THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604270064
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E4 EDITION: FINAL
SERIES: TRAVEL: THE OUTER BANKS
SOURCE: BY MARY ELLEN RIDDLE, SPECIAL TO THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
BUILT FROM plans secured from the National Archives, the new Lighthouse Gallery and Gifts in Nags Head offers visitors a look at life in a lighthouse.
Scheduled to open in mid-May, the lighthouse on Gallery Row is the brainchild of Bruce and Cheryl Roberts. Both are dedicated lighthouse advocates who have produced books and started the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society and newsletter to promote their vision: keeping the historic light burning.
About two years ago, Bruce visited the National Archives in search of a full set of plans for every North Carolina lighthouse to store in the Outer Banks History Center archives. He was successful in his quest but also returned with a plan for his own dream shop.
The plan was originally used to build the Point Furman (California) Lighthouse built in 1874. What Bruce noticed after looking over the plan was how much it resembled Outer Banks architecture with its repetitious cutout designs and crossbar corner structures. The style, says Cheryl, is Italianate Victorian.
``After the Civil War,'' says Bruce, a retired photographer for Southern Living Magazine, ``virtually all lighthouses in the South had to be replaced.''
``They were getting into the Victorian style but invented power saws that could do repeat cutouts,'' he says. The plans he used for his shop are actually for the California lighthouse.
Bruce Roberts' goal at the new gallery is to put fun into shopping while educating his customers about lighthouse history.
For more than four years, Cheryl has been researching the history of lighthouse families, and her book on the subject is due out soon. About 100 photos of lighthouse families will be displayed at the gallery that will also serve as headquarters for the Outer Banks Lighthouse Society.
Cars have been slowing down to get a glimpse of the new structure that will house 1,000 square feet of lighthouse collectibles, books and toys, and reproductions of such items as foghorns, spinnakers and clocks..
The lighthouse will have living quarters and a tower equipped with an 1864 post light.
``The Lighthouse Service was the first benevolent service our government ever undertook,'' says Roberts with enthusiasm. ``It's the first branch of government dedicated entirely to helping people.'' ILLUSTRATION: MARY ELLEN RIDDLE photo
Bruce Roberts will install this 1864 post light in the tower of
Lighthouse Gallery and Gifts, which is to open in mid-May.
by CNB