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More than 120 years of constant use and the neglect the Lighthouse has endured since being decommissioned have left the main structure and quarters in need of extensive repair. The Keeper's Quarters require complete interior renovation and exterior restoration along with a refurbishing and renewal of landscaping. In addition, the Lighthouse Tower requires extensive restoration.

Fortunately, dedicated community residents and volunteers have developed a plan to not only restore this historic treasure, but to create a new community resource for both children and adults. With your help, North Point Lighthouse Friends will succeed in preserving and maintaining this historic property for your use.

PLANNED FUTURE USE OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

The Lighthouse Friends propose that the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters will be a multi-purpose facility, offering the following:

Artifacts, artwork, photographs of old Lake Park and marine memorabilia (including some loaned by the Wisconsin Marine Historical Society and Milwaukee Public Library) will be displayed in the first and second floor meeting rooms, and the lighthouse tower.
Two rooms on the first floor and one room on the second floor to be available for educational programming, special events and also for neighborhood, community and small business meetings.
An "immersion experience" in line with current educational curriculum is planned for school groups touring the facility.
Docent-led tours of the Keeper's Quarters and the Tower will be available by appointment and during scheduled hours of operation.

RESTORATION OF THE LIGHTHOUSE

The Keeper's Quarters are presently boarded-up, having been last occupied in 1994. The grounds have become overgrown and unsightly even after re-seeding following the environmental clean up. The landscaping of the grounds needs to be updated. The quarters and the lighthouse tower will be restored to an early 1900's character consistent with the surrounding community and the recently renovated Lake Park Pavilion.

THE KEEPER’S QUARTERS

A complete exterior restoration and interior renovation of the quarters is planned. The interior of the building will be redesigned to allow for the proposed use described above, yielding approximately 1,500 square feet of usable space. The exterior will feature clapboard siding and architectural detail for an appearance consistent with the circa-1912 Keeper's Quarters. The renewed building will be handicap-accessible. There will be an interior stairway to the second floor private offices, a 300-square foot porch on the east (lake) side of the quarters, and a new vestibule/principal entrance on the west side.

THE LIGHTHOUSE TOWER

Extensive restoration of the Lighthouse Tower is required, including lead paint abatement and taking steel and cast iron compounds down to the bare metal, removing rust and refitting and reglazing portals and windows. The Lighthouse Tower will be repainted and lit with decorative lighting on the interior and exterior. A covered passageway, which originally linked the Keeper's Quarters and the Lighthouse, will be restored. Visitors will enter and exit the lighthouse through the covered passageway. The crow's nest will be refitted to accommodate limited public tours. Although the Lighthouse Tower will not be operational, a light will be installed at the top of the Tower. The original Fourth-Order Fresnel lens will be exhibited in the Keeper's Quarters.

THE GROUNDS

The entry drive off of Wahl Avenue will be maintained for use as a drop-off for visitors, a service drive and to access a small parking lot (6 cars) on the north side of the driveway for handicapped visitors, staff and volunteers. Benches, lighting and shrubs and flowers will be added to complement and enhance the existing landscaping.

Capital Restoration and Reserve Fund

Most, but not all, of the $1.6 million funding needed to complete the restoration of this historic site has been raised. An additional $130,000 must be raised by fall of 2007 to complete the restoration of the Keepers Quarters. In addition, the North Point Lighthouse Friends have established a restricted Maintenance Reserve Fund to be used for ongoing upkeep of this historic site. If you would like to participate, as a donor to the Capital Restoration or the Maintenance Reserve Fund, all donations should be made to The North Point Lighthouse Friends, Inc. This group is a qualified organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Contributions are tax deductible.

Donor Recognition

The following donor recognition naming opportunities are still available:
First Floor Exhibition Gallery $75,000
Keepers Watch Room $25,000
Tower Portal Entry $20,000
Stair Treads in the Tower $1,000

To stay up-to-date with North Point Lighthouse, please consider joining our mailing list.

Milwaukee’s
North Point Lighthouse Friends, Inc.
P.O. Box 930
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0930
Phone: (414)332-NPLH (6754)
keeper@northpointlighthouse.org

To stay up-to-date with North Point Lighthouse,
please consider joining our mailing list.

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