Firm foundation for lighthouse

From 1876 until 1962, the Morris Island Lighthouse guided ships into Charleston Harbor. When winds whipped and waves crashed, the 158-foot lighthouse flashed a dependable beacon allowing mariners to see that their journey was about to end.

Soon, the iconic structure will be on the receiving end of help. A Ravenel construction company has signed a $1.9 million contract to shore up the lighthouse by injecting concrete into holes bored under the tower down to the marl.

This is a major victory for Save the Light, Inc., a small, grass-roots non-profit dedicated to preserving the lighthouse.

It is also a victory for the Lowcountry and its visitors for whom the landmark stands as a symbol of the area's maritime history and a testament to what can be accomplished with will and perseverance.

Save the Light began with nothing and has raised some $5 million to keep the lighthouse from being lost to the sea. And they're not finished. For example, Brian Hicks reported that $5,000 donors get naming rights to one of the tower's 200 steps. And a gala and auction is planned for later this month.

Two years ago, work was completed on a steel cofferdam to protect the base of the lighthouse from erosion. The current contract will replace yellow pine pilings, which are especially vulnerable.

During this difficult economy, some have questioned whether money could be better spent elsewhere. The organization has received private and public funds.

There is always another way to spend money. But the Morris Island Lighthouse doesn't have the luxury of waiting until the economy brightens. It stands -- all 3,200 tons of it -- surrounded by water and bearing the scars of its years in the elements.

Rep. Anne Peterson Hutto, D-James Island, has said she will push for freeing up state aid to continue restoring the Morris Island Lighthouse, which is owned by South Carolina. She said, "It is a historical treasure, and with one good hurricane it is going to be gone forever."

The Charleston area is known for its preservation ethic -- the reason we still have 18th century houses and buildings. For some, preservation is about heritage. For some it's all aesthetic. And for some, it's a sound business move to conserve what is best about our area.

It would be unacceptable for the Morris Island Lighthouse to receive less care and protection than other significant landmarks. It did its work for 86 years and has earned the support of South Carolina and its residents.