Hailed as Greatest Engineering Effort in History of Lighthouse Construction

In my previous post of 15 Mar 2018, I mentioned the Minot’s Ledge Lighthouse and how important it became to mariners in 1850 after problems arose with the Scituate Lighthouse.

Located off-shore at Cohasset, MA, is the Minot's Ledge Lighthouse. It was the nation's first lighthouse constructed on an exposed, off-shore spot, a ledge fully submerged at high tide.

The first Minot's Ledge Lighthouse, built here in 1850, stood on nine steel piles, supporting a keeper's quarters and lantern room that reached 75-feet above the sea. That light barley survived 15 months before a furious 1851 storm toppled it into the sea and claimed the lives of two assistant keepers.

In 1855, work began on the replacement lighthouse. Over the next five years crews constructed a rugged 97-foot shaft of gray granite blocks, dovetailed together and fastened with steel pins. The foundation stones, securely bolted to the underlying ledge, were laid on a carefully prepared bed, fully two feet below the low tide mark. The first 20 courses, to a height of 40 feet, were solid stone. The next 20 encompassed the light keeper's living area, work space, and storerooms. In 1860, the lighthouse was activated and the remarkable engineering effort has been hailed as the greatest in the history of lighthouse construction. The tower has firmly withstood the ocean's direct assault ever since, despite the fact waves sometimes engulf the entire structure and break over the top.

In 1894, the Minot's Ledge beacon was altered from a fixed white light to flashing, with a 1-4-3 sequence that local residents have traditionally called the "I love you" lighthouse. In 1947, the light was automated and since 1983 has operated on solar power. 

Although not a quality picture, I felt fortunate to obtain the results I did with a 500mm lens, since this lighthouse sits a good distance offshore. 

Two Women Remembered As “The American Army of Two”

At Scituate, MA. stands the historical and unique Scituate Lighthouse. In 1811, the Lighthouse Service contracted to build a 24-foot octagonal granite tower, backed with rubble stone, at the north side of the entrance to Scituate Harbor. The new light soon caused as much confusion as it provided help to the mariners. Skippers spied Scituate's fixed white signal, thinking they were approaching the Boston Light.

To differentiate the two stations, the US Lighthouse Service added a 14-foot section of brick work to elevate Scituate's Light. Then a second fixed red beacon was installed on the east side of the tower wall. However, the crimson beam was feeble, and from any appreciable distance offshore the two colors blended into one. The ship wrecks continued until a solution was realized in the construction of the Minot's Ledge Lighthouse. As soon as the spindle legged Minot's went into service in 1850, Scituate Light was turned off. However, when the former light went down in the great storm of 1851, the Scituate beacon was reestablished and remained lit until Minot’s replacement structure was finished in 1860.

Simon Bates was the initial keeper of Scituate Lighthouse. During the War of 1812, Bates' two daughters, Rebecca and Abigail, by themselves, saved the town from possible destruction at the hands of a British warship. In September 1814, the man of war ship La Hogue anchored and several boatloads of soldiers put off for shore. Watching the enemy movement from the lighthouse tower, the Bates girls, alone at the station, sprang into action. Grabbing a drum and fife, the children dashed into nearby cover and began playing with all the gusto they could muster. The shrill notes and rhythmical beat soon reached the ears of the startled British commander, who must have surmised American troops were marshaling to meet his landing party. He promptly sounded a signal ordering his long-boats back to the ship. The La Hogue sailed away, the town was spared, and the Bates girls have since been fondly remembered by towns people as "The American Army of Two." Although the name Bates is synonymous with mine, research did not reveal any relationship to Simon Bates.

In 1916, the Scituate Lighthouse was put up for sale and the following year purchased by the Town of Scituate. After providing periodic maintenance to both the tower and keeper's house, in 1968 civic leaders made the Scituate Historical Society the light's caretaker. That same year, the organization succeeded in having the treasured landmark added to the National Register of Historic Places, and later the light relight as a private light.

The Only Woman Keeper at Muskegon Lighthouse

The Muskegon South Pier Lighthouse is located in the inner harbor at Muskegon, MI. This conical bright red steel tower was built in 1903 and stands 48 feet high.

 

The first lighthouse at Muskegon was built in 1851 on land at the south side of the Muskegon River’s mouth. (Location approx to lighthouse on right in picture.) It was a one and a half story rubble stone dwelling with a wooden tower atop the dwelling. The tower stood 26 feet above ground and its light was provided by a series of lamps and reflectors. In 1856, a sixth-order Fresnel lens replaced the lamps and reflectors.

That original lighthouse was torn down and a new wooden dwelling built in 1871 with a square tower atop the dwelling. The lantern room of the new lighthouse was equipped with a fourth-order lens. It served as navigational aid from atop the dwelling until 1903 when it was removed and installed in the circular red metal tower pictured above.

Men served as keepers at Muskegon until 1862. Jemima Monroe was the only woman to serve as keeper at the lighthouse. She was made keeper after her keeper husband died in 1862. She served as keeper for nine years while raising two children until her resignation in 1871.

One of Few Lighthouses Kept By Women

Port Pontchartrain Lighthouse is located at Milneburg, Lake Pontchartrain, LA. The town of Milneburg was once a popular resort town. Originally, this lighthouse was named Milneburg Lighthouse.

The first lighthouse built here in 1839 had an octagonal shaped wood tower and stood 28-feet high. A series of lamps and reflectors provided its light.

A new brick tower constructed in 1855 also stood 28-feet high. Its lantern room housed a fifth-order Fresnel lens. In1880, the diameter of the tower top was increased to support a new lantern room. That modification also raised the tower's height to 35-feet.

Men served as keepers of this lighthouse until 1882 when women began serving. This lighthouse is one of few lighthouses in the U.S. where women served as keepers. They served at this lighthouse from 1882 until the light was discontinued in 1929.