There’s a hole in one of the freshly repaired walls in the living room of the East Point Lighthouse here. But Maurice River Historical Society President Nancy Patterson isn’t upset, and said the hole, which shows part of the building’s original 1849 construction, is something to be highlighted.
What “was here” was a lighthouse desperately in need of renovation – a project now coming to completion after decades of effort.
The brick exterior of the lighthouse is covered in a bright whitewash, which makes the green shutters stand out. The roof is a bright red. Inside, the walls are painted in original colors, including a sort of tan that was matched by examining old paint chips. The floors, including some thought to be original to the lighthouse, are clean and smooth. A final price for the refurbishment is estimated at about $800,000. About $600,000 comes from New Jersey Historic Trust and the U.S. Department of Transportation.