A lighthouse has been a fixture in Central Whidbey since 1863. So what can be new about Admiralty Head? Plenty, according to Lighthouse Coordinator Gloria Wahlin.
“Two years ago, we found a World War I uniform in the basement and a volunteer wore that for Fort Casey’s centennial,” Wahlin said “This summer a volunteer found designs and blueprints for Admiralty Head.”
She added that the lighthouse’s original lens, which shot light out over the water, may be with the U.S. Coast Guard in Port Angeles. The lens at Admiralty Head probably came from Alki Point. “We’d love to get each lens back to its rightful place,” she said. “But since the Coast Guard is government that may not be easy. We’re working on it. We’d like at least a loan for our centennial next year.”
Wahlin added, “Since finding the plans, we’ve discovered areas we didn’t know existed and found what other rooms were used for.”
One rediscovered room is a china closet. It’s hidden behind display cases. Wahlin and others pulled the cases away to get to the closet. “We were hoping to find a lot of old china and other things. It’s just shelves but the room has the original floor — we think it’s fir,” she said.
From the prints, Wahlin learned that windows on the bottom floor were meant to be open to flood the residence with light.
“The window designs are so beautiful with lovely arches — we want to bring the rooms back to their original glory,” she said.
To do that, the lighthouse needs money to redo displays. That’s where the lighthouse conference Saturday, Nov. 16, comes in. Proceeds will go to Friends of the Lighthouse.
Oak Harbor author and artist Ray Aliberti will moderate the conference, which is based on his book, “Lighthouses Northwest.” Last week, Aliberti and Wahlin received word from the Port of Coupeville that Aliberti’s new book about Admiralty Head Lighthouse may be sold only at the lighthouse. All proceeds from that book will go to renovating the lighthouse.
Aliberti said the conference will focus on “Carl Leick, a biographical overview of his life and work and his designs.”
Leick was an architect for the 13th Lighthouse District in Portland, Ore., and produced 25 designs that were used for 25 lighthouses in the Oregon, Washington and Alaska.
“Many are gone,” Aliberti said. “Only one remains in Alaska. Lighthouses Leick designed still standing include those at Mukilteo, Alki Point, Lime Kiln and Patos Island.”
As for Admiralty Head, Aliberti said, “It’s the last masonry lighthouse. The walls are 18-inch brick.”
“This is one of his larger lighthouses and it’s probably the most elegant of lighthouse residences,” he said. “It’s a great example of the height of Victorian Italianate architecture at the beginnings of modernism and change to concrete instead of masonry. “It’s a significant piece of architecture and history,” Aliberti added. “And it’s still here.”
“And still open to the public,” Wahlin interjected.
Aliberti explained that he became interested in lighthouses on the East Coast. After an “eclectic life” that included wintering over at McMurdo, Antarctica, in 1967-68 with the Navy, art school and a life in corporate graphic design that had him traveling all over the world, Aliberti “got tired of corporate life” and moved to Whidbey Island 10 years ago. He started making prints of Admiralty Head and “kept seeing Carl Leick’s name.” So Aliberti began examining Leick’s work and designs. “Leick compiled work at the turn of the century. Most designers worked on two or three. To design 35 makes Leick unique,” he said.
“People come from all over the world to see our lighthouse,” Wahlin said. “Last year we had about 6,500 come through on tours. Our guest book has languages from everywhere in some really beautiful scripts.”
“With this conference and our centennial next August, we’re planning on showing more people just how wonderful Admiralty Head is,” Wahlin said.
Attend the conference
Friends of Admiralty Head lighthouse invite interested persons to the First Lighthouse Conference, titled “C.W. Leick — U.S. Lighthouse Board Architect, 1854-1939,” Saturday, Nov. 16, from 1-2:30 p.m. It will be held in Auditorium B at Casey Conference Center.
Oak Harbor resident Ray Aliberti will present the conference based on “Lighthouses Northwest,” which he wrote and illustrated. Learn about the 35 lighthouses Leick designed. Attendees will receive a frameable centennial poster of C.W. Leick’s original architectural prints found recently at Admiralty Head Lighthouse.
Admission is $3 and proceeds go to Friends of Admiralty Head Lighthouse to redo displays and renovate the lighthouse. Call Gloria Wahlin, 679-7391 or gloria@wsu.edu. Friends of Admiralty Head Lighthouse are taking pre-orders for Aliberti’s new book on Whidbey Island’s lighthouse, call 679-7391 to be placed on the list or to become a Keeper of the Light.
