As the weather turns cold in Northeast Ohio and the snow starts piling up, renovation work at Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse goes on hiatus. Access to the lighthouse via boat or by walking the often ice-covered break wall is just too dangerous. Besides, there is no heat once you get there. So until Mother Nature brings warmer weather to start again, I thought you’d like a recap of the progress made this year.
It may be hard to notice much change from the outside of the lighthouse because most of the work took place inside. First and foremost, the upstairs windows were replaced by custom-made Jeld-Wen wooden frame double hung windows. They meet the historic requirements for the building as set by the Secretary of the Interior and the Ohio State Historic Preservation Office. The gaping frames – which had previously been covered by the Coast Guard with plexiglas and then plywood when the plexiglas was broken by vandals – are now filled. The new windows upstairs provide a vast amount of natural light and lovely lake breezes flow through and cool the building. And the views in every direction are spectacular.
Not to be outdone by new windows upstairs, all of the original windows on the first level have been painstakingly refinished by hand with the wooden frames brilliantly stripped and stained to a lovely dark blonde color. The missing glass was replaced and the hardware removed, polished back to shiny brass, and returned. The frayed and broken rope pulls were replaced and the windows now function flawlessly.
All of the walls throughout the house that needed the plaster patched have been repaired and nearly every room has received a new coat of paint. The biggest job by far, however, was installing a beautiful modern kitchen. Custom made black wooden bead board cabinets were designed, fabricated and installed along with a very functional center island topped with a magnificent granite countertop. A large white Kohler cast iron sink was slipped into the granite island. Standard household appliances – including a dishwasher, electric stove, microwave, washer and dryer – have been delivered and staged for final installation.
Even furniture has been delivered. A large farm-style antique table provides plenty of seating for a grand dinner party. A new L-shaped sofa was designed to fit in the living room area on the main level – perfect for lazy afternoon naps. Bed frames are there awaiting mattresses and two armoires are ready to be filled with clothes, shoes or bed linens (the structure has no closets!). White dishes with bright red trim (to match the roof, of course) have even made their way into the corner cabinet in the kitchen for display. Other household goods are stored way and a Weber barbeque grill sits ready for a cook-out.
While a lot of renovation work has been accomplished, the most dramatic change should take place once the outside gets a new coat of paint. That, along with installing a fresh water system and a larger household-sized generator, should make the landmark of Lake County livable.
