That's what the headlines in newspapers across America would read if Burton Folsom has his way.

A recent editorial by Mr. Folsom appeared in various newspapers around Michigan including the Grosse Pointe News, Alcona County Review, Clare County Cleaver and Saginaw Press with a headline of, "Would you like to buy a lighthouse?"

Naturally with a headline like that everybody read the editorial, the same way we used the above headline to get your attention.

The basic text of Mr. Folsom's editorial was the selling lighthouses could be a win-win situation for all concerned. Private investors have the incentive to improve the value of their property, the government could collect revenue from a drain on the treasury to taxpaying private people or investors.

Although Folsom likes the idea of giving obsolete lighthouses to museums or preservation organizations, most non profit groups could not handle or raise money for remote stations that could not be tourists attractions.

Folsom went on to suggest that "Private, for profit entrepreneurs might in many cases make the best of all caretakers." He went on to site such examples of the private ownership of Michigan's Mendota Lighthouse, Sand Hills Lighthouse and Big Bay Point Lighthouse. While it is true that these lighthouses are in private hands and have been meticulously maintained and restored, only Sand Hills and Big Bay are open to the public and then only if you pay to stay there. Mendota is a private residence and not open to the public.

The problem with Folsom's idea is that although privatization of lighthouses might save some historic stations they would only be available to the wealthy and would never be open or available to the general public.

The opinion of this magazine is that lighthouses should only be turned to over to non profit preservation groups or local communities and they should always be open to the public. If a local community or preservation group could not be found to take over and maintain a lighthouse, the lighthouse should be restored and maintained by the United States Government, perhaps by the National Park Service.

After all, how would you feel if the government suddenly said that the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, Yellowstone Park and Grand Canyon are obsolete and sell them to private concerns who in turn decide they want them for their own personal use. Sorry folks, no more trips to the top of the Washington Monument, or tours of the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone Park. Lighthouses are just as important. Every lighthouse is different with its own unique history.

There are a number of lighthouses that were sold to private concerns back in the 30's and 40's. A large number of these stations are now off limits and closed to the public, many with no trespassing signs. This must not be allowed to happen again.

While it is true that some stations have been restored as bed and breakfast inns - Isle au Haut in Maine, East Brother in California, Big Bay in Michigan to name a few. These and others like them are well maintained and, yes, you can stay there, but only if you can afford it. What about the people that can't.

What about the other lighthouses that are privately owned, and falling apart because the owners either can't afford the restoration or have no desire to restore the station? There are plenty of those around.

A different example is the grand-daddy of all lighthouses-Portland Head Light in Maine. Here the Coast Guard simply gave the Keepers House, all the buildings, the land and the tower to the town of Cape Elizabeth. This in itself is a great idea - but - although the grounds are open to the public, you must pay a fee to tour the Keepers House (now a museum), and the tower is now closed to the public. What if a family can't afford to pay the admission fee? They are out of luck.

Every lighthouse station should be open, free of charge. Every lighthouse tower should be open, free of charge. They could have a donation box which would allow people to pay what they can afford and in fact many do. Lighthouses can have gift shops to help cover their cost and do other fund raising efforts and most do. Lighthouses draw tourists and tourists spend money in the community.

Remember this . . if America's lighthouses fall into the hands of private owners, they will only be available to the wealthy, who would be getting prime chunks of waterfront property that are now in the public domain. Before long, No Trespassing, private property, and fences would pop up. Thousands of people visit America's lighthouses and walk the grounds now free of charge. This would end.

Mr. Folsom ended his editorial with, "To Washington, concerned citizens should send a clear signal: Sell the lighthouses."

We say, "To Washington, send a clear signal, Give the lighthouses to local communities, or local non profit historical groups. If there are no local communities or non profit groups, then the government should restore and maintain the station. Do not sell the lighthouses! And above all, make them available and open to the public."

Lighthouses are a national treasure and should not be sold. They belong to the people, and not just the people of the local community they were built in, but to all the people.

This story appeared in the September 1996 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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