The following is a list of the work
that is scheduled to be performed on the lighthouse and surrounding structures
beginning
July 1, 2002.
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Point Lookout Light Station
Rehabilitation Plan
Point Lookout, St. Mary’s County, Maryland
BACKGROUND
The Point Lookout Light Station is located on the southern tip of the peninsula known as Point Lookout in St. Mary’s County, Maryland, which sits adjacent to the Point Lookout State Park. Located on the north side of the Potomac River at its confluence with the middle section of the Chesapeake Bay, this peninsula is the northern point of land that defines the mouth of the Potomac river where it empties into the Chesapeake Bay. The site, owned by the United States Navy and under the custody of Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS), is approximately five acres and is surrounded by a six-foot high, barbed wire topped chain link fence. Entrance to the site is gained through the Point Lookout State Park. The district encompasses four buildings and one archaeological site related to Point Lookout and the maritime and military history surrounding the site. These resources include the Point Lookout Lighthouse (Building 1438), a buoy shed (Building 1436) and a coal shed (Building 1435) within the fence line, and a small smokehouse just outside the fence line, as well as an archaeological site that includes remains of the Civil War era U.S. General Hospital, Point Lookout, popularly known as Hammond Hospital.
In the fall of 2000, the Navy hired the Historic Preservation Training center (HPTC) to stabilize the lighthouse through a treatment commonly referred to as mothballing and layaway. The HPTC returned in October 2001 to provide a comprehensive condition assessment for the entire site. At that time, they created a Historic Structure Assessment Report and Preservation Treatment Plan for the Point Lookout Depot and Light Station. From that report, NAS staff in consultation with the HPTC, drafted the following specific preservation plan for the Point Lookout Light Station.
- Point Lookout Lighthouse (Tasks are in priority order)
- Exterior
- Address windows. This includes repairing 2 with paint and glazing failure only, repairing 11 that do not require disassembly of sash or jambs, repairing 27 that require the partial disassembly of window sash or jambs, replacing 3, and installing exterior storm sash, either in aluminum or wood.
- Address all doors. This includes removing exterior plywood patches and repairing historic doors, replacing glass panels where missing, replacing non historic doors with historic doors or replica doors to match historic pattern, making sure all exterior doors have good exterior coatings, installing new security hardware, restoring or replacing all historic hardware and preserving any existing historic hardware.
- Replace roof with 16 x 16 red hexagonal shingles laid in French method. This would include all associated flashing and assemblies
- Re-ground the facility for lightening protection. Repair down lead conductor that is severed, ground lantern.
- Install a gutter and downspout system per the 1927-1929 specifications
- Conservation treatment of tower drum metal . This includes removing exterior surface coatings to bare metal, repair deteriorated sections of existing metal and preparation of substrate metal for rust proofing and re-coating.
- Leave storm panels in-situ but remove and replace the sealant with another sealant on the storm panel structures and trim storm panels on lantern, this will provide temporary protection until a thorough lantern restoration is accomplished. This includes removing all rust scale on lantern gallery, treating with a rust neutralizer, priming and re-coating with a system designed for the marine environment, replacing all flashing associated with interface of tower/drum and hipped roof with appropriate sheet metal flashing. All flashing should be upgraded to most noble flashing metal, lead sheeting or heavy gauge copper sheeting. Metal must be compatible with repair/replacement metal of tower/drum.
- Repair existing lantern gallery exterior deck railing, remove rust scale and reform or replace handrail and supporting rods using traditional welding field techniques.
- Preserve existing parapet hatch door and hinges on lantern, repair damaged materials, repair delaminated hinges and detached hinge using traditional field brazing techniques.
- Preserve all exterior metal and renew the coating. This includes removal of failed exterior coatings and possible removal of all exterior coatings to base metal. All metal components are then treated with rush (sic{rust}) inhibiting primer/sealer and an exterior coating system selected to met exterior environmental conditions.
- Remove existing paint on porch roofs and re-coat with proper exterior sheet metal paint system.
- Remove existing paint on dormer roof and re-coat with proper exterior sheet metal paint system.
- Repair all architectural and structural wood elements on roof overhang and cornice to match existing, remove existing paint only when failed and re-coat all exterior wood with primer and finish coat paint system.
- Rake out deteriorated mortar joints and re-point with appropriate strength mortar, replace all deteriorated bricks with compatible units.
- Repair all surface cracks and seal with a good quality sealant.
- Remove screen porch enclosure infill system and replace with system patterned after that used during period of significance (1927-1929)
- Replace all deteriorated treads on porch stairs with new material to match existing
- Remove lattice panels from weather
B. Interior – The interior of the lighthouse will be an adaptive reuse treatment and will be submitted under a separate plan.
II. Buoy Shed (tasks are in priority order)
- Exterior
- Install period roof and gutter systems
- Structural repairs to foundation piers and support posts
- Repair or replace exterior windows and install window vents (repair is strongly recommended)
- Close in open bays, rodent proof exterior of structure, secure exterior doors.
- Install temporary gutters or create positive drainage around the structure. Archaeological impacts WILL be addressed prior to any grading.
- Install vented chimney caps
- Make necessary repairs to exterior envelope and repaint
- Prep and paint all exterior wood
- Remove all utilities and utility upgrades installed during the Navy’s use of the structure.
- Tighten guide wires for light poles
- Monitor and repair roof system, drainage, exterior wall at ground level, doors and windows for bird proofing.
B. Interior
- Clean out building interior of clutter and animal waste
- Enclose areas above interior rooms with screen or netting to prevent entrance of birds and other pests.
- Remove infill walls and foundations enclosing bay opening on south wall of Room 101
- Remove infill walls and foundations enclosing bay opening on south wall of Room 110
- Clean Room 110 of concrete floor and generator pads
- Repair barracks floors in Rooms 105-109 and Room 102
- Clean and make necessary repairs to walls and ceilings in barracks area retaining all period fixtures.
- Repair access doors to interior partitions
- Repair interior doors as needed
- Mitigate/abate hazardous material from building
III. Coal Shed
A. Exterior
- Repair roof covering
- Install ventilated chimney cap
- Repair foundation and attic vents
- Address deterioration at areas of exposed support framing (exposed support post above concrete piers)
- Inspect and repair all defects in vinyl siding
- Insure security and condition of east elevation exterior door
B. Interior
- Not available for this report
IV. Smokehouse
A. Exterior
- Grade temporary ditches to provide positive drainage to site. Archaeological impacts WILL be addressed prior to any grading.
- Reconstruct period roof covering
- Install vented chimney cap
- Prepare exterior surfaces and repaint
- Re-point masonry particularly around foundation
- Secure exterior door frame in opening to insure stability and security
- Permanently repair door frame and header
B. Interior
- Remove wood stored inside structure
- Treat for termite infestation
- Reopen interior opening of fireplace
- Reconstruct period door
- Install period floor surface
V. General Site Work
- Create positive drainage away from the buildings. Could include installation of drainage swales through minor site re-grading to alleviate ponding near the buildings. Archaeological impacts WILL be addressed prior to any grading.
- Cut all vegetation at ground level, do not remove roots due to archaeology.
- Preserve site features such as flagpole and walkways.