braved the winter weather on Dec, 6 2008 to meet Jim Hall and Warren Lee of the Alabama Lighthouse Association at first light at Billy Goat hole boat launch.

The Alabama Marine Police was kind enough to keep a watchful eye on us for safety's sake.

A special thanks to the Alabama Marine Police for this and the many other support functions they provide to the Sand Island Lighthouse!

Traveling out to the Sand Island lighthouse we were luck enough to see an unusual amount of marine life along the way. Several independent Dauphins and pods of Dauphins seemed to escort us the entire trip. A kind of mystical well wishing by them to us or so it seemed. More Dauphins were seen going back to Dauphin Island on our return trip as well.

The first of these Dauphins appeared at the very point where we launched the boat and we continued to see many different Dauphins through out our stay at the lighthouse as well. What a treat for us all!

Arriving at the lighthouse we were greeted by an entire flock of Pelicans who remained nearby meandering around us the entire day, flying around the lighthouse and floating or resting just off the lighthouse in the ocean.

These Pelicans seemed to be supervising us all morning as we worked scanning the lighthouse.

Again this seemed very unusual since the noise of the generator and our very presence usually would have sent the pelicans flying off to Sand Island and seen them staying away from the lighthouse a great distance. Instead they remained with us the entire day reclaiming the island just as soon as we departed.

Sorry, I drifted off into my writers mind for a minute. You wanted to know about the scanner didn't you.

The imagery we obtained has many uses for the lighthouse but the one I think you will enjoy the most, is soon we will be building an exact replica of the lighthouse as a 3D viewable model, which will be accessable to you using the Internet.

This model will at first only have the exterior visible, but once we obtain the interior data we will add that to the lighthouse's virtual 3d model and you will be able to view the inside of the lighthouse as well.

This will not be a photo show but a virtual 3D lighthouse that you can inspect from 360 degrees as well as fly up into the air to see from all angles and elevations

We will also be creating the most accurate, true scale model of the Sand Island Lighthouse ever constructed, using this data as well.

Be sure to check back here often and learn where to purchase one of these models. Just as soon as we have them in hand I will post the information on this blog on how to get one.

Pretty neat stuff!

We will also use the Tridex data for future engineering when we are working on repairing the lighthouse and island construction projects.

It will be invaluable for the future monitoring of hurricane damage as well.

The Alabama Lighthouse Association would like to thank the Tridex team for taking on this difficult task.

Visit them at www.tridexsolutions.com

12/08/2008

Warren Lee

Sand Island Lighthouse Chairman

Lighthouse official stamped seal now available.

A Sand Island Lighthouse passport stamp has been designed and is now available to the public.

The stamp was presented to the Town of Dauphin Island Sunday Dec, 7 2008 at the Isle Dauphin Club on Dauphin Island. Town Council member Mary Thompson accepted the self inking seal on behalf of the Town of Dauphin Island. The stamp was a gift from the Warren Lee to the Town of Dauphin Island. Lighthouse stamp collecting is a great hobby and Sand Island lighthouse is way overdue for one. Warren Lee made the presentation.

To obtain a stamping of the Sand Island Lighthouse Official stamp a person should visit Dauphin island Town hall and confirm that they have seen the lighthouse. The clerk will then be happy to stamp their passports.

Sand Island Lighthouse repair work

I visited the Sand Island Lighthouse today and was pleased to find the work done was excellent!

I have been traveling and was not able to be here while the work was being done.

The new concrete ring was stained to match the old rusted appearance of the cast iron ring it replaced. A great job. Now on to raising more funds so more work can be done.

Warren Lee

MOBILE POINT LIGHTHOUSE

The Alabama Historical Commission has renewed a five year contract with Robinson Iron Works to continue storing the historical Mobile Point Lighthouse.
Warren Lee

Middle Bay Lighthouse Considering a move

The Mobile Middle Bay lighthouse is being studied right now.
The Alabama Lighthouse association and the Alabama Historical Commission are talking about a possible relocation of the historical structure.
More news to follow.
Warren Lee

BREAKING NEWS!

The Town of Dauphin Island Alabama's Sand Island lighthouse's committee has reached a decision as to what will happen to Sand Island Lighthouse.
NEWS CONFERENCE at Town Hall August, 21


BE THERE!


Warren Lee

Reflections

Recently I was traveling to Dauphin Island for the purpose of going out to the lighthouse to operate the safety boat while the contractors were let ashore from the barge to the island to inspect the Sand Island Lighthouse.
As I was driving along I was reflecting upon a conversation that I had a day earlier, at which time I was speaking with a reporter from the Birmingham News.

During our conversation he asked me the age old question many reporters quite often ask me.
"Why should we/you spend the money to save this lighthouse?"
I had given to him the standard answer that I usually gave, about this being the last seacoast lighthouse of its type build by they famous lighthouse builder Winslow Lewis etc...

Later the next day I went to the Dauphin Island Sea Lab to meet with a class of fifth graders from Birmingham Alabama to receive a check for the $1000 that they had raised in an effort to help Save Sand Island Lightouse. While there, I had a very unique opportunity to hear some of their answers to this very same question..

Over and over I heard it echoed from them,
" When I grow up I would like to to take my family (wife/husband and kids) out to this lighthouse recreation area to teach them about our important maritime history. I also would like to be able to tell them that I was a part of saving this important historical structure for them and their children to have to enjoy and use.
Wow, What powerful words.

I AM NOT SMARTER THAN A FIFTH GRADER!

Sincerely,
Warren Lee
Chairman Sand Island Lighthouse Committee
Alabama Lighthouse Association

Jim Hall Updates on Sand Island Lighthouse 4/30/2008 4:44 PM

Hello all,
Last Thursday, I took a WKRG-TV reporter and cameraman out to Sand Island
Light House. They ran the story this morning, Wednesday.
Of course I wished they would have used other statements I made, but all
is well. Every little bit of exposure helps.

This same video is a part of this blog and can be seen by scrolling down and clicking the play arrow in the video window or alternatively; A link to see the story is:
http://www.wkrg.com/news/article/sand_island_lighthouse_getting_help/13340/
(you may have to swipe, copy and paste into your address window…)


Update:
*Biding for stailization work has been advertised. Jack Granade, Thompson
Engineering, took prospective contractors out to the Light House
yesterday, Tuesday 29th. I understand opening bids will be sometime near
the end of May. Work on the base foundation and the cracks will be done
this summer. That should make for some interesting picture getting with several truck loads of
cement going out to the site.

*Today, Warren Lee and I met with a 5th grade class from Cabaha Heights
School in Birmingham. They are on a field trip to the Dauphin Island Sea
Lab. They presented Warren a check on Behalf of Sand Island Lighthouse for $1,000 which they raised to go toward the preservation of the light house.

A half dozen of the students told Warren
why they felt the Sand Island Light House should be preserved. A reporter
from the Birmingham News will be covering the story. Publishing may be
Wednesday of next week. Also, I will be doing a show
on the light house tomorrow evening for them after their supper hour.

Jim Hall
On Dauphin Island

Sand Island Lighthouse visited today!

SUNRISE FROM DAUPHIN ISLAND BRIDGE

Thompson Engineering hosted a trip to the Sand island Lighthouse today April 29, 2008 it consisted of contractors who were interested in bidding on the emergency repairs for Sand Island Lighthouse.

The Alabama Lighthouse Association provided the Safety boat for the trip, Warren Lee operated the lighthouse safety boat on this trip. The new 150 hp- four stroke Yamaha outboard recently installed on the lighthouse's tender performed flawlessly. Peter Tanner had taken on the task of researching, bidding, and outfitting the lighthouse tender. Peter did and excellent job. We now have a safe dependable tender for lighthouse work! The Dauphin Island Sand Island Lighthouse Committee and the Alabama Lighthouse Association share the tender and its costs.

The landing craft with contractors and engineers aboard departed Dauphin Island Marina at 6AM and returned about 11AM. The trip was a good one. The wind was out of the north and the tide was outgoing. This allowed for a SSE approach to the island by the landing craft carrying the visitors. Not much wave action at the lighthouse today to contend with at all.
I will post photos soon...

A really nice trip!

I HOPE ALL OF YOU GET THE CHANCE TO VISIT THIS LIGHTHOUSE AND ENJOY THE BEAUTY AND THE SOUNDS OF THE OCEAN.

See ya soon,
Warren Lee
Sand Island Lighthouse Chairman

latest news about Sand Island Lighthouse

Greetings, I am sorry for the long delay in posting. Things have really been happening this winter regarding our lighthouses.

1. A new outboard motor was purchased by The Dauphin Island Sand Island Lighthouse Committee and the Alabama Lighthouse Association for the lighthouse tender. Peter Tanner took on the responsibility of finding the best deal and having all of the work done to the Tender.
Peter did and excellent job. I will post photos of the tender here soon as I get them.

2. Thompson Engineering won a 2007 Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce , community service award in part to their efforts in helping save the areas lighthouse's.
Our Congratulations to Thompson Engineering for winning this prestigious award!

3. Thompson Engineering has been working on the partial emergency repair program underway for Sand Island Lighthouse. They recently had a meeting with all the different government entities about the work planned for this summer.

4. Much work has been done recently on requesting grant moneys for the Sand Island Lighthouse stabilization project. Four submissions were made on behalf of the Sand Island Lighthouse in the past week.

5. I am presently working on our Bieannual report to the National Park service on behalf of the Town of Dauphin island . As you are aware, the Alabama lighthouse Association was instrumental in obtaining ownership for the Town of Dauphin Island Alabama of the Sand Island Lighthouse. Our continued assistance of the town of Dauphin Island is part of our ongoing support of the project.



That is about all I have time for right now!
Enjoy the beautiful spring weather and please take time to smell the roses!
(Or Cherry Blossoms)

Sincerely,
Warren Lee
Alabama Lighthouse Association
Sand Island Lighthouse Chairman

NEW INFO ON lighthouse web site

The PDF and WEB pages have been added to the http://www.sandislandlighthouse.com.com web site.
Please take a look. There are photographs of one of the actual keepers of Sand Island Lighthouse.


Warren Lee
Sand Island Lighthouse

Have you seen the lantern at the Mobile Airport?

Well with the help of the United States Coast Guard the Alabama Lighthouse Association has obtained the original lantern from the Middle Bay Lighthouse and now has it on display in the recently renovated lantern room in the lobby at the Mobile Alabama Municipal Airport.

Wow what a unique site to see the two of them reunited. If you get a chance take time to visit the airport and see this great exhibit for FREE. Once the National Maritime Museum is completed in Mobile this will become one of the premier exhibits at the museum. And thanks to the volunteer efforts of the members of the Alabama Lighthouse Association you can see this piece of history up close. But be careful there are many historical tidbits around the exhibit and you might learn a little bit of Alabama's history if you are not careful!

Enjoy,
Warren Lee
Sand Island Lighthouse

Lighthouse Project Team to visit Sand Island Lighthouse this week

Project Team to visit the lighthouse this week on or about Nov 12 2007 The team is prepared to enter the tower on this trip.

The climbing experts will scale the inside of tower to replace the safety line to the top of the tower. This line is made fast for usage with their climbing harnesses by the rest of the team when climbing the tower as a safety rope.
Other team members will excavate the weight well at the bottom of the tower. The excavation will examine the well for evidence of settlement cracks. The tile floor will be exposed in several areas and also examined for cracking. The present condition of the floor and weight well will be documented for future use. Another group of the team will be inspecting the exterior of the structure as part of the bidding of the repair project that is underway to fix some of the damage near the bottom of the lighthouse.

New outboard engine approved for lighthouse tender

The Alabama Lighthouse Association and Dauphin Islands Sand Island Lighthouse Committee have agreed to co purchase a new outboard to re power the lighthouse Tender. This vessel services both the Middle Bay Lighthouse and Sand Island Lighthouse.

I will post photos of the vessel when the new engine is installed.

Warren Lee
Sand Island Lighthouse Chairman