Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society
The Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation SocietyTHLPS) is an all volunteer nonprofit organization that seeks to preserve, restore and provide public outreach and access to the lighthouse. The organization has gown in five short years to over 400 members and now owns the lighthouse and leases the original lens to the lighthouse. THLPS is proud of our accomplishments and our members. Meetings are open to all.
The original light at the Toledo Lighthouse, a 3 1/2 order Fresnel Lens made by Barbier and Bernard, is located at the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park and can be seen anytime. The lens has two bulls eyes and one clam shell. The prisms and glass with light made the light visible up to sixteen miles. It is one of three lights of its kind. The Toledo Lighthouse is one of a kind - very unique architecturally .
The Toledo Lighthouse Society is the recipient of two grants that will pave the way for lighthouse restoration. In addition, in 2007 the Toledo Lighthouse Society won the Excellence Preservation Award from the Landmark's Preservation Council.
The Secretary of the Department of Interior approved the application for the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society (THLPS) to own the lighthouse. On April 25, 2007, THLPS received the the deed and keys to the lighthouse. We are all grateful to those that helped with this lengthy process.
Ohio D.N.R. through the Coastal Zone Management Program, provided a two year $48,000 grant for Duket Architects to prepare plans and specification for the lighthouse restoration project. Also, the Ohio Lake Erie Protection Fund awarded $14,900 for this project. The total cost of the project is $102,000.
The restoration will cost an estimated $1.5 million. Restoration will include windows, doors, shutters, soalr power, wastewater system, gray water treatment, interior work and finishing,. Grants are being sought for this work. Once the resotarion is complete, two couples will stay at the lighthouse for three to four days to allow visitors to see the lighthouse from May through October. Members will be given preferance to stay at the lighthouse and then it will be open to the public(through an application process).
A ramp, dock and lift received a grant from the Lake Erie Protection Fund(Marblehead License Plates), Art Iron provided the Platform, and the Toledo Lighthouse Society provided the rest. The access project was completed in October 2008. On April 9, 2009 all was well, On April 11 the dock and ramp were gone along with parts of the lift. The ramp was recovered, the dock never was recovered. Efforts are now underway to redo the lift and get a new dock. The dock will be brought ashore for the winter.
You can view the Toledo Lighthouse from the shores of Maumee Bay State Park through a viewer located on the walkway in front Of the lodge near the marina.
We hope that you will consider joining the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society, Our major annual event is the Toledo Harbor Lighthouse Festival featuring boat rides around the lighthouse, island music, nautical arts and crafts, food, children's activities and a silent auction. The Toledo Lighthouse Festival is July 10 and 11, 2010.
TOLEDO LIGHTHOUSE FRESNEL LENS MAUMEE BAY STATE PARK LODGE
The Fresnel Lens was moved to Maumee Bay State Park Lodge May 13, 2008 and is located in the main lobby.
Jim Woodward moved the lens from the lighthouse in 1995 and moved it again from COSI in 2008.
The lens was enclosed in glass on July 2nd, 2008. The glass sits on a wood base for support. Enclosing the lens was a requirement of the Coast Guard. A lid is being added to protect the glass and to keep out the dust.
TOLEDO LIGHTHOUSE......................
The Toledo Lighthouse can be observed from shore through a viewer in front of the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park near the marina where there is a viewer. The Toledo Lighthouse sits on a crib about five miles north off shore from Maumee Bay State Park. The lighthouse marks the Toledo shipping channel where the waters of Lake Erie meet the shallow waters of Maumee Bay. The Romanesque lighthouse was completed May 23, 1904 and is architecturally unique with buff brick and a rolled edge steel roof. The lighthouse is 4000 sq. ft. and stands 64' high. The boulders were added to three sides of the base in 1989 when the lighthouse was secured by the Army Corps of Engineers.
You can see the lighthouse from shore through a viewer located on the walkway along the lake steps on the lakeside of the lodge.
Toledo Lighthouse Society..............
TOLEDO LIGHTHOUSE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL
July 2010 was a huge success
Thank you to the sponsors, volunteers, boats and captains, artists and crafters, vendors and all who came to the festival. The weather was great -we had a good time and helped the lighthouse.
The 2011 Toledo Lighthouse Waterfront Festival will be July 9th & 10th - save the date
Festival
SPONSORS
Thank You
Maumee Bay
Resort
Andersons
NOIC
5th3rd
Eggleston,
Meinert Pavley
Genoa Bank
Key Bank
Ntnl Bnk of
Oak Harbor
Bath Fitter
PeteMcDonald
State Farm
LIGHTHOUSE MEETING
THe next meetiong if the Toledo Lighthouse Society is Thursday, July 29th at 7:00 pm at the lodge at Maumee Bay State Park. We will wrap on the festival and talk about the lighthouse. All are welcome
