Beaming Reflections

The Hudson Athens Lighthouse Preservation Society will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse Friday, August 2nd at 6PM and will honor the three-decades-long contributions of board member, treasurer and volunteer Kay Lasher. Lasher died this June at the age of 98.

This gathering at the Hudson Opera House, 327 Warren Street, is free and open to the public. It is a tribute to the friends and supporters of the lighthouse whose efforts have kept its light shining bright. There will be an evening of memories, camaraderie, and appreciation as the group reflects on the lighthouse’s history and the legacy of Lasher.

The event will also feature the Hudson-Athens Lighthouse segment from the documentary Seven Sentinels: Lighthouses of the Hudson River.

The lighthouse found its origins in the increased river traffic that followed the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825. By the late 1860s hazards created by the Middle Ground Flats made navigation of the river at that point dangerous. After much petitioning of the U.S. Congress, a survey was completed and an appropriation of $35,000 was approved in 1872 to build the lighthouse. It was put into operation in 1874 and was manned until the 1950s, when it was automated.

In 1967 the Coast Guard deeded the facility to the non-profit organization and it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The evening is presented in partnership with the Hudson River Maritime Museum and Hudson Hall. Although the event is free, reservations are recommended. Reserve your ticket here.