Cheers! Champagne, Applause Welcome Gay Head Light to New Home
Early Saturday, lighthouse had less than 20 feet left to travel.
Early Saturday, lighthouse had less than 20 feet left to travel.
Beverly Wright paid $1,000 for the honor of pressing the lever to finish the move.
Beverly Wright paid $1,000 for the honor of pressing the lever to finish the move.
Crowd gathered to witness historic moment.
Crowd gathered to witness historic moment.
Lighthouse committee member Len Butler counted off final 10 inches of move.
Lighthouse committee member Len Butler counted off final 10 inches of move.
Many onlookers watched all three days of the move.
Many onlookers watched all three days of the move.
Lighthouse committee member Mitzi Pratt and Jerry Matyiko.
Lighthouse committee member Mitzi Pratt and Jerry Matyiko.
Len Butler had champagne wrapped in burlap bag to smash against red brick lighthouse.
Len Butler had champagne wrapped in burlap bag to smash against red brick lighthouse.
Christening historic moment.
Christening historic moment.
"Cheers to the Gay Head Light!" Len Butler said.
"Cheers to the Gay Head Light!" Len Butler said.
A toast to historic lighthouse, and a completed move.
A toast to historic lighthouse, and a completed move.
Shrouded in fog early Saturday morning, the Gay Head Light stood less than 20 feet away from its final destination, 129 feet away from the location where it has stood for nearly 160 years. As workers for Expert House Movers and International Chimney Corporation made final adjustments, a growing crowd of spectators gathered.
With the smash of a champagne bottle and cheers all around, the Gay Head Light came to rest Saturday at its new location. The arrival was a significant milestone in the effort to preserve the lighthouse.