THURSDAY AUGUST 7 IS NATIONAL LIGHT HOUSE DAY.
TO CELEBRATE THE 1886 ROANOKE RIVER LIGHT HOUSE IN EDENTON
WILL OPEN THEIR DOORS DO THE PUBLIC.
HEATHER BURGESS BRINGS US HOW THIS LIGHT HOUSE WAS BROUGHT
BACK TO LIFE.
>> ON YOUR NEXT VISIT TO EDENTON, THE NEWLY MOVED AND
RESTORED ROANOKE RIVER LIGHT HOUSE IS THE LAST STANDING
ORIGINAL LIGHT HOUSE IN THE WORLD.
>> FOR EDENTON TO HAVE THE ORIGINAL ROANOKE RIVER LIGHT
HOUSE MEANT A LOT.
HISTORIC EDENTON AND THE ARCHITECTURE AND THE
PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC SITES IS SO IMPORTANT TO OUR AREA.
>> THE SURVIVAL OF THE LIGHT HOUSE IS AN AMAZING STORY OF
COMMUNITY AND PRESERVATION.
>> I'M JUST AMAZED AT HOW IT HADN'T BEEN DAMAGED MORE THAN IT
HAD.
HAS GOOD BONES.
THE HOUSE IS MORTICED TOGETHER.
I CREDIT THAT TO THE FACT THAT IT'S STILL INTACT.
>> BUILT IN 1886, IT HAS WEATHERED STORMS AND HURRICANES
AND SERVED AS A BEACON FOR SHIPS AND FISHING BOATS PASSING IN THE
NIGHT AT THE MOUTH OF THE ROANOKE RIVER, WHICH IS ACROSS
THE ALBEMARLE SOUND FROM EDENTON BAY.
>> THERE'S NO PROTECTION FROM THE WIND OR THE ELEMENTS.
AFTER IT WAS DECOMMISSIONED IN 1941, THERE WAS NOBODY THERE TO
WATCH OVER IT OR PROTECT IT.
>> THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THE LIGHT HOUSE HAS MOVED.
THE FIRST IN 1955 WHEN EMMETT WIGGINS PURCHASED IT FROM ELIJAH
TATE THAT BROUGHT IT FROM THE COAST GUARD FOR $10.
>> THE COAST GUARD WANTED TO ELIMINATE THESE BUILDINGS IN
WATERWAYS.
>> WIGGINS MOVES THE LIGHT HOUSE TO A PIECE OF LAND WHERE HE USED
IT AS HIS PERSONAL RESIDENCE UNTIL HIS DEATH IN 1995.
>> IT WAS AMAZING THAT IT SURVIVED THE TRIP ACROSS THE
SOUND.
CAME ABOUT NINE MILES ON BOAT.
I'VE SEEN PICTURES OF IT.
LIGHT LOOKS LIKE 2/3s IS HANGING OFF EACH GUNNEL.
>> IN 2006, THE HOUSE WAS MOVED BY BARGE TO EDENTON'S COLONIAL
WATERFRONT PARK.
IN 2008, OWNERSHIP CHANGED AS A GIFT TO THE STATE OF
NORTH CAROLINA AND THE DEBT OF CULTURAL RESOURCES.
>> THIS COMMUNITY, WE EMBRACE OUR HISTORY.
SO THEY REALLY BUY INTO THAT EVERY DAY.
EVERYONE IN THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BUYS INTO THAT.
TO PRESERVE THIS ASSET WAS JUST NATURAL BEAUTY AROUND IT EVEN
MORE ENHANCES.
>> WHILE AT THE PARK, LOCAL CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES AND
CONTRACTORS RESTORED THE LIGHT HOUSE.
STAYING TRUE TO THE HISTORY OF THE ARCHITECTURE AND ORIGINAL
MATERIALS.
SLATED ORIGINALLY TO SIT ON LAND, THE FINAL LOCATION ENDS UP
PUTTING THE LIGHT HOUSE BACK IN THE WATER TO SHOW HOW IT MAY
HAVE LOOKED SITTING OUT IN THE ALBEMARLE SOUND.
LOCAL CREWS CAREFULLY MOVED THE LIGHT HOUSE USING HYDRAULICS.
NOW AS IT SITS IN ITS PERMANENT RESTING SPOT IN THE WATERFRONT,
THE NEXT STEP IS TO BUILD AN ACCESS BRIDGE THAT WOULD ALLOW
VISITORS A CLOSE LOOK AT THE HISTORY AND ALSO A GLIMPSE OF
WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO LIVE AND WORK IN THE ROANOKE RIVER LIGHT
HOUSE.
AN EXHIBIT AT THE NEARBY BARKER HOUSE SHOWS HOW THE LIGHT HOUSE
MAY HAVE BEEN FURNISHED DURING ITS SERVICE FROM 1886 UNTIL
1941.
>> WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING IT BACK TO THE PERIOD THAT THE
LIGHT KEEPER HAD IT.
SOME OF THE THINGS WE'VE COLLECTED ARE QUELLS AND COFFEE
GRINDERS.
>> THOUSANDS HAVE VISITED THE LIGHT HOUSE.
ONCE THE DOORS ARE OPEN, TOWN LEADERS EXPECT THE NEWEST
ADDITION TO THE WATERFRONT TO SHINE A BRIGHT LIGHT ON
EDENTON'S TOURISM AND ECONOMY.
>> THE LIGHT HOUSE WILL DRAW MORE PEOPLE AND THAT WILL HAVE A
POSITIVE ECONOMIC IMPACT FOR US.
THAT'S GREAT.
>> THE GRAND REOPENING OF THE ROANOKE RIVER LIGHT HOUSE IS
THURSDAY, AUGUST 7, FROM 9:00 A.M.
TO 5:00 P.M.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE EDENTON TOURISM AUTHORITY AT
252-482-3400.
OR GO ONLINE TO VISITEDENTON.COM.