Lighthouse Kids on Mission to Save White Island Light

White Island Lighthouse has served as Portsmouth's only offshore lighthouse for nearly 170 years on the Isles of Shoals, but it is also in serious trouble.

Decades of deterioration and harsh weather conditions have threatened this piece of Portsmouth history, but thanks to an ongoing effort by Lighthouse Kids its prospects for survival are looking better all the time.

On Friday evening, Lighthouse Kids will hold another fundraiser to raise money for the restoration of the lighthouse. At 6:30 p.m., members of the public can pay $30 each to go on a two-hour cruise to the Isles of Shoals provided by Granite State Whale Watch and see White Island Lighthouse up close. Along the way, they will enjoy hor'doeurves, raffles and learn about this New England icon that has protected mariners since it was constructed in 1820.

The group's founder, Sue Reynolds, said up to 60 people have signed up to go on the cruise so far and the boat has a capacity of 110 passengers. For those who wish to go out on Friday evening, she said they should contact Granite State Whale Watch directly at Rye State Harbor at 603-964-5545.

On Thursday morning, Reynolds said she was heading to White Island Lighthouse with some New Hampshire officials to set up the keeper's cottage for a new stewardship program that will allow people to spend the night there. It is just one of many ways her group has spread awareness and raised money to preserve this piece of Portsmouth area history.

When asked how much more money the group needs to complete its mission, Reynolds replied, “The job will never be done, that’s the thing that people miss.”

Reynolds said her group's ultimate goal is to keep their ongoing effort going to preserve White Island Lighthouse so it can be enjoyed by future generations. She said it was her love of history, especially the Isles of Shoals, that inspired her to form Lighthouse Kids.

According to the Lighthouse Kids' website, Reynolds started the effort at North Hampton School in 2000 and its members include schoolchildren at Winnacunnet High School in Hampton, Rye Junior-High School and Rye Elementary School as well as a growing legion of lighthouse enthusiasts who have donated more than $400,000. They have also received free donations of labor and materials from Portsmouth area construction companies.

Since then, the group has received widespread support from many people. On April 30, 2003, then U.S. Sen. Judd Gregg, R-NH, presented Lighthouse Kids with $250,000. In 2005, Ricci Construction of Portsmouth repaired the historic brick tower, put a new roof on the keeper's cottage, replaced several leaky windows and repainted the keeper's cottage.

Following the Patriots Day storm of April 2007 that caused significant damage, the group's website reports that the U.S. Coast Guard repaired the navigation equipment and the helicopter landing pad. The website also reports that Bill Purdy of New Hampshire Glass went out and repaired the damaged tower window and Pickering Marine of Portsmouth built a new marine railway.

In 2010, Arsenault Construction of Rye replaced rotting timber frames, gutters, trim boards and all clapboards on the northerly side of the keeper's cottage.

When asked if she believed her group would have received as much support as it has to preserve White Island Lighthouse, Reynolds said she never thought about that.

“Like everything in my life, I have no idea how things will progress or evolve,” she said. "Somebody has to do it if it is going to be around for future generations."