FAIRPORT HARBOR, Ohio — From the shore, the Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Lighthouse is a bit of a mystery. A lone structure painted crisp white its bright red roof surrounded by the swells of Lake Erie.

To many, it’s a symbol of Lake County’s maritime heritage, of coastal beauty, and of another time. But to Sheila Consaul, it’s also something more personal: a labor of love, a seasonal home, and a legacy.

Once a vandalized, vacant shell with no utilities or working infrastructure, the century-old lighthouse now glows with new life thanks to Consaul’s 14-year renovation journey, an ambitious undertaking she describes as “the ultimate summer home.”

Restoring a dream

Consaul spent years living and working in Washington, D.C., but says she dreaded summers in the city. Hot, humid, and h

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