'Race Against Time': Salem Bakers Island Light Station Restoration Campaign Begins

SALEM, MA — Masonry work on one of the oldest lighthouses in the nation will begin with the help of grant funding that Essex Heritage secured for what Essex CEO Annie Harris called the "urgent preservation needs" of Bakers Island Light Station.

The funding comes as Essex Heritage celebrates the 10th anniversary of public access to this historic maritime landmark under its stewardship.

"With mortar joints deteriorating throughout the lighthouse interior and historic chimneys, we have a race against time to prevent water infiltration that threatens the structural integrity of these irreplaceable structures," Harris said.

The United States Lighthouse Society has committed $2,500 to support the comprehensive repointing of the 1820 lighthouse brick masonry tower, while Preservation Massachusetts, in collaboration with the 1772 Foundation, has awarded $5,000 specifically for the restoration of three historic brick chimneys on the keepers’ houses.

The restoration is part of an estimated $30,000 in masonry work needed for the structure.

The project is scheduled to take place during the 2025 construction season, from July to September.

Essex Heritage has launched the "Preserve the Light" campaign, seeking an additional $10,000 in
community support to complete the project.

"With federal funding for historic preservation increasingly uncertain, community support is essential to complete this urgent work," said Harris. "What requires $30,000 in repairs today could escalate to much more if this isn’t addressed in the immediate future."

Donations to the restoration effort can be made here.

An educational presentation will be held on June 4 at 6 p.m. at the Manchester-by-the-Sea Museum.

Established in 1791, Bakers Island Light Station has guided vessels through Salem Sound for over two centuries. The current lighthouse tower, constructed in 1820, is one of the oldest in the United States.

Since 2015, Essex Heritage has provided public access to this historic site through educational programming, guided tours, and overnight stays, welcoming thousands of visitors to experience this isolated piece of New England's maritime history.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)