Wow - it was great to see so many members and visitors this past Friday! The Pirates House was packed for a wonderful presentation on the Tybee Lighthouse. Before our speaker began, Foundation Chair Ed Engel explained how members can use Rotary Foundation points in order to achieve Paul Harris Fellow status. President Laura Lane McKinnon thanked all those members and guests who were able to attend the Oyster Roast at Gordon Matthews house. Once all Happy dollars were given, Katie Wohlust introduced our speaker, Sarah Jones, who spoke about the Tybee Island Light Station and Museum.
In 1867, the current lighthouse at Tybee was completed. This was the 4th lighthouse to occupy this spot. It has a 12 foot thick base with a circular shape on the inside and an octagonal shape on the outside. This lighthouse faced many challenges at the end of the 19th century such as hurricanes and an earthquake. It has had six day marks since 1867 and its light stays on constantly at night.
In 1933, the lighthouse was electrified. It was one of the last to be powered in the United States. Previous to being electrified, there were three keepers. After electrification, only one keeper was needed. Keeping the light was a family affair with all members (even children) helping.
A $1 million dollar restoration project began in 1997 and since then, a few more restorations to the cottages have taken place. Last year, $1.3 million was generated in revenue. The lighthouse is run as a partnership between the US Coast Guard and the Tybee Island Historical Society. To learn more about the light station and museum, please visit https://www.tybeelighthouse.org