For decades discontinued by the U.S. Coast Guard, for generations completely exposed to heat, ice, wind, waves and every possible combination of the elements, New Point Comfort Lighthouse is also … long-standing.

For more than 200 years.

It has survived, and under the ownership of Mathews County, it has been deemed worthy of loving maintenance since the initial restoration effort got underway in 1976.

Just completed is the most professional, most extensive, and, we hope, most long-lasting of these efforts.

It was accomplished in two stages from 2009 through this year. The first phase added a lot of stone around the isolated lighthouse, stabilizing its island. The second phase brought about a complete restoration of the ancient structure itself.

The late Earl Soles deserves a good deal of credit for the work just being completed. He was chairman of the New Point Comfort Lighthouse Preservation Task Force that brought about this latest work.

Aug. 7 is National Lighthou...