The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, built in1874, was originally equipped with
a fourth order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse stood firm against the onslaught of
winds, rains, and tides for 40 years at its original location. Then, in 1913 a
severe storm significantly damaged the foundation. This required moving the lighthouse westward about
150-feet to where it now sits at the north end of Five Mile Beach, North
Wildwood, NJ.
The lighthouse is a wood frame residential design style
known as "Carpenter/Swiss Gothic" or "Stick Style" making
for a very picturesque but substantially built structure. It is the only one of
this type on the East Coast. The tower is 49 1/2 feet high with the light elevation
rising to 57 feet above sea level. The light was visible at a distance of 13
nautical miles. Its purpose was to mark the entrance of the inlet for ships
supporting the coal trade, and to aid the whalers hauling in their catches to
butcher.
For the next 50 years the lighthouse continued in operation, but in 1964 an iron light tower was erected behind the lighthouse. (Left side of picture.) The iron tower was fitted with a modern automatic marine beacon. After this change, the lighthouse and its entire property was closed, including the old Coast Guard Station, and transferred to the NJ Marine Police. Boarded up, the lighthouse remained so for the next 18 years to deteriorate. In 1977, the lighthouse was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
For the next 50 years the lighthouse continued in operation, but in 1964 an iron light tower was erected behind the lighthouse. (Left side of picture.) The iron tower was fitted with a modern automatic marine beacon. After this change, the lighthouse and its entire property was closed, including the old Coast Guard Station, and transferred to the NJ Marine Police. Boarded up, the lighthouse remained so for the next 18 years to deteriorate. In 1977, the lighthouse was listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
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