Fight Continues to Save Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

To the Editor: 
It’s truly amazing that many of the original volunteers that saved Hereford Inlet Lighthouse from demolition by neglect, chief among them Friends of Hereford Chairman Steve Murray, have labored continuously and doggedly for the 30 years since to create this treasure – a world-class landmark, sanctuary, award-winning gardens and first-rate maritime museum. 
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is once again the official beacon, the light in the tower that shines for all each night.
The North Wildwood mayor has recently and without provocation initiated a hostile takeover of the lighthouse and grounds. His immediate plans for this iconic landmark include:
-the beautiful gardens purged,
-the majestic mature trees leveled,
-artifacts removed, and
-the dedicated lighthouse staff replaced by “city recreational employees” taking valuable space and knowledge away from the story of Hereford.
At the very least, one would have to question the motives and competence of a mayor and council who would risk the loss of the skills and dedication of such a well-tuned body of volunteers.
But there is more: not waiting until the end of the year, this mayor changed the locks, making the preposterous claim that the Friends were about to remove items from the museum.
Many of the members’ personal and donated possessions remain under lock and key, inaccessible to their owners.
In the mayor’s plans for the lighthouse, the beautiful gardens would be removed, the majestic mature trees leveled, the dedicated lighthouse staff replaced by “recreational employees.” The mission of this landmark would be redirected from preservation to city Tourist Center, with much of the space now dedicated to the history of the lighthouse – which was both beacon and home – removed to make way for office space.
I find this most egregious since it is very likely that my great grandfather lived out his last days and died in these very rooms. While the history of a city is important, this is not the place for it: despite the mayor’s overreach, Hereford Inlet Lighthouse belongs to the people of the State of New Jersey not the City of North Wildwood.
We enter the new year focused and determined to continue the Fight to Save the Light. The situation is currently under review by the Department of Environmental Protection. Those who have yet to join, please do – it isn’t over yet, not by a long shot.