Last Brick Lighthouse Built On The Outer Banks

North Carolina’s northern-most lighthouse is the Currituck Beach Lighthouse. It is located at Corolla on Currituck Banks. Construction of this 162-foot tower was completed in 1875. This lighthouse was the last brick lighthouse to be built on the Outer Banks. Unlike many other lighthouses that were painted distinctive day-marks, Currituck was not painted. The first-order Fresnel lens was automated in 1939. This action eliminated the need for keepers and their use of the keepers dwelling. During World War II, men guarding the coast used the dwelling. However, after the war the light station was abandoned.

 

Neglect of the dwelling and tower, over time, caused both of them to fall into disrepair, especially the dwelling. Concerned citizens formed the “Outer Banks Conservationist Group,” a private organization. They leased the property and surrounding buildings, except the lighthouse, from the state. The organization invested years and millions of dollars restoring the dwelling and repairs to the lighthouse. Since then, they have been awarded ownership of the lighthouse and surrounding buildings. The dwelling is now on the National Register of Historic Places.

At the time of this writing, the Fresnel lens, still active, is lit daily from dusk to dawn. The Currituck Beach Lighthouse is open to the public during the summer time, enabling folks to climb the 214-steps up to the gallery.

You See It, Thanks To a Local Citizen

Marblehead’s original light station was built in 1835 at Marblehead, MA. It consisted of a brick tower, only 20 feet tall, and a nearby keeper's dwelling. Built between the two structures was a 100-foot covered walk. By 1880, multi-story shore-front summer cottages had sprung up around the point. They all but obscured the lighthouse beacon to vessels approaching from the south. As a remedy, the Lighthouse Board erected a 100-foot mast between the tower and houses, and rigged it with an auxiliary lantern. Mariners complained the new arrangement was unsatisfactory.

In 1896, the Board built this square pyramidal iron tower for less than $8,800, instead of spending an estimated $45,000 for a brick tower of the same height. This tower is unlike any other New England lighthouse and stands 130 feet tall. The tower’s brown skeleton-like structure surrounds a central cast-iron cylinder whose 127 step spiral staircase leads up to the black lantern room deck. 

The Coast Guard made preliminary plans in 1948 to do away with this light station and tear down the tower. Instead, they sold the structures and its surrounding four acres to a local citizen. He donated everything to the town of Marblehead. Town officials named the area Chandler Hovey Park after the donor.

In 1959, the keepers dwelling was torn down. A year later the light was automated and a modern optic replaced the sixth-order Fresnel lens.

Thanks to Marblehead, MA and their citizen who preserved this lighthouse and part of the town's history.