Fundraising Continues For Swallowtail Lighthouse Restoration

A fundraising campaign to restore an iconic lighthouse on Grand Manan Island is heating up.

The Swallowtail Lightkeepers Society launched its $300,000 “Tending the Light” campaign over the summer.

Now, the J.T. Clark Family Foundation is lending its support by issuing a challenge of its own.

If the campaign raises $25,000 between Nov. 1 and Dec. 15, the foundation will make a $25,000 donation.

The total as of earlier this week was just shy of $15,000.

All money raised will be used to restore the exterior of the lighthouse and the adjacent keepers’ house.

“The shingles on Swallowtail are 90 years old. They’ve been lashed by too many northeast gales and therefore are beyond repair,” head light keeper Ken Ingersoll previously said.

Ingersoll said the existing surfaces need to be stripped and replaced to prevent structural damage and to decrease ongoing maintenance costs.

Officials hope to have the funds in place to start the restoration work early next year.

You can make a donation through the Swallowtail Keepers Society’s website by clicking here.