January 27th, 2022
The Keeper's Times 

The Old Baldy Foundation Community Newsletter
Hours of Operation at Old Baldy

Closed January & February 2022
(Will reopen in March)
A Bright Road Ahead

As the sun sets on another year of navigating a new normal, the Old Baldy Foundation looks to 2022 with plans to pave a new path for our future. We are humbled to announce that Robin and Mark Prak have purchased the parcel of land at the corner of Ballast Stone Alley and Lighthouse Wynd and have donated the property to the Foundation. This property will be the future site of a new museum and interpretive center dedicated to stewarding the history of the Cape Fear Region. 

Robin and Mark Prak have been involved with the Old Baldy Foundation for ten years, with Mark currently serving as the Board President. As long-time lovers of lighthouses and the history they represent, Old Baldy's distinctive appearance drew the Praks in to be involved with protecting our cultural treasure. "Old Baldy really grabs you. After traveling to see many lighthouses, the unique appearance of Old Baldy draws you in. From the offset lanthorn room to the unique color and the absence of bold white paint and black stripes, everything about it is appealing," notes Mark. 

Similar to the Praks, many islanders are drawn to the unique features of Old Baldy complemented by its picturesque backdrop amongst live oak trees and Spanish moss. Beyond the beauty of the structure we work to preserve, the Old Baldy Foundation is home to a vast archival collection that tells a rich story spanning over four centuries of history. As our archival collection and staff grows, the Foundation has outgrown our small facility adjacent to the lighthouse. With a new interpretive center, we can safely store, manage and display our collections in a meaningful space. 

"We plan to build a center worthy of Bald Head that the community can be proud of," says Robin. "While we are still in the visioning phase and the process will take time, this project is an opportunity for more community members and visitors to participate in and learn about our island's rich history," Mark continued. 

It is of utmost importance to both the Praks and Old Baldy Foundation that this facility is congruent with the story of Bald Head Island and its legacy of living in harmony with nature. Included in the deed of gift by Robin and Mark Prak is preservation language to ensure much of the natural land remains untouched. 

As the Old Baldy Foundation prepares for what will be a pivotal moment in the history of our organization, we are eager to share the process with the Bald Head Island community. Stay up to date with the project on our website at www.oldbaldy.org. 
2022 Event Calendar is here!

Fundraising events are an integral part of The Old Baldy Foundation. These events allow us the opportunity to raise funds to execute our mission of historic preservation and education. More importantly, they allow us to create a gathering place to celebrate Old Baldy and its historical significance!

We are excited to announce our 2022 calendar of events. After two years of cancelled celebrations due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are hopeful this is the year we can gather again. Make sure to save the dates and plan to celebrate and support the legacy of Old Baldy! 
2022 Sponsorship Opportunities! 

The events hosted by the Old Baldy Foundation have become a highlight of many islander's year! View our sponsorship opportunities to take your support of Old Baldy to the next level. 100% of your sponsorship contributions will go to mission based work.

By supporting the Old Baldy Foundation as a sponsor, not only will you be directly helping the Old Baldy Foundation work to preserve Old Baldy as a beloved monument to North Carolina, but you will receive exclusive access to the events and unique marketing opportunities.
Reach out to abby@oldbaldy.org to discuss customizing a sponsorship package to meet your needs or if you have a service to provide for an in-kind sponsorship!
Behind the Scenes

In 2021, the Old Baldy Foundation announced that we had been awarded a grant for $750,000 from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office as part of their Hurricane Florence and Michael Emergency Supplemental Historic Preservation Fund (ESHPF) Hurricane Disaster Relief Subgrants program. The Historic Preservation Fund (HPF), administered by the National Park Service, provided funding to the ESHPF to make this grant program possible.

 This project marks the most significant grant funding in the history of the Old Baldy Foundation. Staff members drafted and submitted the application in the summer of 2020. The force of Hurricane Florence struck Bald Head Island directly in 2018 and extensive damage to the Old Baldy Lighthouse occured. Because these damages still need repair, the grant opportunity provided the perfect resource to fund the project. The Old Baldy Foundation's grant application focused on multiple projects that directly address Hurricane Damage along with a focus on strengthening the Lighthouse's structure from future age and damage. Projects that will be funded by the grant program include:

  • Address fallen and loose stucco to the exterior of the structure.
  • Interior masonry work that addresses water infiltration that has caused dry rot.
  • An archeological survey to determine the need for a stone glacis wall at the base of Old Baldy.

While certain pieces of the project scope do not address direct Hurricane damage, they will significantly improve the tower's resiliency. With over 200 years of weather events and tens of thousands of visitors climbing a year, there is inevitable wear and tear on the Old Baldy Lighthouse. This grant program provided a unique opportunity to ensure the work done to repair Hurricane damages is supported for years to come by approving projects that provide stability and long term reliability to the historic structure.

As we enter into 2022, we wanted to update our community on the status of this project. With the funding coming from the National Parks Service while being administered through the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, there is a lengthy review process and creation of agreement packages. When a grant agreement is signed, The Old Baldy Foundation will begin the procurement of contracting services for the project. Although we are eager to begin this significant undertaking, we understand the processes involved while working with the state and federal government. Stay tuned to upcoming announcements in the Keeper's Times as we continue to make headway on our repairs!  
Field Trips return in 2022!

Every year (with the exception of 2020 & 2021 due to COVID cancellations), hundreds of fourth grade students take a field trip to Bald Head Island, North Carolina, to visit Old Baldy, the state's oldest standing lighthouse. Field trips to Old Baldy Lighthouse are an unforgettable educational experience!
​
The Old Baldy Foundation subsidizes ferry tickets and admission fees for classes taking a field trip to Old Baldy Lighthouse through the Lighthouse Learners Scholarship Program. This scholarship program awards funds up to $800 to qualifying, North Carolina fourth grade classrooms. Preference is given to Title I schools; however, other schools may qualify. Scholarship funds are available through grants and private donations. The availability of scholarship funds varies year by year.

We are thrilled to be scheduling and reviewing scholarship applications for 2022! Cancelled field trips were one of the many casualties from the COVID impacted years. We can't wait for the return of this program and share some of the history and magic of BHI with our community!
By donating through this link, 100% of your donation goes to helping bring over a record breaking number of students!
  Visit us at www.oldbaldy.org and the following platforms!