Recent History, 2006 to present

 

May 5, 2006 - Mount Vernon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, held a birthday celebration at the lighthouse.  The lighthouse was 150 years old as of May 1st.  At the ceremony included Vice Mayor-elect Andrew MacDonald; Jim MacKay, Office of Historic Alexandria; Janet L. Earle, U.S. Department of Interior and Commodore of Sailing Club of Washington; Barbara Muller, Regent, Mount Vernon Chapter, D.A.R.; and Betty Vosbeck, chair, Jones Point Lighthouse Committee, Mount Vernon Chapter, D.A.R. 

June 7, 2007 - Meeting was held at Betty Vosbeck's house to discuss the possibility of the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society, cleaning and repairing 2 Fresnel lens.  One a fourth order and the other a fifth order.  At the meeting were Betty the Chairman of the DAR's Jones Point Lighthouse committee, former regent Barbara, the new regent Judy, Marie and Jerry from the Chesapeake Chapter, Ann Paul representing the Alexandria Historical Society (also a DAR member), also in attendance where Betty's husband Bill , Barbara's husband Bill and Eric from the WACKO group (Lighthouse Keepers forum) that had funds to donate to help with the lens project.

It was agreed the lens would be cleaned and repaired by the Chesapeake group.   Also discussed was where the lens could be worked on best and how to safely transport them.  It was determined that the lens could be best worked on at Marie and Jerry's house.  They took with them a gear (that would fit in the car) from one of the lens to work on in the meanwhile.

 


Fourth order Fresnel lens (This one would not have been in the Jones Point Lighthouse). Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Fifth order Fresnel lens (This would be the correct size for Jones Point, however, this one is a revolving lens and Jones Point was fixed).  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The two lens side by side.  The fourth order is much bigger.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The top of the fourth order lens.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Marie is checking the putty on the fifth order lens. Notice door is open at bottom of picture.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Jerry gets up close with a flash light to check condition of the fourth order lens.  Marie is inspecting the fifth order.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The revolving gear from the fourth order.  Notice the teeth has material between each tooth and rust overall.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Judy (present Regent, Betty (Chair of the Jones Point Lighthouse committee) and Barbara (former Regent) discussing lighthouse issues. Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Scale model of Jones Point Lighthouse including the boundary stone of Washington D.C..  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Same day I walked through the park from the Hunt Club entrance:

Entering park by the Hunt Club on the Mount Vernon Trail.  Supplies to the left of the path.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The Lighthouse in view in the distance.   Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The path goes by the soccer field. Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The Woodrow Wilson Bridge.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Completed Span front and the second span a work in progress.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

This trail leads to the other entrance, but was closed this day.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

The wooded area is  right next to the bridge.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

From this picture it is hard to believe the bridge is nearby and Washington D.C. just across the river.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

This is the fishing pier, not far from the lighthouse.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

All that is left of the steel tower is four footings like this one.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Across the river in Maryland a resort is being built that plans to have a ferry land nearby.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

View from the porch, looking towards the bridge.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

Marker in honor of Mistress Margaret Brent c 1601- c 1671.  She fought for women's rights a long time ago.  Erected by the Mount Vernon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Picture by Eric S. Martin, all rights reserved.

 

 

July 23, 2007  The Fresnel Lens are safely moved by Marie Vincent and Jerry Waters , Al Smith (from New Jersey), Robert Holland (Salisbury, Maryland), Tony Pasek (Woodbridge, Va).  The use of the van was donated by Al Smith.

Fourth order packed in van. Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Moving fourth order.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Lens on rollers.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Lens makes trip successfully.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Progress on lens, August 2007.

Bolt to left cleaned up, bolt to right before cleaning.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

  Piece of brass cleaned up (right front).  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Jerry removing foreign material from gear. Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Close up of same gear as above.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Update on lens November 2007

The brass looks like new.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Side view.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Side of the door shines bright.  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Cleaned up bolts to the left. (Note this is a long progress)  Picture by Marie Vincent, all rights reserved.

Lenses now on display!  November 2008

From November to February 2009 the lenses will be on display at the Lyceum Museum in Alexandria, Va.

Volunteers from the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society did cleaning and most repairs.

The pictures below do not do it justice, they look great.

The Front of the Lyceum Museum (parking on the left side).

The Fourth Order Fresnel Lens.

Hinge on Fourth order (repair cost paid by Light Keepers Forum).

Fifth Order Lens that was in the lighthouse.

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