Restoration of the 1867 Lighthouse Keeper's Dwelling


The Restoration of a Historic Building
Kenosha County Historical Society along with the City of Kenosha are jointly restoring the 1866 Lighthouse Keeper's Dwelling. A restoration plan was completed in 2002 and was funded by a Wisconsin Coastal Management grant. Minor interior demolition also commenced in 2002. The plan focused the restoration of both the exterior and interior to an 1908 time period. A grant was also obtained from the Community Block Grant fund (CDBG) in 2004 from the City of Kenosha. This grant funded a new roof and the tuckpointing of two historic chimneys and the reconstruction of a third chimney.

This led to a second grant from the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program, which funded a large portion of the exterior restoration of the building. At this time, the City hired the architectural firm of Engberg and Anderson Design Partnership. This portion of the restoration included the demolition and reconstruction of the historic porch, replacement and repair of damaged wood trim and cream city bricks, the cleaning of the bricks, relocation and enlargement of the rear entry and the construction of a handicapped entry.


Interior floor plans and details were completed by Eric Johnson, a student of Gateway Technical College, in cooperation with Engberg Anderson. Engberg Anderson is compiling construction drawings and specifications for interior restoration of the building. The interior restoration is being completed with funding through the Transportation Enhancements Program from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT). This grant will fund the restoration of hardwood floors, repair and reconstruction of plaster walls and ceilings, relocation and recreation of doorways, the repair and restoration of the historic staircase and new historically accurate wooden windows.

Additional CDBG grants have also been obtained for a new heating and cooling system, which is currently being installed and recently installed gutters. New electrical, storm windows, sidewalks and basement window and doors will also be completed in 2007.




Restoration Fund Raising
The Kenosha History Center still needs to raise additional money to finish the restoration. At this time, current funds will only pay for the first floor and stairway restoration. Additional money is needed to complete the second story. To raise additioanal funds, the History Center is featuring several programs including the following:

Memorial bricks
Lighthouse Keeper bricks
Window sponsorship
Room Naming