To the Editor:

On September 29, 2004, nearly 13 years ago and amid much fanfare, the efforts spearheaded by Councilman Joseph Solomon, along with support from Mayor Scott Avedisian and others, came to fruition with the transfer of Conimicut Light to the City of Warwick. Ambitious plans for the iconic 19th century sparkplug offshore light floated on the imaginations of all those involved and in support of this worthwhile initiative. Then reality moved in and promised funds disappeared along with an economy that found less philanthropic involvement in restoration projects at all levels. Before long, the lighthouse became a back burner project as other more easily attained projects became paramount.

And so the lighthouse has silently waited, and nature in her relentless way has worked her element of slow destruction. Water, rust, and corrosion advance unabated by any kind of maintenance or upkeep and a structure such as the lighthouse requires constant maintenance just to survive the onslaught of nature.

Perhaps it is time to give up on those dreams and plans of yesterday. Perhaps it is time for someone to take on stewardship of the light before it is too late and costly to restore and replacement becomes the only viable alternative, because even in this electronic era the lighthouse at the Providence River Approach is an important navigational aid.

“Why does this mean so much to some old guy from Scituate, RI?” you have every right to ask. The only answer that makes any sense is that of all of my many accumulated years on this earth, 4.2 percent of them were spent caring for Conimicut Light and my heart is heavy when I see its deteriorated condition today.

Fred Mikkelson,

Assistant OinC

Conimicut Light Station, 1958-1961

North Scituate