Mysterious Looking, Yet Beautiful

Approximately 1 mile south of Winchester Bay, OR, the Umpqua River Lighthouse sets on a hill about 1000 yards from the Pacific Ocean.  In 2004 and 2005, I was privileged to work as a tour guide at this lighthouse. During that time, I experienced many foggy mornings but never took pictures. A few years ago, I returned to the lighthouse with my oldest son and was fortunate to get another look at the lighthouse in an early morning fog. There’s something mysterious, yet beautiful, about this lighthouse in the fog and surrounding pine trees. I’m pleased to share my picture and personal experience.

The nearby buildings are housing for Coast Guard personnel. Their duty station is located at the shoreline in the nearby city of Winchester Bay.

The Need Changed and Now She Sleeps

At Harding Beach, Chatham, MA sets the remains of the original Stage Harbor Lighthouse, built in 1880. Although inactive now and without a lantern room, this lighthouse is a landmark to local history, to lives saved, and to the history of navigation. 

At the elbow of Cape Cod and the north side of Nantucket Sound, is one of the foggier places on the East Coast. In the 19^th century, its fishing fleet and scores of other coasting vessels seeking shelter from contrary winds and bad weather, routinely sought refuge in Stage Harbor. To decrease the danger for mariners navigating into the harbor, the Lighthouse Board had this 48-foot, cast-iron lighthouse and attached clapboard keeper’s house built at the east end of Harding Beach, alongside the narrow channel.

In June 1933, the Stage Harbor Lighthouse was taken out of service after a new beacon was placed atop a white skeletal tower, located 308 feet south of the old lighthouse. (Skeletal tower is visible at right side of my picture.) The need for this original lighthouse changed and now she sleeps.

The government eventually declared the light station surplus property and sold it to the Hoyt's, a local family. The tower and house are private property.