contact: Susan Tamulevich, director, NLMS

860-447-2501, [email protected]

June 27, 2023

Dedicated to

Historic Preservation

New London Maritime Society tackles three major projects

New London, CT-- The New London Maritime Society (NLMS) is dedicating its 40th year to Historic Preservation. Spanning from June 2023 through May 2024, this year coincides with the 40th anniversary of the New London Maritime Society, founded June 13, 1983.

NLMS's efforts will focus on three major projects.

• New London Ledge Lighthouse Restoration: The Ledge Lighthouse Foundation (LLF) will allocate two grants totaling $200,000 towards essential repairs at New London Ledge Lighthouse. Under the guidance of Bruce Buckley, LLF's president, the project will benefit from a $100,000 grant received from the CT Port Authority in 2022. Recently, this grant was supplemented with an additional $100,000 from the Historic Restoration Fund of the state of Connecticut. Collaboration between LLF and NLMS is underway to ensure the success of the project.

• Race Rock Lighthouse Repair and Landing Platform Enhancement: NLMS will use a $100,000 grant provided by the Ludwick Family Foundation in 2022 to commence repairs and create a better landing platform at Race Rock Lighthouse. Work this summer will follow the 2022 Race Rock Lighthouse Assessment and Preservation Plan created by Walter Sedovic, Architects, and which was funded with a public Go Fund Me campaign.

• Custom House Roof Replacement Campaign: Most crucially, New London Maritime Society will launch a campaign to raise $600,000 for the replacement of the Custom House Roof. A generous donation of $165,000 from the Frank Loomis Palmer Fund has already contributed towards the campaign. The official launch of the campaign is scheduled for next month.

Susan Tamulevich, executive director of NLMS, states,'It will be tough, but this is what NLMS is for: to preserve our maritime historic landmarks.'

Forty years ago with possible demolition looming, impassioned New Londoners organized to preserve their local U.S. Custom House and, in 1983, established the New London Maritime Society, repurposing the building as the Custom House Maritime Museum. Reflecting on the challenges ahead, Ms. Tamulevich adds, 'It would have been easier had the Custom House roof not failed six months ago... but we are up to the challenge! After patching the roof and interior plaster for so many years, it will be a relief to have the water penetration issues finally fixed.' NLMS has a good preservation track record. In 2014 the Society restored New London Harbor Lighthouse, and this summer will complete landscaping at that site.

For updates on restoration projects and the Custom House Roof Campaign, please visit NLMS's website at nlmaritimesociety.org. Donations may be made through the website or mailed to NLMS, 150 Bank Street, New London, CT 06320.

High- resolution photos are available.

Photo, top: In June a crew went out to scrape, paint and clean Ledge Lighthouse in advance of summer tours. Ledge Light Foundation president Bruce Buckley (peach cap) and long-time volunteer Phil Medbury (grey cap) ran the show, with recruits Martin Bobenski (red cap), Rock Charles (cap free), and Al Doucette (tan). NLMS.