A powerful symbol of inspiration is finally whole again, more than a year after Hurricane Ian washed away a leg of the Sanibel Lighthouse.
A powerful symbol of inspiration is finally whole again, more than a year after Hurricane Ian washed away a leg of the Sanibel Lighthouse. 3d Printed Sand Molds
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A powerful symbol of inspiration is finally whole again, more than a year after Hurricane Ian washed away a leg of the Sanibel Lighthouse.
A powerful symbol of inspiration is finally whole again, more than a year after Hurricane Ian washed away a leg of the Sanibel Lighthouse. A new cast iron leg was installed Tuesday, replacing the temporary wooden peg.
The historic Sanibel Lighthouse emerged as a beacon of hope after the storm when many assumed it was destroyed and found it still standing tall.
“If you ask anybody here when you think of Sanibel, you think of the lighthouse,” said Eric Jackson, the city spokesperson for Sanibel. “When the storm hit, the theory is the cottages that were once here shifted and actually broke the leg off.”
Restoring the historic structure embodies the resilience and recovery of not just Sanibel, but Southwest Florida, to some like Josh Stewart. Stewart, who owns AIP Outfitters, said the storm surge destroyed his home and badly damaged his business.
“One of the worst parts is it lasted forever… it’s like it never ended,” Stewart said. "It was sad to see our lifeline was blown apart, the Causeway Bridge, but it was nice to see the symbol of Sanibel, the lighthouse, still shining out there.”
The new leg is made out of cast iron, parts of the old limb were used to make a mold to shape the new pillar. The city said the next step is to bring in a second contractor and replace the protective coating on the exterior and interior of the tower, so the new limb will match.
So why did it take more than a year to screw a new leg on?
Well, the city said it’s taken time between the structural assessment, locating contractors that specialize in this type of restoration, bid processes and creating the mold.
“I think they put the priorities where they needed to be," said Michael Galloway, a long-time Sanibel resident. "The lighthouse was important but it was safe all this time, we have a lot of other things to do. We will still be years of recovery.”
Galloway, who calls himself an island history buff, said Ian wasn’t the first of the lighthouse’s challenges.
“This lighthouse was on a ship in the Key West and in 1883, three miles offshore here, it sank,” Galloway said. “Both lighthouses went to the bottom of the Gulf And in those days they put divers with helmets, led boots and pants… they found everything, but a couple parts they were able to fabricate locally. It started life out hard and now she’s still struggling.”
The city couldn't say when the bathroom building at Lighthouse Beach Park will be open again or if the lighthouse keeper’s cottage will be restored. Crews also started renourishing the beach at the park on Tuesday, the parking lot will be closed until Friday but open on the weekend, so you can come see the lighthouse standing on all fours again.
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