Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Needs $6 Million In Repairs

Constructed in 1873, the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse sits mid-Hudson River, halfway between Columbia and Greene Counties. It features a striking red brick exterior, but it’s the part you don’t see that is the real architectural marvel. The entire structure is held up by 200 underwater, wooden pilings that give the lighthouse the illusion of floating on water. But this 19th-century foundation is in desperate need of repairs.

Inside the lighthouse, the first floor features a kitchen, dining room, sitting room, and oil room. The second floor has four rooms previously used as bedrooms. The rooms are sparse but inviting, painted a light yellow and donning windows overlooking the river.

“The lighthouse has really been an icon for both the Athens and the Hudson side because it’s located in the middle of the Hudson River, between Athens and Hudson,” shares Kathleen Tan, a member of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society. She began volunteering for the Lighthouse Preservation Society in 2017.

Once one of dozens of lighthouses and beacons dotting the Hudson River, the Hudson-Athens lighthouse is now just one of just eight survivors (including the Statue of Liberty). The lighthouse’s rich history has been stewarded by the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society, which allows the public to get an inside view into what life would’ve looked like for 18th and 19th century lightkeepers and their families. Many pieces of furniture there today were donated by the Brunner family, whose ancestors lived at the lighthouse during the 1930s.

The US Coast Guard signed over the deed to the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society more than 20 years ago, officially giving the organization full ownership in 2000 as part of the Congressional Appropriations Act of 1999. Since then, HALPS has been working diligently to preserve and restore the lighthouse, including the recent launch of a capital campaign to make dire repairs to the lighthouse.

In 2021, the group commissioned Proper & O’Leary Engineering to do an extensive underwater assessment of the structural integrity of the building. The recent 159-page report detailed $6 million of repairs that need to be made to prevent the collapse of the lighthouse, prompting HALPS to jump into action and organize a capital campaign to raise the funds needed to d save the lighthouse from collapse.

A recent $500,000 dollar grant from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation offers a big start, but the Preservation Society’s continued efforts include applying for other grants and hosting fundraisers in the local area.

Their next event is on June 26 at The Stewart House’s River Grill in Athens. The event will run from 3pm to 5pm with cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a silent auction. Attendants will enjoy the River Grill’s stunning view of the Hudson River. Those interested in participating have two options for tickets to purchase. There is the “Beacon of Hope” ticket for $150 dollars or the “Light Keeper” ticket for $250. Tickets can be purchased online.

As a part of their fundraising effort, tours of the lighthouse are available to the public during the warmer months of the year (roughly every 2nd and 4th Saturday from July to October). The lighthouse is also available for rental corporate events, small weddings, private parties, and photoshoots. Free educational tours are open to schools upon request.

In addition to its significant role in the Hudson River’s history of nautical freight, the lighthouse still serves as a beacon of inspiration. After the onset of the pandemic, Tan and her husband moved to the area full-time, and she began getting more involved in the preservation of the historic landmark. “Every day I see the lighthouse, it just gives me joy,” Tan says. “Seeing it there in the middle of the river, standing very strong despite raging waters and strong currents and ice, is a good reminder to be strong and resilient.”

For more on the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse and the history of Hudson River lighthouses, this book by the Hudson River Maritime Museum in Kingston is a great read.

This article appears in June 2022.