Under New Ownership: Sullivans Island Lighthouse|ABC News 4

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Under New Ownership: Sullivans Island Lighthouse

posted 7:18 pm Sun November 09, 2008

reporter: Josh Cascio posted by: Josh Cascio

tags: sullivans island • lighthouse • coast guard

ABC News 4 - Under New Ownership: Sullivans Island Lighthouse

Sullivans Island - It's a historic day for a historic lighthouse.

"Today we officially transferred of the grounds and lighthouse from the US Coast Guard to the National Parks service," said Coast Guard Captain Michael McAllister

"Using static lighthouses is no longer a requirement, we have today GPS and those kinds of features,” Bob Dodson with the Fort Sumter National Monument said. "Our goal now is to preserve the light house while they still maintain it as a navigational aid but we'll be responsible for it's upkeep," he added.

Officially named the Charleston Light, the lighthouse was commissioned in 1962. On a clear night its light can be seen from 27 miles off the coast.

”I always tell everybody that's coming to see me to turn a block before the lighthouse and take a right and you'll see me so it's certainly a landmark," resident Hal Coste said.

Sparky Witte remembers climbing up to the top of the lighthouse when he was 12 years old.

"You get up there and there's just a beautiful view and there is this huge light that would shine and I haven't been in it in 47 years so for me this was very exciting to be a part of," Witte said.

National Park Service officials hope to open the lighthouse for more public access in the future, though they say it will likely have to be limited due to it's construction. Still they say the pillar of Sullivan’s Island will remain for generations to come.

”It's just a part of the way of life here on Sullivan's Island," Dodson told ABC News 4.

The lighthouse was the last one built in the United States; it replaced the Morris Island Lighthouse.

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