A local preservation society has raised money to help restore a lighthouse on Long Island's North Shore.

The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society says the Sand Castle, a 1912 Beaux-Arts-style lighthouse that sits at the entrance to Huntington Harbor, was in danger of collapsing into the sea.

Pam Setchell and members of the society say they have spent more than 30 years restoring the interior of the lighthouse. They say they raised funds to restore the exterior when they discovered the concrete base of the lighthouse was eroding and collapsing.

With $700,000 already raised, the offshore construction crew has begun the tedious repair work.

Frank Sobbo, owner of Sobbo Maritime Construction, says each gigantic rock that surrounds the lighthouse must be removed first.

"A lot of the rocks have been there for 100-plus years and are covered in growth and algae and don't want to stay in the grapple," says Sobbo.

After the sheeting has been put up and the concrete has been poured, 600 tons of rocks must be put back around the lighthouse, as well as 20-foot steel sheets to create a protective wall, according to Sobbo.

The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society says they still needs more than $100,000 to finish the job.