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.
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.
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