A Unique Twin Tower Light Station

The Navesink Lighthouse is a twin lighthouse located in Highlands, NJ. It overlooks the entrance to the New York Bay. In 1862, these two brownstone towers were built to replace the original octagonal towers built in 1828. The north tower, on right, is octagonal, and the south tower, left, is square. These similar towers are both 64-feet high and they set 320-feet apart. An 18-room dwelling for keeper's and crews connect the two towers. The towers are located approximately 246-feet above sea level. In 1898, the octagonal tower’s light was discontinued but the light was held in reserve as an emergency light.

The twin lights hold a prominent place in American maritime history as the first lighthouse to use the Fresnel lens. In 1841 a French "first order" fixed light was placed in the south tower (square), and a "second order" revolving light in the north tower. In 1898 an enormous electric-arc bivalve lens, measuring nine feet in diameter, replaced the south tower beehive-type light. To illuminate this new lens, the Lighthouse Service built an electric generator house on site. This made Navesink Light the only shore station having a plant for electric generation. It was estimated the candle power was 25,000,000, which made it the most powerful coastal light in the United States. The revolving light, due to the curvature of the earth, could be seen about 22 miles at sea. Its beam reported to have also been observed in the sky at a distance of 70 nautical miles.

With improvement in floating aids, such as Lightships, Radar, etc, the lighthouse lost some of its importance as in early years. The south tower continued to operate until 1949 when it was changed to "unwatched status" and then discontinued in 1952. It was used as a day beacon until 1963. The light in the north tower was taken out of service, but was re-lit in 1962 with a smaller commemorative light. At the time of my visit here, the lighthouse complex and grounds were owned and operated by the state of New Jersey. Part of this very unique light station contained a museum.

My Granddaughter and I Both Disappointed

Recently, I received a text message and picture from one of my daughters and her family on vacation in North Carolina. Her picture below, tower only, is of a lighthouse they visited. She stated my 11-year old granddaughter wanted to climb to the top of the lighthouse, but all remaining tours for the day were booked, so she was very disappointed.

Likewise, I was disappointed in 2000 when I visited the Bodie Island Lighthouse because it was not open that day. The lighthouse is located just north of the Oregon Inlet Bridge, (Pea Island), NC and is the third lighthouse built on Bodie Island. (Photo below of lighthouse with dwelling, my picture.)

 In 1847, the first lighthouse constructed on the island was built at a height of 54-feet. A series of lanterns and reflectors provided light for that first lighthouse. After 11 years, its foundation failed. Therefore, the second lighthouse was built in 1859. Its tower rose 80-feet high and the lantern room was equipped with a third-order Fresnel lens. During the Civil War, the second lighthouse was damaged to the extent it was inoperable and not cost effective to restore.

Construction of this third lighthouse was completed in 1872. Height of the tower and lantern room is 164-feet. The lantern room houses a first-order Fresnel lens and is lighted from dusk to dawn daily. In 1940 the light was automated.

A Lighthouse Unique In At Least Two Ways

The Ludington N. Breakwater Lighthouse is located at Ludington, MI on Lake Michigan. Built of steel in 1924, it replaced a previous acetylene light on a concrete column. The tower stands 57 feet high and is a four-sided pyramid style. First, this lighthouse is unique with its round windows.  Second, the dark base of the tower is unique in that it was made to help deflect water during storms, like the prow of a ship. My picture doesn't show it well, but the prow like structure is on the left side of the tower base. The lower portion of the tower houses a fog horn. Originally the lantern room housed a fourth order Fresnel lens and the light could be seen for 15 miles out on the lake. In 1972 the light was automated, and then in 1995 the lens was replaced with a beacon light.   

The Coast Guard declared the lighthouse excess in 2005. Under the provisions of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000, they offered it at no cost to eligible entities. After a review process in May 2006, custody of the lighthouse was transferred to the City of Ludington. Later, the city signed an agreement with the Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association to maintain the lighthouse and open it to the public.

Civic Groups Saved This Second-order Fresnel Lens

The Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse sits between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, FL at Hillsboro Inlet. Although not built until 1907, requests were made as far back as 1851 to have a lighthouse built at Hillsboro Inlet. The Lighthouse Board decided not to build a new structure, but instead acquired a steel skeleton tower which had been displayed at the 1904 Great St. Louis Exposition. The tower was disassembled and transported to Hillsboro Inlet where workers erected it alongside three wood-framed houses built for the keeper and his assistants.

The completed lighthouse is a 137-foot tall pyramidal structure. Its lower framework was painted white and the entire upper portion black. A central spiral stairway rises 175 steps from ground level to the watch room just beneath the lantern room. The lantern room was equipped with a second-order Fresnel Lens with light provided from a kerosene lamp. In 1932, the light was electrified. 

 

 In 1974, the Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse was automated. Later, the keepers' quarters, except for the head keepers which was destroyed in a 1947 hurricane, were converted to vacation retreats for senior military personnel. 

Due to requests from local civic groups, the Coast Guard, in 1999, reversed a previous decision to have the Fresnel lens removed and placed in a museum. Instead, a historic relighting of the original second-order Fresnel lens was celebrated.