Located on Lake Winnebago at Oshkosh, WI, the Rockwell (Brays Point) Lighthouse was built in 1911 with private funds. William Bray tried to convince the government to erect a lighthouse at the point where the Fox River empties into the lake, however, he was unsuccessful. He built the lighthouse with his own funds, and assumed the cost of upkeep and responsibility of keeping the light lit. The lighthouse was a part of Mr. Bray's private harbor improvements and his own pleasure boats. He transformed the entire point into a showplace where he entertained friends and colleagues. President William Howard Taft once visited here. The beacon was considered a government licensed light, however, after 1917 when commercial use became substantial; the government then realized the importance of the light and paid its expenses for a time.
This lighthouse is one of the most ornate of all Wisconsin lights, with white and cream colored stucco walls and delicate black ironwork. Numerous windows line the tower and a short staircase leads to a doorway at the light's base. During the late 1950's the light was turned off and the tower fell into disrepair for a number of years. The light was later restored and then re-lit in the summer of 1986 by the owners of the property.
This privately owned and operated lighthouse is in a residential area.
The beacon operates year round and is controlled by a photo sensor that
automatically turns the light on, day or night, when the sky darkens.
The owners of the light are listed with the U.S. Coast Guard as the
official lighthouse keepers. At the time of my visit here in 2002, this was an active lighthouse.
2 comments:
truly remsrkable. It reminds me of the Empire State Building
Thank you, Richard. I hadn't thought of this lighthouse looking like the Empire State Building, but since you mentioned it is a reminder.
Al Bates
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