Lifesaving Station Gets
$60,000 DCR Partnership Grant
Story
courtesy of the Westport Fishermen’s
Association
Photos
by everythingwestport.com
March
1, 2008
The restoration of
Westport’s historic Lifesaving Station at Horseneck Point got a major boost today when the
Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation awarded it $60,000 in
matching funds as part of its partnership grant program. The building is
located on property owned by the DCR and leased to
the Westport Fishermen's Association.
"We
are, of course, very pleased," says Jim Perry, the project coordinator for
the WFA. "This is not only a major boost to our
fundraising but it shows the support from the state and DCR
for this project."
The
proposed restoration will remove the additions that have been tacked onto the
buildings over the years and return the two structures to their original
configuration. One building, the boathouse, was erected by the Massachusetts
Humane Society in 1888 where they kept their longboat, oars and equipment used
to rescue sailors from ships in danger of sinking in nearby waters. The oarsmen
were volunteers prepared to go out in any weather and though throughout the
state they provided many daring rescues there is no record of any from station
number 69.
The second
building was added as a visitor center but later was used to sell ice cream and
then became a bar. The Westport Fishermen's Association took on the restoration
project last year.
Chip Gillespie, an architect with Dyer Brown Southcoast Architects has
volunteered countless hours researching and drawing up plans for the Lifesaving
Station. He has been a strong supporter for the project and was very pleased
with the news. "It’s terrific news,"
Gillespie responded, "This will help us step up our plans.” The project is
divided into two parts, one removing the additions and restoring the original
footprint and the second to complete the interior and exterior renovations.
Though this
is a major push for their plans, the group is still looking for additional
funds. "This will bring us much closer to our capital fundraising
goal," remarked Perry, "but to open it to the public will require
more monies for such things as purchasing and restoring artifacts to installing
displays and normal operating costs." He adds that the finished center
will serve as an attraction to an area with a great deal of history but little
in the way of places to visit. "I love history," he adds, "and
this will create a great thing for people to come see."
Anyone wanting more details or information on donating to
the project are encouraged to visit the WFA's website,
Left: Architect’s rendering of the
restored Life Saving Station
The history of
lightships and their role for shipping in this area was one of the topics of a
presentation sponsored by the Westport Historical Society last June 21, 2007
evening at Greenwood terrace. Read
the Dartmouth Chronicle Story now.
- - - - - - End - - - - - -
Community Events of Westport ©
2008 All rights reserved.