A family watches the lighting of Sankaty Lighthouse.
Mr. Sulzer's fifth grade class at the Nantucket New School gets a special tour of Sankaty Lighthouse before its big move.
Students at the Nantucket New School take a look at Sankaty Lighthouse's foundation.
On Saturday November 24, Sankaty lighthouse was lit for the first time from its new location.
Sankaty Lighthouse has reached its resting place 280 feet from where it originally stood. The gigantic structure was moved over the course of one week on a lubricated steel structure acting as a conveyor belt thanks to the efforts of International Chimney and Expert House Movers, plus some volunteers from 'Sconset Trust.
Rick Lohr, President of International Chimney, headed up the contracting job for the move of one of Nantucket's most prestigious and distinct landmarks.
"Every job is different," he explained, "Each has their own issues and idiosyncrasies and you work with those and the objective."
International Chimney has worked with the subcontractor, Expert House Movers, several times already when moving other lighthouses around the country, including the Cape Hatteras Light Station on the Outer Banks in North Carolina, Southeast Lighthouse on Block Island, R.I., the Nauset Lighthouse in Eastham, Mass. and the Highland Light Station in Truro, Mass.
But here, they've been planning this one out for more than a decade; 14 years to be exact. "We’ve had the engineering order for some time," said Lohr, "It’s all coming together very nicely. The Sconset Trust is a very nice group to work with."
Sconset Trust member Bob Felch is one of the medians between the monstrous task and the community at large. He was around to help extinguish the light at the top of Sankaty on Wednesday, September 26th, over 150 years after it was first lit up on February 1st, 1850.
He explained, "It's officially off now with the permission of the Coast Guard for the move for about two or three weeks."
Thanks to the efforts of all of these people, and many more, Sankaty Lighthouse successfully moved away from a steadily eroding cliff. The goal was to have it around 250 feet away from the edge.
Take a look at our slideshow of Sankaty and our video from the move. Stay tuned to Plum on the web for more on move this historic structure.
Photo Gallery
Video
Sankaty Lighthouse underwent a historical move in October 2007. Those involved with the project take us through the reason for the move and how it was accomplished. For more, take a look at the full story.
I wish
i wish i went and saw your moving of our lighthouse. all my caddy boys and i cant wait to see it :) good luck
I used to work at sankaty head light.
Dear Sir,
Between 1985 and 1987 I was station at the loran Stantion I helped paint Sankaty and also had cleaned her windows. Thank you for saving her.
Jose L. Avila-Former member of the coast guard
cop230@aol.com
Thanks for checking it out!
Thanks so much for taking a look at our story on moving Sankaty Light! Stay tuned to our site this weekend for a video on the move as well. We appreciate your positive feedback!
~Liz, Plum Nantucket
I played the Sankaty Head
I played the Sankaty Head golf course today and was in awe of the scenery and the incredible job you have done moving the lighthouse. I came home and had to show my five year old son what was done to move this historic structure. Congratulations and thanks for providing this video to help explain what teamwork can accomplish.
Thanks for checking it out!
Thanks so much for keeping it tuned to Plum on the web, Mike. We had a really great time covering the excitement surrounding the move of Sankaty Light and were glad to share it with everyone in Nantucket and beyond. Thanks again for stopping by, we're looking forward to hearing from you again in the future!
~Liz, Plum Nantucket
Hello Everyone Involved in
Hello Everyone Involved in the Move,
I wanted to share that I engaged my wife on bended knee directly in front of that little light-keepers door. We were lucky enough that a passerby was willing to snap what he thought was just a photo but what was actually a snap-shot record of the live event. We have a wonderful photo of my wife's reaction at that very moment, with this beautiful white & red Light punctuating the immediate background.
We will always treasure both the memory of that morning as well as this Lighthouse. Indeed, Sankaty Head Light was a principal part of what made it feel so special. My wife and I are very greatful that it will be enjoyed by our children and generations of our family yet to come.
Watched a programme today
Watched a programme today called Monster Moves (in the UK) that featured this lighthouse move. Since watching it I have looked up the location using Google Earth but it shows it in the old location, would it be possible for someone to post a map with the new location marked please? It would be very much appreciated.
A magnificent lighthouse
A magnificent lighthouse saved from certain destruction. Lighthouse lovers
greatly appreciate the move and the effort and knowledge needed.
THANK YOU most kindly.
Barry Curhan 7-2-08
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