A wet and cold spring may appear to have slowed us down in these pictures, but in fact Graves Light Station has been gearing up for its biggest summer since 1905.
We are rebuilding the footbridge that joined the Oil House to the Lighthouse. The last footbridge, designed by the Army Corps of Engineers, was brought down in the massive “No Name” storm of 1991.
The new 130′ bridge is being built, top to bottom, of stainless steel. Like Graves Light and the “unsinkable” Miss Cuddy I, we reclaimed the stainless steel pilings from Uncle Sam. The bridge got permitted in April.
The lads at Nelson Metal Fabrication are shown here cutting and welding the parts of the bridge. Each piece is being hauled out on Miss Cuddy I, the 25-foot Defender-class former Coast Guard fast boat that took a severe beating (but didn’t sink) last year. We’re converting her into a construction barge to finish the Graves Light restoration and reconstruction.
Check out Nelson Metal’s website for examples of its previous work at Graves – including the bronze interior railings in the lamp room, and the re-purposing of bronze porthole cutouts as outdoor benches on the watch deck.
Nelson Metal Fabricators welds the new stainless steel footbridge to re-link Graves Light to the Oil House. 
Re-purposed from the US government on the West Coast. 
This stainless steel pipe will be a support of the Graves Light footbridge 
An image of the original Army engineers’ plan for building the lighthouse and oil house on Graves Ledge, joined by a 90-foot elevated catwalk. (Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society) 
Progress in 1903: Workers’ quarters are linked by catwalk to the first section of Graves Light. (Photo courtesy of the Massachusetts Historical Society) 
This postcard shows the original footbridge. 
Caption: “Flash 2-2-2, Radius 16 miles. . . .” 
Nice view of bridge. Anybody know what’s going on here? 
Hey Dave,
We worked together a bunch of years ago when I was at Arnold and am in awe of the
Graves Light restoration. First class in all respects and I am confident your work will
endure for centuries to come. It is truly amazing to see. I thought it was so cool when
you restored the Ellis the Rim Man sign. But this….. Jiminy Crickets, thank you from
Boston for generations to come.
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