SAKONNET LIGHTHOUSE – CHRONOLOGICAL MILESTONES

  • 1882 United States Congress approves $20,000 to build a lighthouse on Little Cormorant Rock at the entrance to the Sakonnet River.
  • 1884 Construction is completed and Sakonnet Lighthouse goes into operation.
  • 1938 Tidal waves completely bury the tower in the Great Hurricane of 38’.
  • 1940 The U.S. Coastguard takes over control and maintenance of the Lighthouse.
  • 1954 The Lighthouse is severely damaged by Hurricane Carol. She is so badly damaged that the U.S. Coastguard decommissions her and ownership is transferred to the Town of Little Compton.
  • 1961 Carl Haffenreffer, president of Narragansett Brewing, buys the Sakonnet Lighthouse at auction for $1,111.11.
  • 1984 Friends of Sakonnet Lighthouse, Inc. (“FOSLH”) is formed as a nonprofit group. The Corporation is “constituted for the exclusive public purpose of restoring, maintaining and conserving the Sakonnet Lighthouse in perpetuity for the benefit of the public and to do all things necessary to accomplish the same."
  • 1985 Carl Haffenreffer transfers the Lighthouse to FOSLH.
  • 1992 Having raised approximately $100,000, FOSLH partially repairs the Lighthouse and establishes a trust at the Rhode Island Fund for her ongoing maintenance.
  • 2005 FOSLH receives a Rhode Island Department of Transportation (DOT) grant of $844,323 for renovation of the Sakonnet Lighthouse.
  • 2007 FOSLH completes a budgetary engineering estimate which approximates the preliminary renovation costs at $968,000.
  • 2008 FOSLH and RIDOT complete engineering documents and execute contract.
  • 2009 Sakonnet Lighthouse celebrates its 125th anniversary. Supplemental FOSLH fundraising produces $185,000 in new funds February 2010 The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) approves the Plans, Specifications and Estimate for the rehabilitation of Sakonnet Lighthouse.
  • March 3, 2010 FOSLH puts the project out to bid
  • March 9, 2010 FOSLH holds pre Bid Conference.
  • March 23, 2010 FOSLH receives sealed bids for the renovation of the Sakonnet Lighthouse
  • March 24, 2010 FOSLH requests that RIDOT award the project to the lowest bidder ‐ Joseph Gnazzo Co., Inc. of Union Connecticut April 19, 2010 FOSLH meets with the RIDOT on Monday and the RIDOT has approved Joseph Gnazzo Company as a qualified bidder, meeting all the state requirements June, 2010 Renovation of the Sakonnet Lighthouse begins. Gnazzo places boat ramp on Little Cormorant Rock
  • July 28, 2010 Gnazzo delivers and installs renovation platform by barge and crane places scaffolding on upper decks.
  • July 31, 2010 Gnazzo assembles scaffolding around the entire lighthouse.
  • August 2010 Gnazzo begins renovation work