ROCKPORT — How many people does it take to illuminate Motif No. 1 at night?
Apparently, more than a dozen.
The iconic, dark red fish shack, anchored prominently on the tip of Bradley Wharf in Rockport, was supposed to be lit each night from dusk to about 1 a.m., beginning on Dec. 5, with the help of a specially designed spotlight.
But when the light fixture and its 1,000 watt bulb were tested, it proved too bright for the area forcing town officials and consultants from National Grid back to the drawing board and delaying the lighting nearly two months.
"We did not want to blast the harbor out of the water with Disneyland lighting," said local architect Jack Campbell.
The light manufacturer selected for the project offered a light fixture with a nine-degree beam spread, the best and most focused Campbell could find. However, because of the light's special design, there was no room for the ballast when it came time to affix the fixture to the pole on T-Wharf.
The total redesign of the light fixture "took a lot of time," Campbell said.
The long-awaited lighting ceremony finally took place last week, much to the delight of Peter Beacham, who first thought of the idea to light the landmark structure nearly two years ago.
"We sincerely hope that the residents of Rockport and the visitors to our town will enjoy the experience of visiting Motif No. 1 some evening soon," Beacham said.
The light will automatically turn on at dusk and turn off between midnight and 1 a.m. on a year-round basis.
The difficulty from the beginning, Beacham has said, was trying to find the right architectural light fixture that would "subtly illuminate the Motif without casting light on anything else or reflect in anyone's windows."
After months of consultation with Campbell and members of the town Department of Public Works, Planning Board, Historic District Commission, harbormasters, National Grid and lighting specialists, the correct light fixture and a proper timer were found, along with the money to transform the concept into reality.
The Rockport Rotary Club covered the cost of the lighting, while National Grid agreed to donate a mounting bracket for the light fixture and complete the final electrical hookup.
The light is mounted on a telephone pole about 175 feet away at the end of T-Wharf; a flood light used to illuminate Rockport Harbor is on the same pole.
National Grid contributed the services of Senior Engineer Fred Kippen, Business Specialist Cathy Beattie, installation personnel Mike Daly and John Scott and Supervisor Keith Trefry.
In addition, parts and equipment were donated by Vance Spillman of Sunrise Technologies through Anthony Cinelli of First Line Associates of Milford. Anthony Costanzo and Peter Abano of Costanzo Electrical donated their services for the installation while Standard Electric was also instrumental in helping pull the project together.
Motif No. 1 — known to students of art and art history as one of the most oft-painted buildings in America — has been owned by the town since painter John Buckley sold it to Rockport in 1945.
There will be no charge to the town for the light except roughly $15 annually for electricity, Beacham has said.
Organizers garnered final approval for the project from the Board of Selectmen in October.
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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