Built in 1904 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Barnegat is believed to be one of fewer than two dozen light ships remaining in the U.S. PHOTO: U.S. COAST GUARD
Preservationists are sounding the alarm about the future of the Barnegat, a historic but dilapidated light ship docked at a private marina here.
Preservation New Jersey, a private nonprofit, is including the Barnegat on its 2018 list of 10 most-endangered historic places in the state with hopes of sparking a grass-roots fundraising effort. The ship is in dire need of maintenance and repair, said the group’s director, Courtenay Mercer.
…It is unclear exactly how many light ships are left in the U.S. Jim Delgado, the founding director of the National Park Service’s maritime-heritage program, conducted an inventory of the country’s historic ships three decades ago and counted 22 light ships remaining in the U.S. as of 1989.
Read the full story by Kate King on the Wall Street Journal website.