PLEASE THINK ABOUT HITTING THE THANKS BUTTON! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 😊 Hello friends! Our organization is making progress on this lighthouse and 2 others but it is very expensive. Please hit the THANKS button if you would like to help fund our project. Every little bit helps! We are building a heavy duty dock and barge that is going to be AMAZING! We are super excited about what we are doing and your support is making a difference! Thank you! - Thelighthousecenters.org 🦀🦪❤️
@@thelighthousecenters😊 You can turn this light house into a functional RBMB rental. And allow folks to experience something special for a small premium. I would rent that out for me and a girlfriend and bring a bottle of wine and box of comdoms for sure. And some cheese and crackers and it would be very special.😂😂😂😂
I was stationed in Milford Haven Coast Guard station. I used to service the electronic equipment on Wolf Trap. Basement was generator, fuel and water. Some equipment storage too. I spent a bit of time there. Besides the light, there was an electronic beacon and fog horn. Great memories. Be nice see what you do with it.
I was about to suggest generator for that basement. Makes sense, and the High Voltage door supports it too. By the way, I am ex Coast Guard too, but in Australia. 🙂
As a bricklayer from England that works on old buildings I can say do not seal the brickwork! It needs to breathe. Any repair work must be done with a lime mortar so water can escape. Sealing it will lock in moisture and cause long term damage to the brick. Amazing structure. Looking forward to watching it restored.
As a former bricklayer from Australia I'd like to make an aside and say I had never considered how much of a pain in the ass it must be to lay bricks on a tiny platform in the middle of the ocean. Especially to do it back in 1894. Must have been absolutely precarious and miserable work.
I've never heard anything 'locking moisture inside the bricks' until my friend relocated to the USA and told it's a thing there. It's lighthouse, it is surrounded by water, how do you suppose to keep moisture "out" of it? People all over the world do paint their brick houses.
My 87 year old father was stationed on Wolf Trap for 3 years in the early 60’s while in the coast guard. He loved it! His memory is just fine and he lives in Mathews County if you have any questions!
Don't know if you'll read this but I have an idea why that concrete pad may be in that room (15:30). When you're storing a large amount of food and water, or rations too, you're supposed to keep it 4-6 inches off the floor and pulled away from walls to minimize it's ability to come into contact with water and dirt which I'm sure there's a lot of on lighthouses. It also helps keep it safe from pests and lets it 'breathe' so if it does get wet it'll dry faster. At least, that's my theory! In the Army we're supposed to store our MRE boxes on top of a pallet (or two) just for that reason, despite them going straight onto the ground when we train lol
My grandfather was a resident of Hog Island. He ran the mail boat the “Handy”. My grandma used to be the Coast Guard radio operator using batteries for power. George Doughty was the game warden. My grandfather was Sam Doughty and my grandmother was Nellie Mae Doughty. Another resident was Charles Doughty, Sam’s older brother Distinguished Service Cross from World War One. We also had family on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. We love Virginia!!
I was one of the bidders when the lighthouse went up for auction the very first time. We were heart broken when we were outbid! I look forward to following your progress!!
What is the driving interest to bid on one of these? Having seen hundreds of old buildings in better or worse shape. It seems odd someone would want a lighthouse for me. As I see the next big storm returning it to a similar ruined state.
@@geronimo5537 I'd imagine they have a boat and imagine themselves living in a light house and all the people on shore will know them as the people that live in the light house. Sort of a man in the high castle vibe. Because I guess they get sea sick living on a house boat or imagine a light house would give them more space? Or a higher view? Or they want to airbnb it.
@@gantz4u air bnb or bar is what we had planned on doing. I thought it would be a great romantic destination for lovers/boaters. We were outbid at 90k If i remember right.
@@kimmylambert1197 Oh yeah bar is whats hot. Great idea thats pretty cool except like a thalleebahn weed bar. where we smoke fat doinks in international waters
I am a navigator with the US Navy and fly hovercraft(LCAC), we frequent Wolftrap lighthouse for training and exercises. Can't wait to see it restored, see you out there!
Gospel of Jesus Christ John 3:16 For God So loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life. Jesus Christ Died for the sin of the World, If you believe in ur heart God risen Jesus from the dead and confess him with ur mouth to people you shall be saved. Jesus said I Am The only way to heaven there is no other way! Repent of urs sins (Repent means Change ur Mind turning away from sinful things and being truly sorry for it.) trust Jesus and give ur life to him He Loves you cares about you more than anyone ever will! we are saved By Grace Trough Faith!,this is sin: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 For all have sined and felt short of the Glory of God. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Romans 1:18-21, 23 KJV Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 REPENT OR YOU WILL PERISH REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL GET RIGHT WITH GOD LORD JESUS CHRIST.
It’s very exciting and inspiring when you’re out there, but all of the work and planning is exhausting, getting out there is hard and trying to figure out how we’re going to pay for it all is very stressful. But in the end, when it is all done, and we are able to bring people out there I think it will all be worthwhile! Thanks for the comment.
@@thelighthousecenters, surely you will set up an Airbnb business related to it? This type of unique experience should get enough consistent attention from the media to keep people coming who will pay you a worthwhile sum. Obviously, your channel helps as well. Just a thought.
Thank you for saving this place. So many historical places are just left to collapse and end up being torn down. You've got a huge job ahead of you and I wish you the best of luck.
It breaks my heart to think of it rotting away and falling into the bay. We do sandblasting and painting for a living so, basically, we are donating our time, skill and equipment to save this beautiful piece of history! Then we will fix up the inside and make it accessible to everyone. Please visit our website thelighthousecenters.org to learn more 😊
@@thelighthousecentersAccessible to everyone, Some rip off merchant with a boat charging £30 per head and you get nothing, We have it around our way not a paddle steamer? But just a boat and £50 to see the seal's
Its sad! They should have GIVEN this away to anyone who had the means to restore it instead of trying to SELL it for $200K. What if these folks didnt buy it? It's really limited what you can do with this, it's 3 MILES off shore, you have to have a boat nearby and arrangements to dock it on shore as needed, fresh water, power, heat, garbage, etc all has to be dealt with, and I bet in winter it would be freezing cold with almost zero R value to the brick walls and single pane glass exposed 360 degrees. Every time you need to go "into town" you have to fire up a boat, even in the middle of winter with snow, winds and ice, and if you had an emergency of some kind, there's another problem!
Cool to see the inside of Wolf Trap. I am a retired US Coast Guard Surfman, but I started life as a Quartermaster. A-School was in Yorktown and the class went underway on an old 180 buoy tender for nav training, radar and fixed position LOP's. Wolf Trap Light was one of the fixed positions we used to get our visual fixes. Thanks for sharing this, looking forward to seeing what you guys do with it!
What an exceptional buy, I’m in Australia but I have a boyhood passion of lighthouses and also appreciate the people who are prepared to buy and restore these old pieces of maritime history. I see in an earlier comment someone suggested getting a group of volunteers out to it and totally agree, even just a good cleanup to start would be an awesome enhancement. Good luck, I’ve subscribed so I can follow the progress.
Good luck on your restoration ! I can see this is going to cost a fortune in repairs etc plus getting what you need shipped out to the lighthouse. You definitely have a positive outlook and enthusiasm to take this task on.
THIS IS AWESOME !!! I live in mathews co. va born and raised , I'm really happy to see that wolftrap lighthouse will be restored and taken care of for generations to enjoy for years to come.
I never thought I'd enjoy a lighthouse tour so much. Michigan has the most lighthouses out of the entire U.S.. Such an important part of history. I don't know who owns ours but they are well kept.
I can see the Wolf Trap Lighthouse from our house. It is a fairly popular fishing location. I am excited that you are planning to fix it and can’t wait to see the progress. Thank you for making the effort to restore it and best wishes for success.
The inside looks real neat. I do realize you guys have a lot of repairs to do so be sure to continually video and share the repairs. Can’t wait to see it finished!
This looks like so much fun! You could be entirely self sufficient with the right setup. A desalination system, some food vines on the upper levels, a few long lines for catching fish, and of course wind + solar. Sounds so comfy just thinking about. Don't forget a VHF radio so US navy ships can tell you to move 😮
So nice of you to share a bit of that sea sickness around, there, Thomas! Somebody get this man an image stabilizer, please! Cool project. Can't wait to see what you make of it.
I’ve always seen the light from the water and it’s cool to have a video tour of the inside. I remember when it was decommissioned and it made me sad to see that the was light dying. I grew up with Wolf Trap Light and now live near Milford haven. I’m looking forward to seeing the restoration/repurpose of a beautiful piece of history and my childhood.
It's great to see people restoring these lighthouses. Our inland seas are home to many as well. The Port Austin reef light sits about a mile off shore in Lake Huron just off the tip of Michigan's Thumb.. The Port Austin Reef Light association invited the Boy Scouts to spend a night camping out on this structure and I was lucky enough to go as a staff member. My health prevents it now; but it was a great experience two years in a row. The light house is undergoing renovation and is still used as a navigation aid.
Michigan has some fabulous lighthouses. I grew up about 90 miles directly south of Port Austin. I considered moving back to Michigan and house hunted in the Port Austin area.
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Great find, good work. Before you put a sealant on the exterior check if the mortar is lime, if it's a lime build, a sealant would stop the walls evaporating moisture and would make it mouldy inside. You'd need to protect the bricks with something else. There are silicate paints (not silicon) for this sort of thing, or lime. But, thats in the uk. Look into it, as you'll never get a sealant off, if it turns out to be the wrong thing to do. Best wishes for your plans with the place.
I wanted to quit several times already. Regrouped and started over. But there are so many people behind the project now, there is no way we will ever give up!
@@thelighthousecenters This will happen when you are truly passionate about something. You are igniting a renewed love for lighthouses in those who may have forgotten their history and beauty or perhaps never gave them a single thought. Keep up the wonderful work!
Usually when you find a raised concrete pad like that it's what's called a "housekeeping pad". A boiler, furnace, generator, or other stationary equipment is mounted on top to keep it up off the floor and allow the floor to be swept/mopped where people walk.
My guess, diesel generator and transformer to generate power for the light source to generate arc. BUT I am not an expert and know nothing about sea or lighthouses in general.
I agree about the the pad, I did a little research on this and it's very interesting. They never said if they replaced the original cassion. As I read it, to me I believe they erected a second cassion in 1894, while reintegration the original cassion from 1870 to serve the purpose of a boiler system. I could be way off, but it could explain the design. Now I do have a question about the floor plans that kept popping up. Is that unique to light house? It kept confusing me with a door way with a window representation.
I am looking for this because generators was my guess. The power has to come from somewhere and generators are not just heavy but they makes a lots of vibration: the concrete platform protect the stone work and the structure of the light house.
As someone who was born and raised nearby, it's pretty awesome to see you guys restoring this place. I can't wait to see the progress and I hope you guys give tours when it's done.
The only problem with not having a protective layer of paint on the exterior brickwork is that you will need to paint the brickwork with waterproof sealant at regular intervals which can be very expensive. I would get the brickwork sorted first then decide on whether to use masonry paint or render, looking at the old picture of the lighthouse it looks great with its red paint scheme
@@kenton6098Yes, that's true. I follow a channel called "Restoration Nation", and the Lady named Lane claims if you paint brick the grout between the bricks cannot breathe and causes it to decay and collapse in time.
Belzona masonry waterproofer is breathable. I know it's used by the coastguard to waterproof their buildings here in the UK. It's also used on monuments and old buildings because it's invisible and doesn't change the appearance of masonry. Belzona had sprayed one half of the end of their building here in the UK with the product and not the other. First they got us to try to tell which side had been sprayed....we couldn't tell!! Then to blast a fire hose at their building. The sprayed side instantly worked, literally throwing the water off the brickwork and afterwards was completely dry to the touch. I was extremely impressed to say the least. It basically changed the brickwork to work like gortex... waterproof and breathable. I know Belzona make all sorts of hydrophobic paints too. They use them inside giant water pipes to improve flow efficiency and thus improve efficiency from pumps etc. they also use their hydrophobic paints on missiles to counteract the moisture in air for less drag. I don't work for them but have used their products many times. Here in the UK their products are extensively used by the oil and gas industry, offshore wind,Navy,Army and the list goes on and on. They're also an American company. Their niche is making superb materials for repairing stuff. Also they put their materials through the toughest tests of any company I know. For this sort of job I really couldn't recommend them enough and their masonry waterproofer would be perfect for this lighthouse.
I’ve grown up around different coastal areas most of my life. It wasn’t until I visited Portland, ME until it really hit you how not only beautiful these areas are, but how respectfully scary they are! The cold ocean, the smell of everything… 110% RESPECT to all those into that life… one question: How do you know the condition of the building and foundation from the sea bottom up ?
The short answer is we don’t. I am hoping that is it ok. Please subscribe to see video of the foundation (caisson). We bought an underwater drone that will show what it looks like!
@@thelighthousecenters Definitely want to see THAT rusty video, Rusty the lighthouse keeper. Seriously....I'm pullin for ya'll now for real. Well, till I die in less than two weeks that is. Cancer sucks....
@@thelighthousecenters I absolutely respect what you are doing and truly enjoyed your video. I would really like to see videos of the restoration being done, and I’m sure many others would as well. Thank-you!
I would recommend a respirator amd quit playing with that paint , the way its chipping and flaking and the age of this building its probably lead based .
This is awesome to see.. I look forward to seeing the progress... Many years back when they first started looking to sell the bay lighthouses, I had tried purchasing one when I was stationed up in DE. Unfortunately someone with far more funds than I won the bid... Then it ended up back up for sale shortly later.. I think these kinds of places are awesome.. And wish I still lived up there to see them in person up close once they're fixed up.. Or even volunteer some time to help clean them up
I just bought a $45,000 house and the attitude of "Not bad though" is 100% essential if you're going to be dealing with stuff that would scare off normal people. At one point I had so much rotten wood and insulation pulled out around a window the I was staring at the vinyl siding while standing inside the house. The entire wall would move and crack if it were pushed on. Anyhow, it's patched back up and I have a new roof and the repairs should last as long as the roof lasts (20 years?). Then there were the rotten floors - most of which have been replaced along with supplementing the floor joists with additional lumber and pavers. But it's "Not bad though" considering the price, the neighborhood and the fact that I live in the heart of a large city.
My wife and I purchased our first home, about 10 years ago, not far from Toronto Ontario, Canada. It's a 100 year old home. It is a fixer upper, but it meets our needs. We've given it a bit of the "mike holmes" treatment, tearing some parts down to fix them up new again, fixing things which have been neglected for decades. We added a small solar set up etc.
I've never restored a lighthouse, but I've enjoyed bringing other things back to life. I appreciate the love and satisfaction of restoring a unique irreplaceable piece of history. I wish you success.
Lighthouses are NOT for wimps! Anything is salvageable with the right amount of time, money and energy! I love lighthouses. I hope you keep this one and don’t give up on restoration projects. Would be great to see it completed and in a movie! Loads of films have lighthouse scenes in them. This lighthouse definitely deserves to be preserved ❤
@@thelighthousecenters Thanks! I think it’s beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with it. I bet people will want to be part of the involvement in restoring it. Especially if you donate some bucks to a good cause for “all hands on deck” welding projects, Flooring, scraping & sandblasting. Removing paint chips etc by bucket loads and not just tossing it in the water. Getting Double pane windows, etc is just the start! I would focus on the clean up for 1st year. Get the flooring yanked out and lay fresh flooring down where it’s all wood. The Brick is beautiful too. Finding an OLD SCHOOL MASON is hard to do. I know a Great YT named Mike Haddock Old School Mason. Been watching him for years! He would have serious pointers for your restoration ❤️ Good Luck! 🍀 IM HAPPY FOR YOU!
Subscribed. I read some naysayers opine in the comments. Since you're already renovating Hooper Island, I presume you guys know what you're getting yourself into. Someone with commercial sand blasting and painting connections seems like just the right partner to get this project going. Its an appealing, cottage-like lighthouse (that staircase is a star) with an insanely marketable name. And Rich has a head start slapping the place into submission.
That concrete slab in the basement (here in Germany, this is called Maschinenbett - literally machine bed) was probably were the Diesel generator sat that ran the light at 4000 Volts. Which also makes sense of that (otherwise pointless) warning sign. Greetings from Germany!!
So glad to find this. I’ve sailed around that light many times. So glad that someone is taking on the challenge to keep it maintained. I’m very excited to follow this build and see how you guys restore and/or update things. Would love to see a new or old light put back in. A floating dock and bar would make it a must stop for people cruising the bay or the ICW. I’ve often wanted to tie up and check out the inside but never did.
I think old lighthouses are so cool. To see them restored to what they were before and the historical value of them is awesome. I would love to even spend some time in one over night or even a few days and nights. The peace and tranquility, wow!
There is nothing like the serenity of being out there knowing there is not another soul for miles in every direction. We can’t wait to share that experience with others!
When you are out there on a calm day, miles from anyone, the peace and tranquility is incredible. There is a video on our facebook page, Hooper Island Lighthouse, demonstrating how quiet it is! Thanks for commenting. Please subscribe to support our mission 😊
Very interesting. Looking forward to seeing it restored. If white paint is lead-based, you will need all kinds of protective gear to remove it. How deep is the water there? How did they establish the lighthouse? With pilings? A diagram of the structure on the bottom would be very interesting.
It’s about 18 feet deep. It is a concrete filled iron caisson. Google “Wolf Trap Lighthouse blueprint” and you will see the original drawings from 1894. Please like and subscribe. We will put out videos detailing how it was built and what it looks like under the water now. Thanks!
Because of the age of this lighthouse, you can fairly well assume that the paint contains lead, that will be easy enough to verify with lead fast test swabs. You should also assume that the black backing of any linoleum flooring will contain asbestos. So be very wary of this and protect yourself when dealing with these things. That lighthouse is a very cool find. I wish you luck with the restoration. What are your plans long term regarding this lighthouse?
I love to see an optimistic construction guy looking at a big mess and seeing nothing but potential. You should rent it for $2000/2 hours as a marriage proposal site with a fancy imported dinner and private waiter.
We are eternal optimists for sure! We have seen rotting old buildings turned into beautifully restored historic structures many times. We can’t wait to prove the naysayers wrong! One of the ways we will fund the maintenance is to offer a very exclusive venue for events in addition to our goal of having environmental and historical centers. Please visit our website thelighthousecenters.org for more information. Thanks!
@@charlottehall5191We have parts of buildings that are repaired and re adapted that are still in use that are even older than that, the Bell Inn in Finedon near to where I live in Northamptonshire has its monastic origins on the site as far back as 1042 and there’s still a working pub there now, and the church of St Martins in Canterbury is still in use and was built before 597!
As a Chesapeake resident, my friends and i always looked at the listing for Wolftrap and exchanged many wistful "what if's"; it's so good to see some capable people taking on the project that we always joked about. I'd be interested in volunteering when the project starts demanding more hands, or at least donating and sharing this project with some of my local friends! Looking forward to seeing where this project goes! Best of luck guys!
I like to keep an eye out on the Lighthouses for sale and I somehow must have missed this one because I don't recognize it but I totally love it! I prefer the ones with at least a small bit of island or built on rocks, I think it would freak me out a little to be in one that is sitting directly in the water. You have an amazing mission and I hope you guys enjoy yourselves making it beautiful again :)
You have the makings of a really cool found footage horror film with this! On a serious note, it's nice to know that there are people who do the work of saving stuff like this. It's such a shame when historical buildings are left to decay or are demolished to make way for soulless modern buildings. I wish you much success in this enterprise.
Get the paint checked for lead before you touch it if you have a texture on the ceiling check for asbestos. I would be wearing a filtered mask until cleared!
I love projects like these. You will be amazed at the transformation just a good scraping and cleaning will do. It will be work for sure, but a labor of love. Maybe it would be fun to invite a group of capable volunteers out to do some of the more tedious work? Anyways it looks great even in it's condition, and I bet the end result will be beautiful. Keep filming and posting and we'll for sure keep watching! This is too cool.
I would be worried about the condition of the underwater part before I did much work or put much money into it. Do you have divers inspect it, make sure it's good underwater and the foundation is sound?
The caisson is kind of indestructible. It’s an iron shell filled with solid concrete. But we will inspect it with an underwater drone and show you what we fine if you subscribe 😊
Love this lighthouse! Shockingly inside isn’t completely ruined! Haha giggled at the “not bad though” and the wall smacks lol 😆 thanks for sharing, going to be amazing when finished I bet!
SUGGESTION --- A good welder can extend the outside posts holding the railing up say 1 foot and retain original theme, Some low barrow needs considered for children and pets . I see some public places use fixed clear plastic but that would create never ending cleaning task.. I am sure you already have a inspection of the under water base of this structure planned,it would bea great video. Just thoughts to consider l like to see it after a good high-pressure cleaning.
As with any cleaning project the first thing to do other than estimating what it will take is the amount of lead base paint and the cleanup. Like the concept but there maybe hidden fees or regulations that have to be followed especially with environmental groups you know the save the world people. How to clean something without contaminating the eco system around the light house . Those people are out there and they like showing their bad side. Hope you can move forward without any problems. We lived down in the Virginia Beach tidewater area for many years since my dad was a career Navy man. Still have fond memories of that area. Good luck with your project guys.
I'm stationed in Norfolk, and I saw this lighthouse when I was traveling the area, it's super awesome seeing this video! Can't wait to see how yall fix it up!
@richardrobiins, I suppose he has friends and family who do the stripping and painting and sealing and upholstering? Otherwise, it would take decades. I'm particularly interested in how supplies, furniture and masses of tourists are brought in. Per aircraft carrier? 😋
Can't wait to see the progress. Wish I was there to help. Just a suggestion....consult a certified restoration architect, especially about 'sealing up the brick." I was the site manager for restoring a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house here in my town and some of the suggestions were to seal up the brick and masonry. Our restoration architects told us we can't do that as it is against preservation standards and worse, will destroy the masonry. Paint may be one thing, but other products that keep water out will ultimately crumble the brick. It absorbed moisture no matter how you seal it. Once it is in there, it will have no way to get out and especially freezing cycles will crumble it fast. Let me know if you'd like to get in touch with our architects who have experience with dealing with preservation standards and materials and structures exactly like your are dealing with. Glad the old lighthouse is finally in the hands of someone who will get her back to where she belongs. Thank you!
Woild be cool if there was a way to add some floating boat docks and open a restaurant inside.....totally unpracticle and a sure way to loose a ton of money for sure.... but would be pretty fun place to visit if you had a boat😉👍
I grew up on lighthouse stations in New Zealand in the late 60's and 70's, love your content 😁 PS please be careful because ALL that paint will have lead in it
@@thelighthousecenters No Fun Old Bridges in IL were RED and Lead Paint. Brother In-law was cutting it UP EPA stopped him. Checked his Blood almost Drained it and Full of Lead. His cat use to Lick his work Boots DIED 3 weeks before finding LEAD..💀💀💀💀💀
I used to pass this lighthouse on the way to school every day. So glad to see someone is doing something with it. I haven't had much reason to go to the peninsula the last few years, but every time I saw it as a kid, it excited my imagination.
The raised concrete square on the floor was probably for a generator at a guess. We have the same in the Uk Military Bunkers.. They are always raised on a concrete base
Could also be where the coal would actually be stored once it came down the shoot, seeing how water could make it's way down there that platform would act like an island keeping everything stored there dry.
Totally cool. You have an awesome project and I look forward to watching, liking and sharing your story. Your casual take and response to the weird ITrolls is inspiring. I should be as patient. Good Luck!
Thank you! I’ve dealt with so much crap in my life. Not much bothers me any more and I find humor in everything. I think trolls are hysterical! 😂 This is not a project for someone without patience. We already had many disappointments and ups and downs. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions. I hope you find patience with your challenges! We appreciate the support. The success of this video is a big boost to our motivation to keep going!
Subscribed! 🎉 I am interested to see how this restoration progresses! I love old lighthouses, especially those from the 1800s. TY for taking the time to preserve this piece of history.
The fact that you are torching all of those bird-poo-covered surfaces with your bare hands is killing me! As for your work; Bravo. Love when people restor historical places. I'm involved with a (land) historical project on Long Island, NY.Can't wait to see what you guys do to/with this project.
Definitely well worth saving and restoring. The old lighthouse has good bones, still a very solid structure, and wont take much to clean in up. Add solar panels, a bathroom, a simple kitchen, some bedrooms, etc and it would make an awesome house or holiday house. You probably wont be able to discharge sewage, etc into the sea, so check the cistern below basement and if not up to drinking standards, maybe turn that into a waste holding tank that gets emptied by special support boat each year or so. Solar and wind power charge batteries to power lights, etc. Collect water run off from solar panels (assume glass top) for drinking. Be great to dive around the site and see what's there. Add nesting boxes for birds on the upper section. Add a floating jetty / pontoon . So many possibilities. Going to be a great adventure. Greetings from Australia. +1 Like, +1 Subscribe.
Our friends have a house a little ways up the river near there and when we take the boat out on the bay, we can always see it from the distance. I've been so curious about the lighthouse and I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress in its restoration. Hopefully we can ride out there in the not to distant future and visit.
@@thelighthousecenters I was actually mistaken. The lighthouse we always see is Smith Point Lighthouse. That said, still looking forward to seeing progress on your other lighthouses. And yeah I subscribed before writing my original comment. Good luck!
😂 we love the humor! But seriously it will certainly be a challenge to do in reasonable amount of time. First thing we have to do is seal it up so it stops getting damaged from water, before it’s totally gone. Thanks for the comment!
That paint you keep slapping around is LEAD based paint! Just saying, you might not want to be making paint dust to breathe in. Use a good coating system intended for offshore or marine environments. (Carboline, Hempel, Sigma, etc. Careful w/International as they've been known to spec incompatible coatings.)
Thank you. Please follow to see what product we use. As an industrial painter, we mostly use Sherwin-Williams, but we have had good results from all of them including International.
Wonder if drawings are available for the original construction of the lighthouse? These would be helpful in restoration and particularly for the structural repairs needed.
Yes the original blueprints are all available through The National Archives. It’s a Nationally Registered Historic Structure. We have used the blueprints of Hooper Island Lighthouse many times to help us locate things.
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !" Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ." Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!" Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..." Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!" Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky." Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction." Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
I hear there's going to be a Dollar General lighthouse right next door. True ? Seriously... What an incredible lighthouse !!! Truly looking forward to watching this get fixed up. Awesome
Looks extremely salvageable, lead paint would be a huge worry, the water cistern should be lined I am sure, the upper part where some issues are, if needed could be rebuilt. As a contractor on shore this would be a reasonable restoration, but out there I don't know the price but everything will cost you way more, It is a project but with the right money can be completed at a reasonable cost. Good luck with everything and I hope it turns out well
i know a lot about the last family who lived at wolf trap if you would ever like to hear about them. a very old man i lived next door to told me a wonderful story about the steam boat who delivered out there. he got a christmas bike one year and he learned to ride it on where you stood for your opening shots.
Having worked on two light houses it is a real pain hauling your tools up the stairs , at least you can leave them there in safety though. Getting it water tight or any safety concerns first job......which ? Best of luck with it 👍.
PLEASE THINK ABOUT HITTING THE THANKS BUTTON! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 😊
Hello friends! Our organization is making progress on this lighthouse and 2 others but it is very expensive. Please hit the THANKS button if you would like to help fund our project. Every little bit helps! We are building a heavy duty dock and barge that is going to be AMAZING! We are super excited about what we are doing and your support is making a difference!
Thank you! - Thelighthousecenters.org 🦀🦪❤️
Does the organization sell them after restoring them?
@@ChristopherDwigginsNo. Watch our pinned video. We are building a network of educational and environmental centers in the Bay
@@thelighthousecenters😊 You can turn this light house into a functional RBMB rental. And allow folks to experience something special for a small premium. I would rent that out for me and a girlfriend and bring a bottle of wine and box of comdoms for sure. And some cheese and crackers and it would be very special.😂😂😂😂
I'll give it a slap
@@thelighthousecenters1:15
I was stationed in Milford Haven Coast Guard station. I used to service the electronic equipment on Wolf Trap. Basement was generator, fuel and water. Some equipment storage too. I spent a bit of time there. Besides the light, there was an electronic beacon and fog horn. Great memories. Be nice see what you do with it.
That's awesome! Must be heart-warming to see these guys taking on the stewardship.
Thank you for your service! We would love to talk with you to learn more if that is ok
what a waste of time, effort and money to fix up this trash! 500-750K easy!
@@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307
Well then, don't YOU do it!
I was about to suggest generator for that basement. Makes sense, and the High Voltage door supports it too.
By the way, I am ex Coast Guard too, but in Australia. 🙂
As a bricklayer from England that works on old buildings I can say do not seal the brickwork! It needs to breathe. Any repair work must be done with a lime mortar so water can escape. Sealing it will lock in moisture and cause long term damage to the brick. Amazing structure. Looking forward to watching it restored.
Totally agree ! Sealing it up is a good recipe for failure !
As a former bricklayer from Australia I'd like to make an aside and say I had never considered how much of a pain in the ass it must be to lay bricks on a tiny platform in the middle of the ocean. Especially to do it back in 1894. Must have been absolutely precarious and miserable work.
I've never heard anything 'locking moisture inside the bricks' until my friend relocated to the USA and told it's a thing there. It's lighthouse, it is surrounded by water, how do you suppose to keep moisture "out" of it? People all over the world do paint their brick houses.
@@Lyakusha1 A typical house is not subjected to constant salt water like a lighthouse in the middle of an ocean.
I believe this is cement not lime motar due to the age the lighthouse was made.
My 87 year old father was stationed on Wolf Trap for 3 years in the early 60’s while in the coast guard. He loved it! His memory is just fine and he lives in Mathews County if you have any questions!
Wow awesome! Please message us. We would love to talk with him! We thank him for his service!
Floor beyond rotten, and all you can say is Not Bad Though 😂
200K for lighthouse
1.5 Million to restore
Where would the telescope of been there.
@@TriniaTimberlake-kl2tjamazing! Hope they get to chance to chat 🤝
@@TriniaTimberlake-kl2tjThey also have a Facebook page and website. Maybe RUclips can contact through these channels?
Don't know if you'll read this but I have an idea why that concrete pad may be in that room (15:30). When you're storing a large amount of food and water, or rations too, you're supposed to keep it 4-6 inches off the floor and pulled away from walls to minimize it's ability to come into contact with water and dirt which I'm sure there's a lot of on lighthouses. It also helps keep it safe from pests and lets it 'breathe' so if it does get wet it'll dry faster.
At least, that's my theory! In the Army we're supposed to store our MRE boxes on top of a pallet (or two) just for that reason, despite them going straight onto the ground when we train lol
Interesting theory! Thank you for your service. BTW we really appreciate the support so we read every comment and try to respond 😊
@@thelighthousecenters Awesome! I've subscribed to see y'all turn this lighthouse around. It's very interesting!
My grandfather was a resident of Hog Island. He ran the mail boat the “Handy”. My grandma used to be the Coast Guard radio operator using batteries for power. George Doughty was the game warden. My grandfather was Sam Doughty and my grandmother was Nellie Mae Doughty. Another resident was Charles Doughty, Sam’s older brother Distinguished Service Cross from World War One. We also had family on Chincoteague and Assateague Islands. We love Virginia!!
my greatest grandfather was Noah, he didn't need a lighthouse....................
What a history , cant imagine the stories that radio could tell !
@@sagesmith7728obviously you didn't watch the movie Noah! He needed a lighthouse!
"and we wore an onion on our belt, which was the style at the time."
I was one of the bidders when the lighthouse went up for auction the very first time. We were heart broken when we were outbid! I look forward to following your progress!!
What is the driving interest to bid on one of these? Having seen hundreds of old buildings in better or worse shape. It seems odd someone would want a lighthouse for me. As I see the next big storm returning it to a similar ruined state.
@@geronimo5537 I'd imagine they have a boat and imagine themselves living in a light house and all the people on shore will know them as the people that live in the light house. Sort of a man in the high castle vibe. Because I guess they get sea sick living on a house boat or imagine a light house would give them more space? Or a higher view? Or they want to airbnb it.
@@geronimo5537 we wanted to turn it into a air bnb or a bar. There are tons of Boaters on the Chesapeake Bay looking for places to overnight or drink
@@gantz4u air bnb or bar is what we had planned on doing. I thought it would be a great romantic destination for lovers/boaters. We were outbid at 90k If i remember right.
@@kimmylambert1197 Oh yeah bar is whats hot. Great idea thats pretty cool except like a thalleebahn weed bar. where we smoke fat doinks in international waters
I am a navigator with the US Navy and fly hovercraft(LCAC), we frequent Wolftrap lighthouse for training and exercises. Can't wait to see it restored, see you out there!
Awesome! Thank you for your service. Please say hello if you see us out there!
Gospel of Jesus Christ John 3:16 For God So loved the world that he gave his only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not Perish but have Everlasting Life. Jesus Christ Died for the sin of the World, If you believe in ur heart God risen Jesus from the dead and confess him with ur mouth to people you shall be saved. Jesus said I Am The only way to heaven there is no other way! Repent of urs sins (Repent means Change ur Mind turning away from sinful things and being truly sorry for it.) trust Jesus and give ur life to him He Loves you cares about you more than anyone ever will! we are saved By Grace Trough Faith!,this is sin: Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death but the gift of eternal life in our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 3:23 For all have sined and felt short of the Glory of God. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Romans 1:18-21, 23 KJV Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 REPENT OR YOU WILL PERISH REPENT AND BELIEVE THE GOSPEL GET RIGHT WITH GOD LORD JESUS CHRIST.
Boy, I'm glad someone can get excited about a project like this.
It’s very exciting and inspiring when you’re out there, but all of the work and planning is exhausting, getting out there is hard and trying to figure out how we’re going to pay for it all is very stressful. But in the end, when it is all done, and we are able to bring people out there I think it will all be worthwhile! Thanks for the comment.
@@thelighthousecenters, surely you will set up an Airbnb business related to it? This type of unique experience should get enough consistent attention from the media to keep people coming who will pay you a worthwhile sum. Obviously, your channel helps as well. Just a thought.
Thank you for saving this place. So many historical places are just left to collapse and end up being torn down. You've got a huge job ahead of you and I wish you the best of luck.
It breaks my heart to think of it rotting away and falling into the bay. We do sandblasting and painting for a living so, basically, we are donating our time, skill and equipment to save this beautiful piece of history! Then we will fix up the inside and make it accessible to everyone. Please visit our website thelighthousecenters.org to learn more 😊
@@thelighthousecenters Thanks. We hope to visit one day.
@@thelighthousecentersAccessible to everyone, Some rip off merchant with a boat charging £30 per head and you get nothing, We have it around our way not a paddle steamer? But just a boat and £50 to see the seal's
Its sad! They should have GIVEN this away to anyone who had the means to restore it instead of trying to SELL it for $200K. What if these folks didnt buy it? It's really limited what you can do with this, it's 3 MILES off shore, you have to have a boat nearby and arrangements to dock it on shore as needed, fresh water, power, heat, garbage, etc all has to be dealt with, and I bet in winter it would be freezing cold with almost zero R value to the brick walls and single pane glass exposed 360 degrees.
Every time you need to go "into town" you have to fire up a boat, even in the middle of winter with snow, winds and ice, and if you had an emergency of some kind, there's another problem!
In the rest of the world, we preserve the historic buildings with tax money
Cool to see the inside of Wolf Trap. I am a retired US Coast Guard Surfman, but I started life as a Quartermaster. A-School was in Yorktown and the class went underway on an old 180 buoy tender for nav training, radar and fixed position LOP's. Wolf Trap Light was one of the fixed positions we used to get our visual fixes. Thanks for sharing this, looking forward to seeing what you guys do with it!
Where is this place located?
@@joyceflorida7111 Virginia, they show it on a map in the middle of the video
Just off the mouth of the York River, Chesapeake Bay.
@@joyceflorida7111
@@joyceflorida7111 Chesapeake Bay, about 15 miles in from the bridge tunnel they said.
Thank you for your service 😊
What an exceptional buy, I’m in Australia but I have a boyhood passion of lighthouses and also appreciate the people who are prepared to buy and restore these old pieces of maritime history. I see in an earlier comment someone suggested getting a group of volunteers out to it and totally agree, even just a good cleanup to start would be an awesome enhancement. Good luck, I’ve subscribed so I can follow the progress.
Need to watch out for the old paint containing lots of lead and check the floor tile layers for 9 X 9 tiles. They generally contain asbestos.
I was your 100th like
@@cainjohnston7304 cheers Cain
Good luck on your restoration ! I can see this is going to cost a fortune in repairs etc plus getting what you need shipped out to the lighthouse. You definitely have a positive outlook and enthusiasm to take this task on.
THIS IS AWESOME !!! I live in mathews co. va born and raised , I'm really happy to see that wolftrap lighthouse will be restored and taken care of for generations to enjoy for years to come.
Thank you for the support and enthusiasm!
I never thought I'd enjoy a lighthouse tour so much. Michigan has the most lighthouses out of the entire U.S.. Such an important part of history. I don't know who owns ours but they are well kept.
I can see the Wolf Trap Lighthouse from our house. It is a fairly popular fishing location.
I am excited that you are planning to fix it and can’t wait to see the progress.
Thank you for making the effort to restore it and best wishes for success.
The inside looks real neat. I do realize you guys have a lot of repairs to do so be sure to continually video and share the repairs. Can’t wait to see it finished!
Thanks! We will be posting a lot of videos of the 3 lighthouses we are working on this year!
This looks like so much fun!
You could be entirely self sufficient with the right setup. A desalination system, some food vines on the upper levels, a few long lines for catching fish, and of course wind + solar. Sounds so comfy just thinking about.
Don't forget a VHF radio so US navy ships can tell you to move 😮
So nice of you to share a bit of that sea sickness around, there, Thomas!
Somebody get this man an image stabilizer, please!
Cool project. Can't wait to see what you make of it.
Dizziness
Yeah, my bad! hahah I did recently invest in a gimbal to stabilize the camera though! 😅 - Thomas
Did you throw up?? "Ehe-ehe-ehe-ehe!!" 🤢🤮🤣🤣
[asking for a friend]
I get it I get seas sick watching deadliest catch sometimes!
I’ve always seen the light from the water and it’s cool to have a video tour of the inside. I remember when it was decommissioned and it made me sad to see that the was light dying. I grew up with Wolf Trap Light and now live near Milford haven. I’m looking forward to seeing the restoration/repurpose of a beautiful piece of history and my childhood.
Thanks for following!
So excited to find your channel!! Can’t wait to follow along
Thank you! We are going to check out your channel. Looks interesting! Maybe you can explore our lighthouses some day 😊
@@thelighthousecenters one word and I'm THERE 😂
It's great to see people restoring these lighthouses. Our inland seas are home to many as well. The Port Austin reef light sits about a mile off shore in Lake Huron just off the tip of Michigan's Thumb.. The Port Austin Reef Light association invited the Boy Scouts to spend a night camping out on this structure and I was lucky enough to go as a staff member. My health prevents it now; but it was a great experience two years in a row. The light house is undergoing renovation and is still used as a navigation aid.
Michigan has some fabulous lighthouses. I grew up about 90 miles directly south of Port Austin. I considered moving back to Michigan and house hunted in the Port Austin area.
Romans 10:9 - If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
It's the greatest free gift you could ever possibly receive 🎁🙏God loves you.
We live on the water, not too far from the lighthouse. I am thrilled to see it is going to be rehabilitated.
Great find, good work. Before you put a sealant on the exterior check if the mortar is lime, if it's a lime build, a sealant would stop the walls evaporating moisture and would make it mouldy inside. You'd need to protect the bricks with something else. There are silicate paints (not silicon) for this sort of thing, or lime. But, thats in the uk. Look into it, as you'll never get a sealant off, if it turns out to be the wrong thing to do. Best wishes for your plans with the place.
Great advice. We will definitely do our research with an expert. Thanks!
This is so awesome. I’ve always loved lighthouses and seeing this is so cool. Seeing people love and restore them makes me so happy. ❤❤❤❤❤
Thanks! We feel really good about what we are doing! ❤️
Love the positivity, can-do attitude. Makes me excited to see the finished project!
I wanted to quit several times already. Regrouped and started over. But there are so many people behind the project now, there is no way we will ever give up!
@@thelighthousecenters This will happen when you are truly passionate about something. You are igniting a renewed love for lighthouses in those who may have forgotten their history and beauty or perhaps never gave them a single thought. Keep up the wonderful work!
Usually when you find a raised concrete pad like that it's what's called a "housekeeping pad". A boiler, furnace, generator, or other stationary equipment is mounted on top to keep it up off the floor and allow the floor to be swept/mopped where people walk.
Agree. The pad most likely had a battery bank mounted and the equipment to generate the 4000V that the sign at the door warned about.
My guess, diesel generator and transformer to generate power for the light source to generate arc. BUT I am not an expert and know nothing about sea or lighthouses in general.
I agree about the the pad, I did a little research on this and it's very interesting. They never said if they replaced the original cassion. As I read it, to me I believe they erected a second cassion in 1894, while reintegration the original cassion from 1870 to serve the purpose of a boiler system. I could be way off, but it could explain the design. Now I do have a question about the floor plans that kept popping up. Is that unique to light house? It kept confusing me with a door way with a window representation.
I am looking for this because generators was my guess. The power has to come from somewhere and generators are not just heavy but they makes a lots of vibration: the concrete platform protect the stone work and the structure of the light house.
The back up generator
As someone who was born and raised nearby, it's pretty awesome to see you guys restoring this place. I can't wait to see the progress and I hope you guys give tours when it's done.
We definitely will. What’s the point of restoring this amazing icon without allowing access to the community!
@@thelighthousecenters That's awesome, can't wait to see it
Who’s is here from the shorts
Probably not many. Our long videos get hundreds of thousands of views but the shorts only get 10 to 20,000. I don’t know why. Which short did you see?
Me! It was misleading, no?
Me watch the short video and I'm like where's the rest of the story
@@1980lizbethcamacho thanks for watching! I hope you subscribed 😊
Me😂
The only problem with not having a protective layer of paint on the exterior brickwork is that you will need to paint the brickwork with waterproof sealant at regular intervals which can be very expensive. I would get the brickwork sorted first then decide on whether to use masonry paint or render, looking at the old picture of the lighthouse it looks great with its red paint scheme
Different brick mix designs have different requirements. Some brick types can be damaged by paint and others are designed to require it.
@@kenton6098Yes, that's true. I follow a channel called "Restoration Nation", and the Lady named Lane claims if you paint brick the grout between the bricks cannot breathe and causes it to decay and collapse in time.
clear UV treatment will function just like paint..better actually. :-)
Belzona masonry waterproofer is breathable. I know it's used by the coastguard to waterproof their buildings here in the UK. It's also used on monuments and old buildings because it's invisible and doesn't change the appearance of masonry. Belzona had sprayed one half of the end of their building here in the UK with the product and not the other. First they got us to try to tell which side had been sprayed....we couldn't tell!! Then to blast a fire hose at their building. The sprayed side instantly worked, literally throwing the water off the brickwork and afterwards was completely dry to the touch. I was extremely impressed to say the least. It basically changed the brickwork to work like gortex... waterproof and breathable.
I know Belzona make all sorts of hydrophobic paints too. They use them inside giant water pipes to improve flow efficiency and thus improve efficiency from pumps etc. they also use their hydrophobic paints on missiles to counteract the moisture in air for less drag.
I don't work for them but have used their products many times. Here in the UK their products are extensively used by the oil and gas industry, offshore wind,Navy,Army and the list goes on and on. They're also an American company. Their niche is making superb materials for repairing stuff. Also they put their materials through the toughest tests of any company I know. For this sort of job I really couldn't recommend them enough and their masonry waterproofer would be perfect for this lighthouse.
unless you paint them with lime wash or a breathable paint@@susannaCdonovan23
I’ve grown up around different coastal areas most of my life. It wasn’t until I visited Portland, ME until it really hit you how not only beautiful these areas are, but how respectfully scary they are! The cold ocean, the smell of everything… 110% RESPECT to all those into that life… one question: How do you know the condition of the building and foundation from the sea bottom up ?
The short answer is we don’t. I am hoping that is it ok. Please subscribe to see video of the foundation (caisson). We bought an underwater drone that will show what it looks like!
@@thelighthousecenters That will be an interesting video.
@@thelighthousecenterstotally respect what your doing, what a monumental undertaking .
@@thelighthousecenters Definitely want to see THAT rusty video, Rusty the lighthouse keeper.
Seriously....I'm pullin for ya'll now for real. Well, till I die in less than two weeks that is. Cancer sucks....
@@thelighthousecenters I absolutely respect what you are doing and truly enjoyed your video. I would really like to see videos of the restoration being done, and I’m sure many others would as well. Thank-you!
not seen one of your videos before, but I'm along for the next 10+ years it takes to restore this freaking beautiful thing
I would recommend a respirator amd quit playing with that paint , the way its chipping and flaking and the age of this building its probably lead based .
This is awesome to see.. I look forward to seeing the progress... Many years back when they first started looking to sell the bay lighthouses, I had tried purchasing one when I was stationed up in DE. Unfortunately someone with far more funds than I won the bid... Then it ended up back up for sale shortly later.. I think these kinds of places are awesome.. And wish I still lived up there to see them in person up close once they're fixed up.. Or even volunteer some time to help clean them up
I can’t wait to see the transformation! I hope you can find the original outhouse…intact. Looking forward to future videos.
I just bought a $45,000 house and the attitude of "Not bad though" is 100% essential if you're going to be dealing with stuff that would scare off normal people. At one point I had so much rotten wood and insulation pulled out around a window the I was staring at the vinyl siding while standing inside the house. The entire wall would move and crack if it were pushed on. Anyhow, it's patched back up and I have a new roof and the repairs should last as long as the roof lasts (20 years?). Then there were the rotten floors - most of which have been replaced along with supplementing the floor joists with additional lumber and pavers. But it's "Not bad though" considering the price, the neighborhood and the fact that I live in the heart of a large city.
That’s the spirit! Thank you for the positivity and good luck with your projects!😊
My wife and I purchased our first home, about 10 years ago, not far from Toronto Ontario, Canada.
It's a 100 year old home. It is a fixer upper, but it meets our needs. We've given it a bit of the "mike holmes" treatment, tearing some parts down to fix them up new again, fixing things which have been neglected for decades. We added a small solar set up etc.
I've never restored a lighthouse, but I've enjoyed bringing other things back to life. I appreciate the love and satisfaction of restoring a unique irreplaceable piece of history. I wish you success.
you say it like its a normal thing to restore a lighthouse🤣
@@whatislifebro That's noot the point that I was trying to make. Sorry.
Lighthouses are NOT for wimps! Anything is salvageable with the right amount of time, money and energy! I love lighthouses. I hope you keep this one and don’t give up on restoration projects. Would be great to see it completed and in a movie! Loads of films have lighthouse scenes in them.
This lighthouse definitely deserves to be preserved ❤
This!!!! 😊
@@thelighthousecenters Thanks! I think it’s beautiful and I’m looking forward to seeing what you do with it.
I bet people will want to be part of the involvement in restoring it. Especially if you donate some bucks to a good cause for “all hands on deck” welding projects, Flooring, scraping & sandblasting.
Removing paint chips etc by bucket loads and not just tossing it in the water. Getting Double pane windows, etc is just the start!
I would focus on the clean up for 1st year. Get the flooring yanked out and lay fresh flooring down where it’s all wood. The Brick is beautiful too. Finding an OLD SCHOOL MASON is hard to do. I know a Great YT named Mike Haddock Old School Mason. Been watching him for years! He would have serious pointers for your restoration ❤️ Good Luck! 🍀 IM HAPPY FOR YOU!
@@mejustme474 thank you! Nothing is getting tossed in the water. No way.😊
@@thelighthousecenters So much lead paint... And that slab probably has asbestos in it... Be safe 🤞
Subscribed. I read some naysayers opine in the comments. Since you're already renovating Hooper Island, I presume you guys know what you're getting yourself into. Someone with commercial sand blasting and painting connections seems like just the right partner to get this project going. Its an appealing, cottage-like lighthouse (that staircase is a star) with an insanely marketable name. And Rich has a head start slapping the place into submission.
You get it! No slaps for you!
@@thelighthousecenters Hooray! More slaps available for Wolf Trap.
That concrete slab in the basement (here in Germany, this is called Maschinenbett - literally machine bed) was probably were the Diesel generator sat that ran the light at 4000 Volts.
Which also makes sense of that (otherwise pointless) warning sign.
Greetings from Germany!!
And the cistern below is for fuel
Maintain pad?
The concrete deadens vibrations because of its density so the generator would be quieter @joeysausage3437
Agreed, was thinking of that but, later became where the batteries from the solar panels went....
So glad to find this. I’ve sailed around that light many times. So glad that someone is taking on the challenge to keep it maintained. I’m very excited to follow this build and see how you guys restore and/or update things. Would love to see a new or old light put back in. A floating dock and bar would make it a must stop for people cruising the bay or the ICW.
I’ve often wanted to tie up and check out the inside but never did.
I've always had this deep hidden interest in lighthouses and offshore buildings, subscribed :)
raised parallel beams and concrete pad are for heavy equipment, e.g., pumps, motor/gensets, etc. Cool old light house. can't wait to see it done
Nothing like a wonderful old American lighthouse. Beautiful ❤
I agree. Let’s save them!!
I believe they made a movie about that Lighthouse with Tom Hanks and Shelley Long.
It was called 'The Money Pit' 😉
🤣
😂 And another one called The Lighthouse ☠️
@@thelighthousecenters 🙀
I think old lighthouses are so cool. To see them restored to what they were before and the historical value of them is awesome. I would love to even spend some time in one over night or even a few days and nights. The peace and tranquility, wow!
There is nothing like the serenity of being out there knowing there is not another soul for miles in every direction. We can’t wait to share that experience with others!
When you are out there on a calm day, miles from anyone, the peace and tranquility is incredible. There is a video on our facebook page, Hooper Island Lighthouse, demonstrating how quiet it is! Thanks for commenting. Please subscribe to support our mission 😊
Very interesting. Looking forward to seeing it restored. If white paint is lead-based, you will need all kinds of protective gear to remove it. How deep is the water there? How did they establish the lighthouse? With pilings? A diagram of the structure on the bottom would be very interesting.
It’s about 18 feet deep. It is a concrete filled iron caisson. Google “Wolf Trap Lighthouse blueprint” and you will see the original drawings from 1894. Please like and subscribe. We will put out videos detailing how it was built and what it looks like under the water now. Thanks!
Because of the age of this lighthouse, you can fairly well assume that the paint contains lead, that will be easy enough to verify with lead fast test swabs. You should also assume that the black backing of any linoleum flooring will contain asbestos. So be very wary of this and protect yourself when dealing with these things.
That lighthouse is a very cool find. I wish you luck with the restoration. What are your plans long term regarding this lighthouse?
Laughed out loud on the slap counter. Decent use of memes. Well done on the editing! Great tour! cant wait to watch more videos!
It’s a huge project, good luck with bringing it back to it’s former glory.
I’m looking forward to seeing the restoration.
I love to see an optimistic construction guy looking at a big mess and seeing nothing but potential. You should rent it for $2000/2 hours as a marriage proposal site with a fancy imported dinner and private waiter.
We are eternal optimists for sure! We have seen rotting old buildings turned into beautifully restored historic structures many times. We can’t wait to prove the naysayers wrong! One of the ways we will fund the maintenance is to offer a very exclusive venue for events in addition to our goal of having environmental and historical centers. Please visit our website thelighthousecenters.org for more information. Thanks!
@hooperislandlighthouse I'm glad you're restoring it. In the UK they still have buildings built in the 1400's that they live in and have shops in.
@@charlottehall5191We have parts of buildings that are repaired and re adapted that are still in use that are even older than that, the Bell Inn in Finedon near to where I live in Northamptonshire has its monastic origins on the site as far back as 1042 and there’s still a working pub there now, and the church of St Martins in Canterbury is still in use and was built before 597!
@@thelighthousecentersno matter what you set your sights on, you can do with your kind of attitude.
Dumb 'mericans always thinking of ways to make a buck. Why not just rehab it n live there. Build a life not a bank account
You should check your hand for lead paint. Make sure you suit up well if you're going to power wash the interior. 😊
FOR REAL
And asbestos.
I have fantasized about restoring and staying in a lighthouse, and I’m glad you’re showing just how difficult it would be. 😅
Buckle up. It’s going to get harder lol
As a Chesapeake resident, my friends and i always looked at the listing for Wolftrap and exchanged many wistful "what if's"; it's so good to see some capable people taking on the project that we always joked about. I'd be interested in volunteering when the project starts demanding more hands, or at least donating and sharing this project with some of my local friends! Looking forward to seeing where this project goes! Best of luck guys!
I like to keep an eye out on the Lighthouses for sale and I somehow must have missed this one because I don't recognize it but I totally love it! I prefer the ones with at least a small bit of island or built on rocks, I think it would freak me out a little to be in one that is sitting directly in the water. You have an amazing mission and I hope you guys enjoy yourselves making it beautiful again :)
Enjoying ourselves?…. Sometimes 😂. It’s has been a roller coaster of emotions. Happy, sad, scared to death lol
You have the makings of a really cool found footage horror film with this! On a serious note, it's nice to know that there are people who do the work of saving stuff like this. It's such a shame when historical buildings are left to decay or are demolished to make way for soulless modern buildings. I wish you much success in this enterprise.
Thank you for the support! Please like and subscribe 😊
As an architect I applaud (and thank) you for including floorplans while you are doing the walk through.
Get the paint checked for lead before you touch it if you have a texture on the ceiling check for asbestos. I would be wearing a filtered mask until cleared!
I was going to suggest the scrape some paint off and snort it
@@timeWaster76lol “ if it ain’t flake, it’s fake”. Looks pretty flakey on there lol
Ok but don't breath ,especially if you live in city or drive a car. Stay in your sealed bubble and be careful what you eat.
Always wear protection
I love light houses and hope i get to watch them being restored. Sounds like a dream job.
Anywhere that far away from other people is a good purchase. I'd love to live in that lighthouse.
Same,but i prefer living inland with large plot of land
Man… so many good perchpoints on this baddie. The flock and I sure would love it as a vacation home.
Thanks for sharing! Subbed.
I love that you are restoring these beautiful structures.
I love projects like these. You will be amazed at the transformation just a good scraping and cleaning will do. It will be work for sure, but a labor of love. Maybe it would be fun to invite a group of capable volunteers out to do some of the more tedious work? Anyways it looks great even in it's condition, and I bet the end result will be beautiful. Keep filming and posting and we'll for sure keep watching! This is too cool.
had an uncle , was on a manned lighthouse, he got the sack for forever closing the curtians!
Slosh a bit of paint that will do and couple of windows, And the salt air and the wind it'll ready for more paint
@@johndejure9849 you would think it would be a private location, but you know anyone with binoculars on one of those ships will be looking out
I would be worried about the condition of the underwater part before I did much work or put much money into it. Do you have divers inspect it, make sure it's good underwater and the foundation is sound?
The caisson is kind of indestructible. It’s an iron shell filled with solid concrete. But we will inspect it with an underwater drone and show you what we fine if you subscribe 😊
Love this lighthouse! Shockingly inside isn’t completely ruined! Haha giggled at the “not bad though” and the wall smacks lol 😆 thanks for sharing, going to be amazing when finished I bet!
Yes it will! Thank you for the comment 😊
SUGGESTION --- A good welder can extend the outside posts holding the railing up say 1 foot and retain original theme, Some low barrow needs considered for children and pets .
I see some public places use fixed clear plastic but that would create never ending cleaning task..
I am sure you already have a inspection of the under water base of this structure planned,it would bea great video.
Just thoughts to consider
l like to see it after a good high-pressure cleaning.
Also a good boat and good local boat boatman or boat person !!
Seems like the posts have a slot under each ball for a rope or chain? That should bring the height up to safer level.
As with any cleaning project the first thing to do other than estimating what it will take is the amount of lead base paint and the cleanup. Like the concept but there maybe hidden fees or regulations that have to be followed especially with environmental groups you know the save the world people. How to clean something without contaminating the eco system around the light house . Those people are out there and they like showing their bad side. Hope you can move forward without any problems. We lived down in the Virginia Beach tidewater area for many years since my dad was a career Navy man. Still have fond memories of that area. Good luck with your project guys.
Absolutely. Thanks!
Absolutely awesome 😊 Can’t wait to see the progress 😊
I'm stationed in Norfolk, and I saw this lighthouse when I was traveling the area, it's super awesome seeing this video! Can't wait to see how yall fix it up!
Retired Coast Guard here. Be careful touching any of the paint. Most if not all of that is lead based.
The amount of $$$$ to restore this thing is in the millions -- good luck!!
@richardrobiins,
I suppose he has friends and family who do the stripping and painting and sealing and upholstering? Otherwise, it would take decades.
I'm particularly interested in how supplies, furniture and masses of tourists are brought in. Per aircraft carrier?
😋
Can't wait to see the progress. Wish I was there to help. Just a suggestion....consult a certified restoration architect, especially about 'sealing up the brick." I was the site manager for restoring a Frank Lloyd Wright designed house here in my town and some of the suggestions were to seal up the brick and masonry. Our restoration architects told us we can't do that as it is against preservation standards and worse, will destroy the masonry. Paint may be one thing, but other products that keep water out will ultimately crumble the brick. It absorbed moisture no matter how you seal it. Once it is in there, it will have no way to get out and especially freezing cycles will crumble it fast. Let me know if you'd like to get in touch with our architects who have experience with dealing with preservation standards and materials and structures exactly like your are dealing with. Glad the old lighthouse is finally in the hands of someone who will get her back to where she belongs. Thank you!
Good advice! Thank you
These places have an indescribable magic. I find it fascinating to know that people live there!😮
Exactly!
Woild be cool if there was a way to add some floating boat docks and open a restaurant inside.....totally unpracticle and a sure way to loose a ton of money for sure.... but would be pretty fun place to visit if you had a boat😉👍
I was an offshore remote site paramedic for 13 years, I’d love to volunteer and stay out there for a month!
Your hired!!
All alone? I’d love it! I did 28 on 28 off in Angola for 3 years 50 miles off shore , ships sailing from Korea east to GOM. Love it
I grew up on lighthouse stations in New Zealand in the late 60's and 70's, love your content 😁
PS please be careful because ALL that paint will have lead in it
Thank you!!!
@@thelighthousecenters No Fun Old Bridges in IL were RED and Lead Paint. Brother In-law was cutting it UP EPA stopped him. Checked his Blood almost Drained it and Full of Lead. His cat use to Lick his work Boots DIED 3 weeks before finding LEAD..💀💀💀💀💀
I used to pass this lighthouse on the way to school every day. So glad to see someone is doing something with it. I haven't had much reason to go to the peninsula the last few years, but every time I saw it as a kid, it excited my imagination.
I can't wait to experience this transformation!
The raised concrete square on the floor was probably for a generator at a guess. We have the same in the Uk Military Bunkers.. They are always raised on a concrete base
Could also be where the coal would actually be stored once it came down the shoot, seeing how water could make it's way down there that platform would act like an island keeping everything stored there dry.
I have an obsession with lighthouses thanks for taking us with you, and hi from the UK 💯🤟✌️
Fascinating, looking forward to seeing the transformation. 😀👍
Absolutely love seeing stuff like this come back to life!!! Best of luck & excited to follow your progress.
Welcome aboard!
Totally cool.
You have an awesome project and I look forward to watching, liking and sharing your story.
Your casual take and response to the weird ITrolls is inspiring. I should be as patient. Good Luck!
Thank you! I’ve dealt with so much crap in my life. Not much bothers me any more and I find humor in everything. I think trolls are hysterical! 😂 This is not a project for someone without patience. We already had many disappointments and ups and downs. It’s like a rollercoaster of emotions. I hope you find patience with your challenges! We appreciate the support. The success of this video is a big boost to our motivation to keep going!
Just amazed at the care the original designers/builders put into constructing this lighthouse in deep water.
Subscribed! 🎉
I am interested to see how this restoration progresses! I love old lighthouses, especially those from the 1800s. TY for taking the time to preserve this piece of history.
Awesome! Thank you!
Just subscribed to follow this rebuild! Good luck guys, very excited to see this through with ya
The fact that you are torching all of those bird-poo-covered surfaces with your bare hands is killing me! As for your work; Bravo. Love when people restor historical places. I'm involved with a (land) historical project on Long Island, NY.Can't wait to see what you guys do to/with this project.
Sorry. I’m glad you survived the video 😂 Good luck with your project!
I had to wash my hands-twice after watching it!! :) Thanks and best of luck with yours. @@thelighthousecenters
Definitely well worth saving and restoring. The old lighthouse has good bones, still a very solid structure, and wont take much to clean in up. Add solar panels, a bathroom, a simple kitchen, some bedrooms, etc and it would make an awesome house or holiday house. You probably wont be able to discharge sewage, etc into the sea, so check the cistern below basement and if not up to drinking standards, maybe turn that into a waste holding tank that gets emptied by special support boat each year or so. Solar and wind power charge batteries to power lights, etc. Collect water run off from solar panels (assume glass top) for drinking. Be great to dive around the site and see what's there. Add nesting boxes for birds on the upper section. Add a floating jetty / pontoon . So many possibilities. Going to be a great adventure. Greetings from Australia. +1 Like, +1 Subscribe.
An Aussie who gets it! Thank you! You might win for our farthest subscriber. If you ever come to the USA let us know 😊
@@thelighthousecenters THank you ! Appreciate what you do and would love to help you do some of the restoration of Wolf Trap or any other lighthouse.
No need for bathroom.
Poop over board.
@@thelighthousecenters Nope New Zealand here !
Just listen the whole video, this lighthouse seems to be in perfect state !
Our friends have a house a little ways up the river near there and when we take the boat out on the bay, we can always see it from the distance. I've been so curious about the lighthouse and I'm really looking forward to seeing your progress in its restoration. Hopefully we can ride out there in the not to distant future and visit.
Thank you. Please subscribe 😊
@@thelighthousecenters I was actually mistaken. The lighthouse we always see is Smith Point Lighthouse. That said, still looking forward to seeing progress on your other lighthouses. And yeah I subscribed before writing my original comment. Good luck!
This is very cool, I sail behind the WT lighthouse several times a year, so neat to see inside it!!
I can’t wait to see this cleaned and restored in 156 years
😂 we love the humor! But seriously it will certainly be a challenge to do in reasonable amount of time. First thing we have to do is seal it up so it stops getting damaged from water, before it’s totally gone. Thanks for the comment!
Oh yes, right up my street. Subbed to await progress... 🕊
Awesome! Thank you 😊
That paint you keep slapping around is LEAD based paint! Just saying, you might not want to be making paint dust to breathe in. Use a good coating system intended for offshore or marine environments. (Carboline, Hempel, Sigma, etc. Careful w/International as they've been known to spec incompatible coatings.)
Thank you. Please follow to see what product we use. As an industrial painter, we mostly use Sherwin-Williams, but we have had good results from all of them including International.
Wonder if drawings are available for the original construction of the lighthouse? These would be helpful in restoration and particularly for the structural repairs needed.
Yes the original blueprints are all available through The National Archives. It’s a Nationally Registered Historic Structure. We have used the blueprints of Hooper Island Lighthouse many times to help us locate things.
Mrs Richards: "I paid for a room with a view !"
Basil: (pointing to the lovely view) "That is Torquay, Madam ."
Mrs Richards: "It's not good enough!"
Basil: "May I ask what you were expecting to see out of a Torquay hotel bedroom window ? Sydney Opera House, perhaps? the Hanging Gardens of Babylon? Herds of wildebeest sweeping majestically past?..."
Mrs Richards: "Don't be silly! I expect to be able to see the sea!"
Basil: "You can see the sea, it's over there between the land and the sky."
Mrs Richards: "I'm not satisfied. But I shall stay. But I expect a reduction."
Basil: "Why?! Because Krakatoa's not erupting at the moment ?"
Lol. You will never hear this at the lighthouse. 360 degree water views! Sunrises and sunsets!
I bet you also burst with laughter when watching the Basil scene in Deadpool 😂
@@udirt I'M A DOCTOR AND I WANT MY SAUSAGES !
I hear there's going to be a Dollar General lighthouse right next door. True ?
Seriously...
What an incredible lighthouse !!! Truly looking forward to watching this get fixed up. Awesome
lol yes they ran out of land and are now building floating dollar generals 😂
Looks extremely salvageable, lead paint would be a huge worry, the water cistern should be lined I am sure, the upper part where some issues are, if needed could be rebuilt. As a contractor on shore this would be a reasonable restoration, but out there I don't know the price but everything will cost you way more, It is a project but with the right money can be completed at a reasonable cost. Good luck with everything and I hope it turns out well
i know a lot about the last family who lived at wolf trap if you would ever like to hear about them. a very old man i lived next door to told me a wonderful story about the steam boat who delivered out there. he got a christmas bike one year and he learned to ride it on where you stood for your opening shots.
I'm a casual observer here, but would love the hear the stories of the people who actually lived there.
That’s a great story! We would love to hear more 😊
Having worked on two light houses it is a real pain hauling your tools up the stairs , at least you can leave them there in safety though.
Getting it water tight or any safety concerns first job......which ? Best of luck with it 👍.