If all goes to plan, with a little help from Freeland’s Nichols Brothers Boat Builders, local students may have a chance to get some valuable hands-on experience in the construction of a new tower conical roof for Admiralty Head Lighthouse.

“This will be a perfect opportunity to show South Whidbey High School kids in the industrial technology program how a project progresses from a simple idea to an actual assembly,” said Archie Nichols. “The lighthouse will have a new top and the cost is minimal.”

Opened in 1861, the first lighthouse fell into disrepair and was replaced in 1903 by the current building.

But with the advent of steam navigation, which negated the need for a light to guide sail-powered vessels into Puget Sound, the new lighthouse was eventually decommissioned.

The original cast-iron top section was moved to Dungeness Point in 1922 and replaced in the 1950s with a sheet-metal “temporary” roof, complete with now-distorted plexiglass windows.

On a clear day, you can’t see much from the current Lantern House, despite the structure’s commanding view over the straits.

Since the 1970s, there have been continuing efforts to restore the building to its original 1903 configuration.

Nichols said he has someone willing to do the lofting — taking structural plans and using a computer program to turn them into individual steel plates — for free because he believes in programs that help kids realize college isn’t for everyone.

The finished plates would be assembled at the high school under the close supervision of Nichols’ engineering staff, transported to Admiralty Head and installed, complete with new windows and cross-bracing.

“We gave them the plans and discussed the possibility of Nichols costing out and building the Lantern House as per the original plans,” said Richard Malone, volunteer metalworker at Fort Casey. “They were very supportive and enthusiatic about the whole project.”

Malone added that, since the pressures of building boats in a competitive business environment come first, it may be as long as a year before the plan can be undertaken.

Lighthouse program coordinator Gloria Wahlin said that melding history with the future, in the sense that young people will be heavily involved, is a good thing for everyone.

“Our intent is to bring the Lantern House back to its original appearance, with windows you can see out of,” she said. “In the process, if we can turn this into a community project that accomplishes a worthy goal and helps students, that’d be great.”

And that fits the vision of the high school program perfectly.

“It ties instruction to real-world application and community service,” said high school employment counselor Eric Nerison. “Nationwide, there is a shortage of skilled technical workers. Students involved in science, technology, engineering and math need a productive outlet for their talents, and this project certainly qualifies.

“That’s why partnerships in the community are so important, building relationships and getting the kind of support needed to get kids engaged,” he added.

Jeff VanDerford can be reached at 221-5300 or jvanderford@southwhidbeyrecord.