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Fairport Harbor Historical Society outlines 2024 activities, highlights 200th lighthouse anniversary plans
Summary
The Fairport Harbor Historical Society reported volunteer hours, visitor counts and capital improvements for 2024 and announced 2025 events including a May 23 opening and a June 21 anniversary gala for the lighthouse site.
Marty O’Gara, president of the Fairport Harbor Historical Society, told council the volunteer‑run organization logged roughly 4,900 hours of service in 2024, hosted visitors from 22 states and six countries and continued preservation work at the Fairport Harbor lighthouse site.
O’Gara said the society receives no regular government funding; the lighthouse is leased from the village for $1 per year and operating revenue comes from memberships, donations, grants, bequests and fundraising. He reported a membership total of 207 at the end of 2024 and said the society recorded 47,177 visitors across the year (as stated in the presentation).
The society reported repair and upkeep projects in 2024: roof repairs to the pilot house and museum, re‑roofing of the museum and garage, copper flashing donation for the chimney, refurbishment of the USS Michigan mast and new ground lighting installed by Kanko Electric. The society also noted improvements to the gift shop and new interactive touchscreen displays funded in part by the Lake County Visitors Bureau and the village.
O’Gara said 2025 will mark the 200th anniversary of the Fairport Harbor lighthouse site; the society listed several upcoming events: opening day on May 23 at noon, a rededication of the USS Michigan mast that afternoon, a June 14 boat parade and blessing of the fleet, and a June 21 anniversary gala.
Council members thanked volunteers and acknowledged the society’s fundraising and preservation work. The presentation included statistics and a request that the council continue its support; the mayor and council voiced support and noted the society’s partnership with local businesses and volunteers.
The society’s report also described outreach and digitization efforts: scanning of minutes, newsletters and more than 1,000 photographs into searchable PDFs, expanded social media use and a forthcoming PBS documentary segment on Great Lakes lighthouses that included the society’s historian.
The society requested ongoing village support as it prepares events for the bicentennial year.
