Moving the Lighthouse

Feb 14, 1999 Cheryl Roberts UPDATE HATTERAS ISLAND, NC Photo courtesy Bruce Roberts

The move process is going full-steam ahead!

The dewatering system has been working at the Keepers' Quarters for some time now, keeping the perimeter dry as workers excavate around the three cisterns and two houses. In one of the photos, dirt and sand are piled high in front of the Double Keepers' Quarters just before removal and relocation of one of the cisterns. Movers are ready to prepare the keepers' quarters for their move (note the braced chimneys and windows).

Skellie Hunt, site manager for International Chimney Corporation sets the last week in February as the target date for moving the keepers' quarters. The dwellings are lifted by the unified hydraulics jacking system. The load of each dwelling is lifted and transferred to a transport system of roll beams. The structures will then be moved on rubber dollies (aircraft-size tires and hydraulic system) to the new location. (The lighthouse will move the entire 2,900 feet on roll beams. More on this later ...). The keepers' quarters will be reset within micro measurements of one another (and the tower after it is relocated).

Sign Up for Lighthouse Society Announcements
Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report

The Outer Banks Lighthouse Society will update the progress of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse move throughout the Spring ... sign up to receive e-mail updates.

Canine Hope Provides Animal Rescue

Feb 14, 1999
Staff Report
KITTY HAWK, NC

Canine Hope Animal Rescue, Inc. , founded in 1996 by Jim and Kathy Tredway of Southern Shores, North Carolina, is an organization dedicated to providing medical care and finding good homes for dogs and cats with an emphasis on dogs.

Canine Hope has helped find homes for over 170 dogs and cats. Most of these animals were taken in as unclaimed strays or received from owners who could no longer keep them; some were obtained from animal shelters. Dogs taken in by Canine Hope are boarded at local animal hospitals where they receive rabies and other shots, are bathed, spayed or neutered, tested for heartworms (and treated if necessary), and are treated for any medical problems which exist. Volunteers walk and visit with these dogs daily except Sundays.

New Chamber Site
Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report
KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC

The Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce recently announced a new internet site which contains the complete Outer Banks Relocation & Investors Guide, a directory of the Chamber's 1100 members, economic and demographic data, calendar of events, local history and information about Chamber membership services.

New Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society Drive
Feb 1, 1999
Staff Report
MANTEO, NC

The Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society has announced a fund raising drive to build a new Visitor's Center / Administrative Complex in Manteo. Memberships in the Society and donations are used to benefit Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge, Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and a host of other programs and activities throughout Northeastern North Carolina as well as fund the construction of the new Center. Contributions may be made on line at the Coastal Wildlife Refuge Society site or by mail:

The dewatering system is now being installed around the perimeter of the lighthouse. The water table is only four feet below ground level. Excavation will begin within a few days in preparation for the first cut of the diamond cable saw to separate the first plinth (below ground) and second plinth. You can see the plinths (stepped granite octagonal stones around the base of the tower) braced for stability in one of the photos.

The lighthouse will be three and one-half feet higher at its new site.

The move is insured for over six million dollars.

Photo courtesy Bruce Roberts

The new site is an area of 3.1 acres surrounded by natural growth. The light of the lighthouse will gain an advantage at a new height to put the beacon out across Diamond Shoals. A Notice to Mariners for light-out will be issued for March 1st.

The lighthouse will be reopened for full visitation Memorial Day next year. Meanwhile, history is in the making.

For those of you planning to attend the great event while it is in progress, you should be able to see the height of activity between the last half of April and first week of June.

The move will be a slow process, "much like watching the sun rise," site manager Hunt says.

We'll keep you posted.

Five years ago, the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce became one of the first (if not the first) chamber of commerce in the state of North Carolina to have its own homepage. In late December of '98 the Chamber announced a new homepage which offers more information than ever before to its members, the Outer Banks Community and those around the world who share an interest in the Outer Banks.

The new site can be found at http://outerbankschamber.com and offers a listing (with addresses and phone numbers) for all 1100 member businesses, the complete "Outer Banks Relocation Guide" and a handy "History Book" containing information on the Outer Banks most popular sites, derivation of many of the Outer Banks names and an amusing lexicon of Outer Banks expressions. It's a real "power house site" for up-to-date information on all of North Carolina's Outer Banks ... from Corolla to Ocracoke!

Animal Rescue Service ...

Canine Hope helps owners locate missing dogs and helps pay for medical care and treatment for injured or sick dogs and cats where owners need assistance. (This has including spaying and neutering). Canine Hope has helped over 110 dogs and cats in this regard.

Canine Hope also works closely with, and supports the other good work done by, the Dare County Animal Shelter / Outer Banks S.P.C.A. We help with some of the newspaper ads for dogs at the Shelter who are up for adoption.

It is an all volunteer, tax exempt, charitable organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and receives no public funds.

The internet site located at http://northeast-nc.com/caninehope/ provides information about dogs and cats currently available for adoption and contact information. The internet site is provided as a public service by RAI, and is kept current by volunteers as animals become available or find homes.

You can visit Canine Hope on their internet site at http://www.northeast-nc.com/caninehope.