A Massachusetts Beauty - The Chatham Lighthouse

The Chatham Lighthouse is located at 37 Main Street, Chatham, MA. Originally, twin 40-foot octagonal lighthouses, built nearby in 1808, marked the west side of Chatham Harbor, which was once a busy, open port. Within three decades, lingering moisture had significantly rotted the wooden structures, and they were replaced in 1841 by a pair of 30-foot brick towers with fourth-order Fresnel lenses. Concerned about the erosion of the nearby cliffs, the government relocated the towers to a newer site more than a quarter of a mile from sea. But the substantial change was not sufficient. By 1870, the edge of the receding embankment was only 230-feet from the interior location, and six years later it was within 100-feet.

In 1877 the Lighthouse Board recognized the station was in jeopardy and approved a second move. Two cast-iron towers, lined with brick, were erected even further inland, situated 100-feet apart, with a new keeper's house between them. In December 1879, the old south tower toppled off the cliff. Little more than a year later, the old north light and keeper's dwelling also toppled.

Early in the 20th Century, the government began phasing out twin-light stations in the interest of economy. In 1923, the newer north tower was moved to North Eastham to replace the sole surviving Three Sisters Light at Nauset Beach. In 1969, the remaining Chatham tower, pictured above, was refitted with an aerobeacon. The light was automated in 1982.

The Fresnel lenses from both lights are exhibited at the Chatham Historical Society's Old Atwood House.

At the time of my visit here in 2001, this lighthouse was an active light.