PORT TOWNSEND — High tides and wind-whipped waves hurled rocks through Point Wilson Lighthouse’s north door over the weekend, flooding the beloved landmark’s ground floor.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary and Fort Worden State Park rangers responded by fortifying the empty 91-year-old building with sandbags.
Port Townsend resident Alice M. Fox was strolling through Fort Worden State Park on Saturday night when she noticed the damage and alerted the auxiliary.
“When we got there, we found rocks almost as big as your head that bent the (door) lock bolt,” auxiliary lighthouse keeper David Frasier said Monday.
“The wave action and the power of the storm was strong enough to pick up rocks and burst the door open.”
Temporary solution
Sandbags offer only a temporary solution to a building beset by an ongoing assault of extreme high tides and stormy wave action, Fort Worden State Park Manager Kate Burke said.
“They are creeping up there,” she said.
“When waves do come up, it’s pretty much a clear shot for the whole building.”