The Lonely Lighthouse At The Curl of Cape Cod

Long Point Lighthouse is located near Provincetown, MA. This lonely lighthouse sits at the outermost curl of Cape Cod, and is almost the sole surviving structure at the location of what was once a thriving settlement. During the mid-nineteenth century, as many as 200 souls lived and worked along the sandy spit known as Long Point. However, during the Civil War the active community was abandoned after the Confederate warship Alabama was spotted in the waters off the Cape. Provincetown authorities hastily commissioned a pair of earthworks at Long Point as protection for the harbor town. No enemy ever materialized and local residents dubbed the twin embankments: "Fort Useless" and "Fort Harmless".

In 1827 the first light at Long Point was placed in a six-sided, wood-frame tower on the roof of the keepers dwelling which stood on piles. These piles were set eight feet in the sand and protected by 1,800 tons of granite blocks. 

 

The light was relocated in 1875 to the top of the thirty-eight foot square brick tower pictured. The tower was originally attached to the keepers dwelling which has been demolished. In 1927 a fifth-order Fresnel lens replaced the lamps and reflectors used earlier. The fifth-order lens eventually was replaced by a modern optic. In 1952 the light was automated, and in 1981 solar panels were installed. At the time of my visit the lighthouse was active and remains so as of the time of this writing.

A Rhode Island Lighthouse Captured From Connecticut

Watch Hill Lighthouse is located on the north side of the east entrance to Fishers Island Sound in Rhode Island. The first lighthouse built here in 1808 had a wooden 35-feet tall tower. It was replaced in 1857 by this 10-feet square, 45-feet high granite brick tower. At the time of my visit, literature I gathered about this lighthouse revealed the Lighthouse Keeper's Association maintained a small museum. It was open on Tuesday's and Thursday's only during the months of July and August. The light was active daily and displayed a white flashing light every fifteen seconds. 

As stated, this is a Rhode Island lighthouse, but I took the picture afar from Connecticut at Stonington Harbor.  Although I used a 500mm lens with a 2X coupler, it did not result in a quality picture. To enhance the picture I experimented using a paint software. Comparing the two pictures, you can see the one above was improved. Although not perfect, it provided you and me a better picture of this historic RI lighthouse.

A Massive Storm

This week I find it hard to post this blog and write about lighthouses. My thoughts are focused more on my family and friends who live in Florida. As I write this, there is a massive storm approaching that state. We all have experienced storms in our life, some worse than others. I have gone through two tornadoes and the outer limits of the recent Hurricane Harvey. However, none of these were life threatening for me or my family. 

Recent weather reports about Hurricane Irma and pictures of her projected route show it to be the largest and most powerful hurricane of record. If the storm continues to be as large across it as of the time of this writing, and its eye should hit around Miami and travel north, the storm could cover the entire state of Florida. If so, this storm’s path would enable it to touch every lighthouse (32) in the state. To my knowledge, this event could be a first. More important but drastic, the hurricane would impact every life in some way (21 Million +) in Florida.

Although most lighthouses were built to withstand severe storms, unfortunately, most homes were not built to stand against a category three or higher hurricane. 

I pray that your family, friends, and mine will be wise and evacuate to a safe place until after the storm.