Historical lighthouse threatens demise in Hudson
150 years ago, a lighthouse was built 160 kilometers north of New York, in the middle of the Hudson. But now, the Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse is in danger of collapsing.
A 150-year-old lighthouse in the middle of the Hudson River is deteriorating - and could crumble into the water piece by piece if something isn't done soon. The danger to this structure, located roughly 160 kilometers north of New York City, has prompted supporters to urgently collect the necessary funds for the implementation of an ambitious rescue plan.
The condition of the wooden piles supporting the Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse - built during a time when steamships were still in use - is worsening. Cracks are visible in the brick building and the granite foundation. The lighthouse has begun to shift. "All four corners will start to sink, and then you'll have a mountain of rock in the middle," warns Van Calhoun from the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, which advocates for the lighthouse's preservation. In the end, the structure will fall into the river.
The goal of the Preservation Society is to raise the estimated $10 million (approximately 9.2 million Euro) needed to install an underwater steel shield around the structure. While there are other threatened lighthouses in the US, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, which has dedicated itself to protecting historically significant buildings, considers the Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse's condition alarming enough to include it on its annual list of the eleven most endangered historic structures.
Fewer and Fewer Lighthouses
There are now only seven of the once dozen or so lighthouses on the Hudson River. In total, there were around 1500 lighthouses in the US at the beginning of the 20th century. 800 of them still stand, according to Jeff Gales of the U.S. Lighthouse Society, a national organization dedicated to the preservation of lighthouses and their history. Many of these structures have deteriorated since they were automated, a practice that became increasingly common by the 1940s. "Lighthouses were built to be tended to by people," explains Gales. "But when you pack them in and remove the human factor, that's when they begin to deteriorate."
The Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse was commissioned in 1874 and later named after the village of Athens on the opposite shore of the river. It was built to prevent boats from running aground on nearby mudflats, which were hidden at high tide. "There were shipwrecks because they couldn't see the sandbanks," explains Kristin Gamble, President of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society. "And that's why the lighthouse was built in the middle of the river, unlike most others, which are located along the shoreline."
The lighthouse is still in operation, albeit with an automated LED beacon. The Preservation Society owns the building and operates it as a museum. The last full-time keeper, Emil Brunner, retired in 1949 when the lighthouse was automated. During most of his tenure, he lived there with his family. One of his daughters recalled how she rowed to school and walked on a safe path marked by spots of tar from her father's kettle on the frozen surface during the winter.
"Turbulence like in a washing machine"
The Hudson River, with its strong currents and turbulent waters, has posed a constant challenge for the lighthouse. "The river is like a washing machine," says Gamble. "It's always moving, always shifting, and that's why the lighthouse has been such a challenge to maintain."
Despite these challenges, the Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse remains an important symbol of maritime history and a testament to the ingenuity and determination of those who built it over a century ago. The Preservation Society continues its efforts to save this historic structure, ensuring that it will stand tall and proud on the Hudson River for generations to come.
Visitors and visitors's can explore the former residence of the lighthouse keeper and ascend the narrow spiral staircase into the tower to enjoy the unique panoramic view of the Hudson and the Catskill Mountains in the West. This summer, repairs on the roof are ongoing, but these fixes will mean little if nothing is done about the damage to some of the 200 pilings that hold the lighthouse above water. The structure has withstood currents and ice for 150 years, but large commercial ships of the modern era - with their large propellers - have brought new challenges.
"They create turbulence like in a washing machine," says Calhoun. The ground is stirred up and washed away - meaning that the mud around the pilings disappears and they are exposed to the water. This accelerates the rotting of the wood. Engineers estimate that the structure may begin to lean in three to five years, which, according to Gamble, "would be the beginning of the end." The intended ring of steel would shield the pilings from turbulence. The organization is confident that the project will be supported by funds from the Washington budget. But time is pressing.
The Hudson-Athens-Lighthouse, located 150 years ago in the United States, specifically on the Hudson River 160 kilometers north of New York City, was essential for navigating International waters due to its proximity to hidden mudflats. Despite being automated in the 1940s and now being in the hands of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, the lighthouse is currently facing structural issues, with signs of deterioration in its wooden supports and visible cracks in the brick building.
