The auction, held under the U.S. Coast Guard’s supervision, opened at $15,000 and swelled to $192,000 as bidders jostled for the derelict tower.
The 4‑storey white structure, listed on the National Register, lacks water, heat and electricity, and is riddled with lead paint, asbestos and rust. It sits three miles offshore and overlaps a U.S. Navy testing zone, forcing strict access limits.
Cucé, a Bucks County industrial painter who has sandblasted roller coasters, will use his expertise to restore the lighthouse while keeping work environmentally responsible. He plans to recruit local watermen from the Hooper Islands for the labor force.
First he will conduct a structural inspection, then build a dock to ferry materials, all while coordinating with the Coast Guard and Navy to avoid weapons‑testing windows.
Once restored, the tower will serve as an environmental learning center, offering tours, data collection on the Bay’s dead zone, and events such as yoga retreats. The first phase will begin with dock construction in July.