Lighthouse renovation on agenda

Project could be finished this year

Battery Point Lighthouse has been battered by an unrelenting sea for 156 years, all the while shining dependably for anyone in need of a guiding light.

Last year Del Norters pooled their resources to keep this leaky landmark beaming into the next century. The results are looking bright. 

Today the County Board of Supervisors is expected to approve a $144,000 contract with Richterich and Jones Construction, Inc., to revamp the leaky roof, stabilize eroding areas, replace rusty railings, fix a flawed ventilation system, replace cracked windows and bring all the electrical systems up to snuff.

If commissioners approve the contract during their 10 a.m. meeting at the Flynn Center, the renovations could be complete by the end of this summer, said County Administrative Officer Jay Sarina.

Normal lighthouse functions should not be disrupted during the work, Sarina said.

The county and the Del Norte Historical Society received a $100,000 grant through the State Coastal Conservancy to fund the lion’s share of repairs. Another grant from the California Coastal and Marine Initiative brought in $30,000, while the county committed $17,000 — some $13,000 of in-kind services and $4,000 in cash.

The Historical Society kicked in an additional $53,000 to seal the deal, money raised from individual donations over the past year. The society called on its own membership, as well as that of the Chamber of Commerce, to scrape together the funds.

The total money raised from grants and donations exceeds the bid offered by Richterich and Jones, but there will likely be unanticipated costs in working on such an old and weathered structure, Sarina said.

Reach Emily Jo Cureton at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it