Traveling for several years after retirement, my late wife
and I decided to settle in Texas. While conversing with an uninformed acquaintance
about our decision, he mentioned Texas didn’t have any lighthouses. I knew his
statement was incorrect because of having visited the Port Isabel Lighthouse. At the time I didn't know the number of TX lighthouses. Later
I learned that over time TX had seven operating lighthouses providing navigational aid to mariners along its
shores.
Although I’ve not had opportunity to visit the other six lighthouses, my friends (R. Barnett and his wife) did visit one of them, The
Aransas Pass Lighthouse. They provided me copies of their pictures, one of
which is shared in the post below.
The Aransas Pass Lighthouse, nicknamed Lydia Ann, was built
in 1857. It is located on Harbor Island, TX. Its octagonal tower stands 55-feet
tall and originally the lantern room housed a fourth-order Fresnel lens. After
the beginning of the Civil War, the lens was removed for safekeeping. During
the war, the upper portion of the tower was damaged from kegs of powder being exploded inside the tower. After the war, repairs were not completed on this lighthouse until the
spring of 1867 due to very severe winter weather.
Over time, hurricanes and other
weather damaged the adjacent buildings and generated need for constant
repairs. In 1928, electricity was brought to the station in the form of diesel
generators to power a newly installed radio beacon.
Due to erosion over years, Aransas Pass had inched over one
mile south of the lighthouse. In 1952, a new light was established at the Port
Aransas Coast Guard Station, and the Aransas Pass Lighthouse deactivated. It
had operated for almost 100 years.
The lighthouse was sold in 1955 and is now privately owned.
1 comment:
Fascinating!! Thank you Al!!
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