HISTORY OF THE HLPS

1992—The nine-foot diameter Fresnel Lens stopped rotating due to a failure of the electric drive mechanism. The 1907 lens assembly weighed two tons, and floated in a bath of mercury. The top of the lighthouse tower was contaminated with mercury vapor. Temporarily a 190 mm optic powered by 36 watt bulbs was installed on the outer railing.

1996—The Coast Guard contracted with Parsons Engineering to perform an engineering study on the future of the Hillsboro Lighthouse. Dave Butler, then President of the Pompano Beach Historical Society was notified, and was provided a great deal of historical material for the study. In return, Dave received a copy of the report, which recommended removal of the Fresnel Lens at a cost of $10,000 and permanent replacement by a $5,000 modern optic (GRP 25 with the 36-watt bulbs). Renovation of the Fresnel Lens was estimated at $220,000. (The total lighthouse renovation had exceeded that cost between 1998 and 2000.)

1997—The Florida Lighthouse Society had a meeting at Hillsboro Lighthouse in July 1997. With great publicity work by Harry Cushing, Hib Casselberry of F.L.A. and the local newspapers, there were 300 people in attendance.

FOUNDING THE HILLSBORO LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION SOCIETY—In the fall of 1997, Harry Cushing and Dave Butler founded the society because so many people wanted to save our lighthouse. We had public meetings at the Pelican Pub, where Coast Guard experts such as Chief Dennis Dever spoke. Members of the Florida Lighthouse Society, particularly Hib Casselberry, added strong support. The lighthouse was big news and there were many newspaper articles on saving it. Congressman E. Clay Shaw was contacted, and he quickly recognized the importance of the lighthouse for safe navigation for the more than 40,000 boaters per year who use Hillsboro Inlet. Frank Rysavy, Chairman of the Hillsboro Inlet District sent out dozens of fax messages to Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. He personally talked with the Coast Guard Commandant at a private meeting at the lighthouse. The tide began to turn.

1998—In January the Coast Guard made the public announcement that the entire lighthouse would be renovated and the lens restored. This was a difficult, expensive and time-consuming job, and the Coast Guard deserves great appreciation for dedicating the manpower and financial resources to this complex task.

Chicago engineers were hired, drawings made, bids sent out and Worth Engineering of Palm Beach were contracted at $144,000 to clean and repaint the entire tower, replace rusted steel plates, install all new electrical wiring, and get the lens turning again on a large five-foot ball bearing. In addition, the entire Service Room at the 100-foot level was gutted, cleaned, insulated, new windows installed and beautiful new paneling installed.

1999—GRAND RE-LIGHTING CEREMONY—On January 28, 1999, the re-lighting ceremony was held at the Pompano Beach City Park opposite the lighthouse. The Mayors of Pompano, Lighthouse Point and Hillsboro Beach spoke. The Coast Guard of Miami introduced the Coast Guard project team. Harry Cushing, HLPS President, was Master of Ceremonies, and Arther Makenian, Lighthouse Keeper, introduced the USCG Auxiliary Team and spoke of the hundreds of volunteer hours by the Auxiliary making the event possible. Dave Butler, HLPS Vice President, spoke of tremendous public support. Then, at dusk, the switch was thrown and the 1,000-watt power of Hillsboro Lighthouse once again swept across the night sky.

FAILURE OF THE TURNING MECHANISM—All repairs were successful except for the ball bearing on which the 2-1/2 ton lens assembly rotates. The soft ball bearing galled and failed in two months. At a meeting at USCG Civil Engineering in Miami in March 1999, a team effort was mounted. Even installing a new mercury bearing was investigated, but barred by the EPA. Art Makenian and Dave Butler were assigned the engineering responsibilities of finding and engineering the complex installation of a commercial ball bearing. We investigated companies all over the U.S. and as far away as Germany. An expensive custom-built bearing was finally selected which could carry over 20 tons, and careful design allowed installation in the old 1907 cast-iron trough which used to carry 500 pounds of mercury. Dave Butler built a full-size model of the bearing to be sure the bearing could be installed before the $20,000 contract was written.

REMOVING THE VERTICAL DRIVE SHAFT—A super-critical job was removing the 300-pound vertical drive shaft, which had rotated the two ton lens assembly since 1906. The vertical shaft was rusted into a one-ton horizontal plate. The job was almost impossible, but Art Makenian and his team of USCG Auxiliary volunteers accomplished this miracle. Imagine separating parts frozen together for 85 years! Special tools built by the Coast Guard were used. The HLPS bought hydraulic jacks, special machined components, and members offered their help; however, USCG regulations did not allow HLPS members to work in the tower. The USCG Auxiliary invested over 4,000 volunteer hours, and the entire machinery and electrical system were modernized.

2000—On August 18, 2000, a 2nd re-lighting ceremony was held, and this time the installation was very successful. We have exceeded 12 months of operation, including a disassembly and detailed examination in March 2001. Everything works fine with the bearing submerged in a bath of protective oil. Two 3/4 horsepower motors rotate the lens, and the polished lens sends a powerful beam of light 28 miles out to sea.

2001—In January, we had approximately 250 visitors at the lighthouse at our January 2001 meeting.

NEW OFFICERS ELECTED—In April, our founding President, Harry Cushing, resigned and Dave Butler, co-founder of the HLPS became President. Hibbard Casselberry, VP of the Florida Lighthouse Society, became Vice President and Treasurer. In August 2001, President Dave Butler resigned due to ill health, and Hib Casselberry was elected the new President. Click here for a complete list of board members.

In June, our web site, www.hillsborolighthouse.org, was created.