$300K Campaign To Restore Grand Manan Lighthouse

An iconic lighthouse on Grand Manan Island is in need of some extensive restoration work.

The Swallowtail Lightkeepers Society recently launched a $300,000 fundraising campaign.

Money raised through “Tending the Light” will be used to restore the exterior of the lighthouse and the adjacent keepers’ house.

“The shingles on Swallowtail are 90 years old. They’ve been lashed by too many northeast gales and therefore are beyond repair,” head light keeper Ken Ingersoll said in a news release.

Ingersoll said the existing surfaces need to be stripped and replaced to prevent structural damage and to decrease ongoing maintenance costs.

Earlier in August, Sean Dunbar of Picaroons Brewing Company in Fredericton presented a $5,000 cheque for the restoration project. The business has pledged $5,000 annually until the initiative is complete.

“The campaign goal of $300,000 is an aggressive target, one we believe we can attain,” said Ingersoll.

Officials hope to have the funds in place to start the restoration work early next year.

You can make a donation through the Swallowtail Keepers Society’s website by clicking here.