From Email: Help A Brother Out!
August 10, 2025







 

Pier Pressure

 

Help a Brother Out!

 

 

Credit Michael Estigoy

 

Under Pier Pressure

 

Did you know that Piers serving East Brother have been destroyed and replaced several times?

 

The current pier and gangway at East Brother Island date back to
1962?

That means we have gotten 63 years of use out of them. But just like everything that faces year
after year of harsh weather and

the corrosive salty sea air- it needs to be replaced.

 

 

Since 1979…

Volunteers have put in more than 200,000 hours restoring and maintaining East Brother Light Station? All
items considered this is a Multi-Million dollar value.

 

Over 70,000 persons have visited East Brother as guests of the bed and breakfast inn. If you are getting
this, that means you’re one of them!

Your money provides critical funding for insurance and retaining contractors and purchasing materials for
major maintenance projects, such as roofing, painting, waste treatment, wood decay repair, plumbing, and electrical work & you get to tell the story of the trip of a lifetime.

 

Don’t let that investment be destroyed.

 

 

Keep the light on…

Now, we need $750, 000 to replace the aging pier and gangway. This is the only access to the Island. Without
access it will be closed down and will soon be destroyed by vandalism, neglect, and weather.

 

This sad outcome can be avoided but not without your help. We are soliciting donors, grants, philanthropists,
foundations and public agencies for help. There is no amount too small and in this new "Social" age, sharing the cause can be what saves it so spread the word!

 

 

Be a part of preserving East Brother.

 

 

 

 

The first pier was on the NorthWest side of the island where they thought it would be protected from the prevailing south storm winds. But it was
blown away anyway by a freak "Nor’ Easter" and rebuilt on the east side in 1894.

 

 

  • Only a few years later, in 1907, it was severely damaged by a ship collision and repaired and modified.

 

  • Another reconstruction occurred in 1919.

 

 

In 1940, the pier was heavily damaged in a fire as a gasoline tank exploded. Keeper Willard Miller burned
his hands very badly trying to put the flames out before they reached the Island.

 

 

  • In 1962, the use of timber piles and timber construction was abandoned, and the current concrete pier supported by steel piles was constructed along with a concrete
    gangway supported by steel beams.

 

  • In 1986, repairs were made, primarily to corroded steel railings and beams and replacement of wood fender piles.

 

  • In 1999, the corroded concrete steel piles were supplanted by a new steel substructure supported by new steel piles.

 

How can you help?

 

 

Spread the word- Share our plight on all of your Socials. Like the posts on all of our Socials. If it reaches the right algorithm and goes viral-
you know what that means!

 

Dig deep- We need your financial help too. Here are a few options below for donating.

 

 

We have started a $750,000 capital campaign to replace the pier and gangway, and the goal of this GoFundMe.

 

Click Below to Donate

 

 

A trusted option for organizations to donate is available for our $750,000 capital campaign to replace the pier and gangway.

 

 

Or mail your fee-free donation via check:

 

117 Park Place

Richmond CA 94801

 

 

East
Brother Light Station is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit organization

 

 

Please contact tom.butt@intres.com 

if you want to help or know someone who does.

 

 

 

[510-233-2385]  [info@ebls.org]  [www.ebls.org]

 

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East Brother Light Station | 117 Park Place | Richmond, CA 94801 US

 

Constant Contact

 

 

 

 

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Click here to sign-up to receive the E-Forum. Tom Butt is the former mayor of Richmond, CA, having served 27+ years until January of 2023, eight of those as elected mayor. Tom Butt is an architect and founder of the 50-year
old Richmond architecture-engineering firm Interactive Resources. He serves on the board of two Richmond nonprofits,
Rosie the Riveter Trust and
East Brother Light Station, Inc. Visit the
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