WKRG.com » News Stream » Alabama »

Sand Island Lighthouse Getting Help

By Chad Petri Reporter

Published: Wed, April 30, 2008 - 5:02 am Last Updated: Thu, July 31, 2008 - 1:54 am

Short URL: http://wkrg.com/a/13340/

Chad Petri

The Sand Island Lighthouse sits about four miles south of Dauphin Island. It’s aging, not gracefully.

“If we had another Katrina I can't see how it would survive,” says Alabama Lighthouse Association board member Jim Hall.

Dauphin Island has secured about $650,000 dollars of FEMA money to stabilize it. The building's a tube fastened by a metal ring at the top and the base.

“The lighthouse at the base the bricks are laid in excess of about 6 feet thick,” says Hall.

With GPS and a whole bunch of other modern hardware there really is no need for a lighthouse but enthusiasts say it's more of a sentimental feeling to see that on a return trip.

“I can assure you when the fishermen from offshore when they're finally coming in they see the lighthouse they feel good, they know they're in the right place,” says Hall.

Alabama Lighthouse Association
Sand Island Lighthouse Preservation Group