3 R.I. lighthouses to be turned over to state organizations, nonprofits for preservation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Sen. Jack Reed said that three historic Rhode Island lighthouses are expected to be turned over to new owners for preservation.
The trio of lighthouses are currently owned by the federal government, but were deemed “excess property” and needed to be sold or demolished.
Reed said he expects Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown will be turned over to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; the Sandy Point Lighthouse in Prudence Island will be turned over to the Prudence Conservancy; and the Watch Hill Lighthouse in Westerly will be turned over to the Watch Hill Lighthouse Keepers Association.
He added the transfers will come at no cost to taxpayers.
The transfers come after years of actions by federal agencies, including the U.S. Coast Guard and National Parks Service, to reach an agreement. The U.S. General Services Administration just needs to officially accept the recommendations from the National Park Service.
The Beavertail Lighthouse in Jamestown, which was first erected in 1749 and rebuilt as a 68-foot tower in 1856, faces south toward the Rhode Island Sound and the exit of Narragansett Bay.
It was burnt down by the British in 1779, with the currently standing structure rebuilt and totaling 5,171 square feet.
Meanwhile, the Sandy Point Lighthouse was originally constructed in Newport Harbor in 1823 and then moved to Prudence Island in Portsmouth in 1851.
Finally, the Watch Hill Lighthouse tower was built in 1855 and is part of the Watch Hill Historic District.
“These lighthouses are part of Rhode Island’s history and continue to serve as local landmarks, boosting tourism and preserving public spaces with breathtaking views,” Reed said. “Transferring ownership to local care and ensuring the preservation of these sites is a win for the community.”
Over 150 lighthouses have had their ownership transferred since the passage of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Rhode island is home to 22 working lighthouses, as well as the ruins of several more.
