We were really pleased to be able to return to the Old Coast Guard Station on Assateague Island again this year. We had over a dozen enthusiastic volunteers show up and we did a lot of general cleaning. We removed some of the old window framing that was obsolete after they restored all the windows. Because of all the restoration work that has been going on, the station has been empty for the better part of a year because the usual occupants have not been able to stay there. As a result of the vacancy some wasps decided to take up residence. The park rangers got some wasp spray and attacked them en masse. A couple of volunteers also painted the door to the watch tower which had been replaced and was missing the official park service green adornment. That was rectified so all is now as it should be. Since there is no longer power or water available we were unable to spend the night as we have in the past. Maybe next time!

We had a very productive – or rather destructive work day in Baltimore in September when we were tasked with removing the walls on the lower deck to the Seven Foot Knoll lighthouse. The museum is having preservation work done on the iron work underneath the light and access was blocked by the walls that had been added after the lighthouse was moved to land. We aren’t sure what the long term plans are, but I don’t believe they plan on putting the walls back up. This would make the light appear more like it did when it was on station. Volunteers sorted through all the paraphernalia that was stored there and sorted crab traps, life vests and all manner of maritime “stuff”.

In November we watched the parade up in Baltimore from the deck of the Lightship Chesapeake while we cleaned her up. Volunteers worked on the door to the officer’s quarters removing old varnish. We also vacuumed and cleaned the exhibit areas, mopped the decks, polished the brass and in general gave her a good scrub down.

The lens team continues to work on the lenses from the ladies from DAR who are working on the Jones Point Lighthouse. This kind of work takes a lot of time and patience but they are making steady progress. It might be time to get some stock in Never Dull as the crew is working through cans of the stuff like it’s going out of style. Some lens preservationist feel that polishing the brass is a waste of time – but we feel if these lenses are going on display, they should look as they did while they were in use. The work they have done so far looks great!

The history team continues to write and submit histories which can now be found on the Coast Guard web site. The histories have been assigned up through Maine. However, some of the earlier ones now need to be updated, so the work still has a ways to go.

The Coast Guard has a new curator at the exhibit center so if anyone is interested in doing some volunteer work there, please contact me and we will see what we can set up for the coming year. Keep in mind, the center is only open during standard business hours Monday-Friday, so you must be able to volunteer during the week.

This year promises to be a busy one for our preservation volunteers. I hope many of you are just delayed in sending in your volunteer forms – because I have not received very many yet – about six or seven. We have the standard line-up of projects and the possibility of a few additions. I will be sending updates for new projects to the folks who have registered. There is a lot of work to do – so let’s get busy!

If you are ever in doubt about a date for a Chapter event, check out the calendar on the web site.

Special thanks go to:

Assateague Island Old Coast Guard Station: Betty Collins, Ron Collins, Caroline Creeden, Dan Creeden, Carolyn Dodson, Lauren Liebrecht, Paula Liebrecht, Trez Moreland, Alma Pasek, Tony Pasek, Jenna Skogg, Donna Suchomelly, Jeff Suchomelly.

Coast Guard Web Site Histories: Melissa Buckler, Linda Herman, Marie Vincent

Lens Team: Alma Pasek, Tony Pasek, Al Smith, Marie Vincent, Tom Wade, Jerry Waters

Baltimore Maritime Museum: Melissa Buckler, Lauren Liebrecht, Paula Liebrecht, Heidi Moser, Tony Pasek, Sandra Sableski, Jenna Skogg, Hobie Statzer, Barbara Witucki, Lawrence Witucki

Thanks for all you do, and keep up the good work! So if you would like to be more involved and have not yet done so, fill out the 2008 Volunteer Form.