New England Lighthouse Treasures

Something stinks about the plans for the city treasure of Kingston, a historic Lighthouse at the junction of Rondout Creek and the Hudson River. According to a editorial written by the DailyFreeman.com, a city investment in the Lighthouse is long overdue and the Gateway to the city needs a expensive sewage line to attract tourism and economic development.

Their fish story is loaded with humor! My first thought to save taxpayer dollars was posting a sign that reads, When visiting our Lighthouse Treasure: please don’t let it rip where swimmers take a dip! Seriously, it is hard to swallow a Rondout waterfront revitalization plan begins with reviving Rondout Creek Lighthouse by installing a estimated $750,000 sewer and water line.

Since 1984, the Hudson River Maritime Museum has been restoring the Lighthouse and providing public Lighthouse tours on the weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The Lighthouse is accessible by boat tours and no doubt, visitors are allowed to use the head! By federal law, all boat heads are required to use Marine Sanitation Devices (MSD) that cost as little as $1,400. Total cost to install a MSD in the Lighthouse should be no more than $2,800. Both solutions are two ways to use our heads to save a $750,000 Treasure Hunt!

Kingston Lighthouse, also called Rondout Creek Lighthouse, Rondout 11, and Rondout North Dike Light Station was the third Lighthouse built at mouth of Rondout Creek to mark the harbor entrance. The 48-feet high buff-colored brick Tower was First Lit on August 25, 1915 exhibiting a Fixed Red Light illuminated by a Sixth-order Fresnel lens 52-feet above sea level. The Lighthouse also has two cisterns that provided fresh water for drinking and cooking. For other liquid needs, water was pumped from the river. Is a expensive modern water line necessary?

Currently, Kingston Lighthouse is an active Coast Guard aid to navigation and exhibits a Flashing White Light every 6-seconds. On June 9, 2002, the Coast Guard transferred ownership of the Lighthouse to the city of Kingston. Mayor James Sottile had plans to use the Lighthouse to promote tourism and believed the Lighthouse could be a revenue generator. Seems like the latest ideas are federal and local tax revenue generators!

Map Location:
For a Map Location of the Lighthouse, please visit the Google Map of Kingston Lighthouse

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