POWER FOR THE PEOPLE:
Critical Fundraiser for Bakers Island Light

Essex Heritage needs your support to upgrade Bakers Island Light this season with an updated, more sustainable solar power system and other urgent improvements.  

Every year more people are going out to Bakers Island Light. This surge in visitation has made it clear that we need to continually enhance the site to provide more impactful experiences for visitors to the island. Out at Bakers Island, everyone operates "off the grid" - including us! Our utilities run entirely off the power of the sun, BUT our current system is outdated, unreliable, and unable to generate enough power to meet the need of regular use. The system completely failed last year!  
We believe the beauty of Bakers Island Light is for everyone and a little can go a long way! Please help us "keep the lights on" at Bakers Island Light Station.

What We Need

We need to raise $20,000 this spring to meet the evolving challenges of sustainability at this “off the grid” light station. WE NEED YOUR HELP to keep preserving and improving this site and continue to share it with the broader community. Your donation will help us complete these important projects:
  • Purchasing and installing a more reliable solar power system for both the Main Keeper's House (MKH) and Assistant Keeper's House (AKH).
  • Exterior and interior preservation projects to the MKH and AKH, including: exterior painting, gutter repairs, eave and window sill repairs, and fixes to the concrete stairs.
  • The growth of interpretive and educational programming, exhibits, and activities across the site to better tell the story of Bakers Island Light and its brave lighthouse keepers.
  • Providing additional opportunities for overnight visits by adding platforms that will be accessible to kayakers and other boaters.​ ​

The Impact

Helping us meet our goal of $20,000 means you are Keeping Us Green and Helping Us Grow! By equipping our site with a new and improved solar power system and upgrades we will be able to continue offering immersive and unique experiences for visitors to the site, including:
  • Continuing to grow and enhance our overnight experience;     
  • Equipping the Assistant Lighthouse Keepers House to meet the needs of our varied visiting groups such as educators, youth, families, after school programs, artists, naturalists, history buffs, backyard explorers, locals, tourists, birders, scout troops, volunteers and more; 
  • Providing our seasonal onsite caretakers who stay in the Lighthouse Keepers House with a better power system while they work hard to keep the property in tip-top shape all summer long!
Keep us green, and help us grow!

Make a donation at any of the following levels and receive a gift! ​

  • $7,419 (7/4/19) – Unique overnight stay in the Assistant Keepers House on Bakers Island on both July 3rd and 4th, 2019 + leave with the American Flag flown during your stay. You'll have panoramic views of Salem Sound and be witness to fireworks displays up and down the North Shore, even to Boston! *Only one available!*
  • $5,000 – Private charter picnic for up to 12 people
  • $3,000 – Naming right to 1 tent out at the island
  • $1,500 – Day trip for 2 to Bakers Island to capture a photo for a Jude Colangelo commissioned painting of your photo
  • $750 – Extended day on Bakers Island with behind the scenes tour from lighthouse keepers
  • $500 – Hand-painted shell from Jude Colangelo + two tickets to Bakers Island
  • $250 –  Jude Colangelo hand-painted ornament
  • $100 – Scrimshaw busk and scrimshaw ornament
  • $50 – Bakers Island suncatcher
  • $25 – Bakers Island Light vintage postcard 
  • $10 - Bakers Island bumper sticker  ​​
Want to help us raise money?
Create your own Bakers Fundraiser & be eligible for  prizes at the $1500, $3000, $5000, or $7419 levels!