Middle Ground Lighthouse

Back from Spring Break

2006-03-29T19:35:00.000-05:00

Spring Break was great.

My friends Walt, Sam, Mike, and Jake came down with the family to work on the lighthouse.

We installed a landing platform so that Granddaddy and my scared aunts and anybody else can get easily from the boat to the lighthouse ladder in a single step.
Walt and my Dad rewired the entire things, giving us lights, switches, sockets, control panels, etc.
Sam and I drilled through solid steel and concrete on the outside to place these huge bolts which hold even huger 6x6s to the lighthouse for easy docking, a sliding mooring system, and even a swim ladder (to be installed).
Granddad and Steve put in these beautiful portholes on one of the upper levels of the lighthouse.
We hauled up some 1000 pounds of batteries for the future electric system.
Sam and my Mom built the battery shelf in the basement. Sam, Mike, and I scraped the room of old paint. And Mike and I painted the battery closet.

I'm sure there is other stuff we did too, but I just can't remember it right now.

Jackie's in VA

2006-03-12T19:18:00.000-05:00

Mom is down in Virginia getting a head start on the lighthouse before the Spring Break crew from Maryland comes down to get in on the action. Of course the place is in much better shape now, but we have our work cut out for us.

Middle Ground in the News

2006-03-08T15:58:00.000-05:00

Check out this online article from dailypress.com This is the first article of a series of articles they plan on doing as we repair and rebuild the lighthouse. (The two videos on the left side of the website are great.)

The link to the main article: dailypress.com

Video1: Climb Aboard
Video2: History of the Lighthouse

Related article #1: A little history of a big light
Related article #2: Building a giant 'spark plug'

visitors of the lighthouse

2006-02-20T17:52:00.000-05:00

We love having visitors out to the lighthouse! Here's a snapshot taken in the basement of the lighthouse... and yes, my grandad DID come out and climb up the scary swinging ladder - cuz he's awesome.

Can he weld this?

2006-02-20T17:41:00.000-05:00

Do you think Dad can whip up something like this with his welding tools?

The idea would be to have mimicked architecture for any platforms, etc. added onto the sides of the lighthouse. The landing, for example, might be stylized as well as functional.

oxy-acetylene practice thru 3/8 inch plate

2006-02-19T19:46:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to Mom on her first posts. Congratulations to Dad on his mighty fine torching.

Dan's show and tell from welding class

2006-02-19T19:43:00.000-05:00

A view into the past

2006-01-22T17:36:00.000-05:00

This is what the lighthouse used to look like:

The Middle Ground Lighthouse

2006-01-22T16:53:00.000-05:00

Middle Ground Lighthouse, a symbol of pride, beauty, and security to the watermen of the James River and all who would gaze upon it, is now under the care and restoration of two families who consider the water to be a home of their own.

The Gonsoulins of Williamsburg, VA and the Billingsleys of Annapolis, MD are the new owners of Middle Ground. The United States Coast Guard will continue to check the service of the light regularly to maintain its function. The two families will work hard to bring the lighthouse exterior back to its original state of beauty with the added task of ensuring safety to all visitors and workers of the light.

Please browse this website and encourage us to update you on our progress. This is above all, a magnificent adventure.