recent president's reports

Vineyard Gazette June 5, 2023

Cape Cod Times May 30, 2023

Cape Cod Times December 1, 2021

Falmouth Enterprise, April 13, 2021

Falmouth Enterprise Friday April 27, 2020

Falmouth Enterprise Friday August 29, 2019

Cape Cod Times September 2, 2019

Falmouth Enterprise Editorial Friday September 6, 2019

Falmouth Enterprise Friday April 27, 2020

Falmouth Enterprise Friday August 29, 2019

Cape Cod Times September 2, 2019

Falmouth Enterprise Editorial Friday September 6, 2019

The Board and volunteers welcome Caroline Inman to the Friends of Nobska Light. Caroline joins the organization as the Development Officer selected to oversee all aspects of fundraising and development in collaboration with the Capital Campaign Committee and the Board of Directors.

Caroline graduated college in 2000 with a degree in Education and moved with her husband Matthew to his hometown, Falmouth. She taught in the Falmouth Public School system before deciding to stay at home with her two wonderful children, Sadie and Max. In 2011 Caroline joined Highfield Hall as an education coordinator. She takes pride in both the programs she created for children and families and her role with fundraising. The highlight of her tenure at Highfield was in 2015 when Caroline traveled to Japan with a colleague to facilitate the transfer of a historic exhibition of Japanese print works. She brings fundraising experience through her community involvement with Cape Cod Healthcare, Community Health Center of Cape Cod, Falmouth Service Center, and Team Maureen. Nobska has always been a favorite Falmouth destination and icon for Caroline and her family. She looks forward to seeing the fundraising efforts come to fruition.  

Caroline has served on Nobska’s Capital Campaign Committee since the Summer of 2020 with energy and passion. The Committee and Board look forward to working with her in a professional capacity as the Friends of Nobska Light continue their mission. 

When our FY 20  year ended on December 31, 2021, the rehabilitation of the Keeper's House in almost complete.  Next comes the site work, which includes a new septic system and regrading to make the soon-to-be-museum accessible for all comers.  We are thankful to the Town  of Falmouth and many private supporters for their donations of money and time and we look to opening the buildings and site perhaps before year end 2021.  Download and read the President's Reports for some detail on our recent journey.

Phase one of the work on the Keepers’ house started in the fall of 2019 and is slated to be complete in late July 2020. The work was paused during April of 2020 so that the US Coast Guard’s contractor could access the site and perform soil remediation, due to lead contamination. The topsoil was stripped and replaced. We are now trying to grow grass!

The 144 years of exposure to the harsh conditions of the site had taken their toll on the two conjoined buildings. Significant structural issues were uncovered and fixed during the work. Leaks are no more. Rotten windows were replaced. An ADA bathroom was installed. Upgrades to allow for public access and climate-controlled exhibit spaces were undertaken. 

Restore the Lighthouse Tower - 2017-18

Rehabilitation of  the Keeper's House - 

                                              ongoing  started fall 2019

Design museum exhibits - in progress

Provide educational programming - in progress

FROM THE FALMOUTH ENTERPRISE 75 YEARS AGO

"The booming foghorn at Nobska light sounded across fogbound Vineyard Sound for 22 hours on Wednesday. Thursday the horn sounded out every minute for 24 hours. It continued until 8 A.M. today, when Keeper Osborne Hallett, with relief, turned it off."

BUT

That can’t happen again. In the spring of 2019, the Coast Guard converted Nobska’s foghorn to an on demand, Mariner Radio Activated Sound System, (MRASS). From the U.S. CG press release: 

”Mariners needing foghorn assistance must now activate the sound signal by using a marine VHF-FM radio. The MRASS device will allow mariners to energize the sound signal, on demand, by keying a standard VHF-FM radio five times consecutively on VHF channel 83A. The sound signal will then sound for 45-60 minutes following each activation. The MRASS is an efficient and economical part of the Nation’s aid to navigation system that provides a sound signal precisely when the mariner requires it.”

There are 33 steps up the spiral staircase in the lighthouse Tower and eight more up the ladder to the lantern room where the Fresnel lens is located.

There are 2.5 acres of property surrounding Nobska Lighthouse.

There are 48 windows in the Keeper's House and 7 more in the cellars. You can see the ocean from every window.

The exterior of the lighthouse Tower is cast iron. The interior is lined with bricks

When will the Keeper's House be open to the public? 

Due to the pandemic we do not have any planned openings.

How do I join Friends of Nobska Light? 

All donors are considered Friends of Nobska! 

How many people visit Nobska Light every year? 

Uncounted numbers. Over 2,000 visitors enjoyed guided tours of the lighthouse Tower last year. 

When construction is finished we'll be adding a counter, then we'll be able to answer this question!