Massachusetts - Cape Ann (Thacher's Island) Lighthouses

These lighthouses are located at Rockport, MA. - The Commonwealth of Massachusetts established a twin-light station on the northeast side of Thacher's Island. The original rubble masonry lighthouses, built in 1771, stood 298 yards apart from each other. The north tower, 39 feet high and the south tower 35 feet high were oriented in a northeast-southwest alignment. They lasted until 1861 before being replaced by a pair of 124-foot high cut granite structures. Each are 30 feet in diameter at the base, 18 feet at the top, and were equipped with first-order Fresnel lenses. Both towers displayed fixed white lights. When the beacon in the north tower was extinguished in 1932, as an efficiency move, the south tower light was changed to a more intense flashing white beam. Before my visit here in 2001, the light had been changed to red.

Thacher's Island became the property of the Town of Rockport in 1980, the same year the south light was automated. At the time of my 2001 visit, the property was managed by the Thacher4's Island Association in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. One of its notable achievements was the successful restoration of the long-neglected north tower, which was relighted in 1989 as a private aid to navigation. That year, and for the next several years, the Association operated a launch for island visitors until a winter storm of 1995 destroyed the landing ramp. The group hoped to renew the trips once the landing area was restored, and most likely has done so by now.

Massachusetts - Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse

The Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse is located at Plum Island, MA. - The original lights were a pair of wood-framed range lights built in 1783 on the dunes at the north end of Plum Island, on the south side of the river's mouth. When mariners aligned the two lights, it meant they were safely in the channel over Newburyport bar and proceeding into the harbor.

Because storms and tides frequently altered the channel's course, the towers were made so they could be moved over the sand. Not an easy task, but apparently a quite regular one. The first towers were replaced in 1838 by a pair of octagonal structures, also portable, and these were repositioned on several occasions during ensuing years. One government report stated, "The towers, being tall and unwieldy, require a strong force of men to shift them from one position to another ... and the frequent necessity of so doing may be estimated by the fact that during nine years past they have both been moved upwards of three thousand feet."

By 1890, the channel had so changed course, the front range light was considered useless and was discontinued. Eight years later, a 35-foot conical, wood-frame tower was built to replace the range lights. The above white shingled structure is the one that was in place at the time of my visit in 2001. It was automated in 1951 and shined a green light from 50 feet above the sea. Shore structures prevent the beacon from being seen in certain sectors to the south and northwest of its location.

Massachusetts - Hospital Point Range Front Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located at Beverly, MA.  The first lighthouse here was built in 1872 on the grounds of a one-time smallpox hospital. The lighthouse was a primitive wooden structure used only until the permanent pyramidal brick tower was completed the following year. From the first, Hospital Point Light has essentially been a range light. It was designed to show brightest along the center of the main ship channel between Baker and Little Misery Islands. The original light is a Federal-style lighthouse. The flashing white front beacon is 73 feet above the sea level and is visible all around. The Hospital Point Range Front light was automated in 1947, and the station became quarters for the First Coast Guard Commander. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active light.

Be sure to see the post below about the Hospital Point Range Rear Light. It works in conjunction with the above light to enable mariners safe entry into the channel.

Massachusetts - Hospital Point Range Rear Light

This rear range light is located in a church steeple at Beverly, MA.  In 1927, the light was placed in the steeple of this 1801 First Baptist Church to work with the front range light. This rear range light is one mile to the west-northwest of the Hospital Point Range Front Lighthouse. The church light, at 183 feet up, can be seen only two degrees either side of the range line. By aligning the two, mariners knew they were safely in the middle of the channel. Note the square window about mid-way up the church steeple. This is location of the light. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active rear range light.

Massachusetts - Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located at Rockport Harbor, Cape Ann, MA. In 1835 a 19-foot cylindrical lighthouse was erected on the northeastern point of the island. It served as a guide to vessels running through the narrow channel between Thachere's Island. In 1897, the old brick and mortar tower was superseded by a similar, but taller structure. The original had stood directly on an open ledge; the replacement was mounted on an eight-foot, cut-granite foundation, bringing the overall height to 37 feet. At the time of my visit here in 1997, the keepers house was still standing, but reported as badly deteriorated. The Massachusetts Audubon Society maintained the island as part of the Ipswich Wildlife Sanctuary.

Massachusetts - Ten-Pound Island Lighthouse

The Ten-Pound Island Lighthouse is located at Gloucster, MA. The first light built here in 1821 was a 20-foot rubble masonry structure with a stone house nearby for the keeper and a covered walkway between the two. The light station was rebuilt in 1881 when the present 30-foot, brown, cast-iron tower was erected.

The light at Ten Pound Island was automated in 1956. Twelve years later, the beacon was relocated to a nearby skeletal tower rising from a concrete house. In the meantime, the keeper's dwelling and oil storage building were allowed to fall into ruin, and the property was returned to the town of Gloucester, the original owner. Working to get the lighthouse named to the National Register of Historic Places, the city obtained matching grant money to restore and relight the light. The tower color was changed to white. On August 7, 1989, the light was turned on as a private aid to navigation. It shows a red light for six seconds, followed by an equal period of darkness. At the time of my visit in 1997, this was an active light.

Massachusetts - Eastern Point Lighthouse

The Eastern Point Lighthouse is located at Gloucester, MA.  -  The lighthouse at Eastern Point is the third to stand on this granite promontory. The first was a stone tower put up in 1832 to aide the great growing fleet of Gloucester fisherman. Dampness quickly worked into the structure, causing multiple problems. Keeper, Samuel Wonson, complained in 1842 that the tower "leaks in every direction." He indicated that it was "covered with ice in winter and green mold in summer" and "the rain blows in under the deck of the lantern room and runs through the walls." It had to be replaced twice - first in 1848 and again in 1890. Today's light shines from a cylindrical brick structure, 36 feet high and painted white. It is connected by a covered walkway to a two-story keeper's house which was erected in 1879 and lived in by a Coast Guard family. At the time of my visit here in 1997, this was an active lighthouse. If you click on the picture, the larger view will show the covered walkway and buildings more vivid.

Massachusetts - Bakers Island Lighthouse

The Bakers Island Lighthouse is located at Salem Harbor, MA.  -  The original twin-lights station, built in 1798 on the rocky 60-acre Bakers Island, were crude wooden structures attached to either end of the keeper's house. Dampness caused one to rot so much that its light was discontinued in 1817. This sparked ship-masters' complaints that the single beacon created confusion with Boston Light located to the south. In response , the Lighthouse Board reestablished the second light as a stop-gap, while it made plans for two new towers.

The second set of Bakers Island lighthouses were built in 1821 and were white, conical rubble-stone structures. One was built taller than the other, so their lights could shine from different heights for easier identification. The Mariners quickly dubbed them "Mr and Mrs Baker."

The shorter tower was taken down in the late 1800s, and the taller equipped with a stronger beacon. The light was automated in 1972. It shines an alternating white and red light from 111 feet above the water. The station has been leased to the Bakers Island Association, which oversees the entire island. At the time of my visit here in 1997, this was an active light.