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Eastern Point Lighthouse is situated at the eastern tip of Massachusetts Gloucester Harbor. Known as America's oldest seaport, the harbor has supported fishermen, whalers, traders, and even smugglers since 1616. The Perfect Storm, which was filmed locally and featured the beautiful Eastern Point Lighthouse, illustrates a natural danger awaiting those who depend upon the sea for a living storms. Between 1830 and 1910, 779 vessels and 5,305 persons out of Gloucester were lost at sea. In addition to treacherous currents and ledges, locals claimed there was yet another danger lurking in the waters the Gloucester Sea Serpent. John Josselyn Gent recorded the first sighting of the monster in 1638 and was prevented from shooting it by an Indian who warned of bad luck should he do so. Frequent sightings continued throughout the 1800s. In 1817, hundreds claimed to have seen the shiny monster. A reward was established, and specially outfitted boats cruised the harbor in search of it. It may be that the sea serpent was in fact one of the very creatures that brought prosperity to many locals the whale. By the late 19th century, sea captains of Gloucester were amassing great wealth trading with China, Suriname, India, and Europe. While those working with Suriname raked in the highest profits, with it also came shame, as the business typically included slaves along with the rum, molasses, and dried fish. To protect their valuable fleets of handsome schooners, residents appealed for a lighthouse. In 1821, a light was constructed on Ten Pound Island inside Gloucester Harbor, but it was not visible to ships outside the harbor. In addition, sea-goers were known to confuse it with Bemo Ledge (known as False Point) and end up wrecked near Braces Cove. A grove of oak trees had served as a landmark for entering the harbor before Eastern Point Lighthouse was constructed, but in 1829, the Boston Marine Society wrote a letter saying a more permanent marker was needed: it is the opinion of this Society, that the erection of a monument on Eastern Point Cape Ann, would be highly useful to navigation in Boston Baythe old landmarks of trees being nearly decayed and gone... An unlit stone daymark was built on the point in 1829 for $1,188, after a suitable plot was purchased for $100 from George Burnham. When the monument proved insufficient, residents appealed to the government again, but President Andrew Jackson stepped in to block construction of an Eastern Point Lighthouse (perhaps because Gloucester had not supported him in the 1828 presidential election). However, strong Congressional support managed to push the project through, and Jackson ultimately signed the authorization. Construction on the light began in 1831 and cost $2,579. Samuel Friend converted the former daymarker into a lighthouse through the addition of a wrought iron lantern and a copper dome. The fixed white light in the 30-foot tower first shone on January 1, 1832. As Eastern Point's first keeper, Samuel Wonson (keeper 1832-1849) was paid $400 annually. Wonson and his wife Lydia moved into the tiny keepers house with a kitchen and two rooms on the ground floor and two more small rooms above that. While less costly than building a lighthouse from scratch, the makeshift structure had its disadvantages, for the small, six-foot diameter of the lantern did not allow a man to stand comfortably while trimming the wicks of its ten, whale-oil-fueled lamps. Engineer I.W.P. Lewis' 1843 inspection found the light was decayed, leaky, without ventilation, and in need of rebuilding. While highlighting the importance of the location, he recommended the number of lamps could be reduced to just one without diminishing the light's effectiveness. Keeper Wonson wrote about the unpleasant conditions endured by his family for Engineer Lewis' report to Congress: It is built of rough-split stone, laid dry, and pointed inside and out; the deck is soapstone; the tower leaks in every direction; the walls inside are covered with ice in the winter, and green mould in summer; the window casings are loose in the walls and rotten besides; the door frames and sills are also rotten; the posts of the lantern only run down one foot in the walls, and in gales of wind it is wrenched and shaken so as to break the glass; the scuttle frame is entirely rotten; the rain blows in under the deck of the lantern, and runs through the walls. Congress listened. In 1848, the original lighthouse was torn down and rebuilt by Winslow Lewis for $2,550. The new 34-foot-high lighthouse, built of brick, showed a fixed red light that was fondly referred to as the ruby light after its activation on November 3, 1848. In 1857, a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed, increasing visibility of the light from eleven to thirteen miles. A new lantern and hand-wound fog-bell mechanism were also installed that year. Due to the additional work required by the manually operated fog bell, a second keeper was added. A new bell weighing about 1,120 pounds was installed in 1868. The bell was purchased with the proceeds from selling the old bell and a condemned bell, which had long been in store in the first district. In September of that year, the fog bell tower was blown down and destroyed. Luckily, the bell itself was unharmed and hung on a temporary frame where it was rung by hand until repairs were made. A new fog-bell tower arrived at the station and was erected in July 1877. The wooden two-story, Gothic Revival keeper's dwelling that was built in 1879 still stands. It was there with Keeper Charles Friend that the famous American artist Winslow Homer spent the year of 1880 painting the seascapes and views of everyday life that would become his most famous works. Also that year, after a whistling buoy known as Mother Ann's Cow was installed to provide an additional warning, summer residents complained that its shrilling disturbed their sleep. In particular, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps (a prominent local writer) called for its removal, claiming she suffered from a nervous ailment. In response, the United States Secretary of Navy ordered the buoy removed from May to October. Following Ms. Phelps' wedding to the Rev. Herbert Ward, the Boston Record reported, Since her marriage, Mrs. Ward is much better, and the officer who had to remove the buoy has put it back with the assurance that next summer he will have no orders to disturb it. On October 1, 1882, the light was changed from a fourth-order fixed red light to a fourth-order flashing red light. In 1890, the present thirty-six-foot-tall, cylindrical light tower with a black lantern and red roof was built on the foundation of the 1848 tower, which was demolished. The brick tower was painted white and attached to the keepers dwelling by a covered walkway. A new bell tower was also erected in 1890. Given all the hardships facing keepers in general, those at Eastern Point Lighthouse must have felt fortunate to receive modern conveniences far earlier than those at isolated stations. Electricity arrived at the station in 1896, telephone service was hooked up the following year, and a connection to city water was made in 1901. In January 1897, a 4,000-pound steam-driven fog bell (said to peal like a cathedral bell) was installed. The 2,250-foot breakwater in front of the lighthouse was built using 231,756 tons of Cape Ann granite blocks for $300,000 between 1894 and 1905 to protect the harbor. Before the breakwater was completed, nearly forty ships had crashed into it, demonstrating the need for a light to mark the outward end of the obstacle. A wooden tripod supporting a beacon was installed, and the keepers at Eastern Point Light were given the added responsibility of caring for the light, known as the Gloucester Breakwater Light or Dog Bar Breakwater Light, as the breakwater was built over dangerous Dog Bar Reef. This additional duty could become quite dangerous when gale-swept waves broke over the breakwater and ice coated the granite blocks. In 1908, a second keeper's dwelling was added. After fourth-order Fresnel lens was replaced by a modern optic, it was placed on display at the Cape Ann Historical Museum in Gloucester. When Eastern Point Lighthouse was automated in 1985, approximately twenty neighbors attended the ceremony. Carroll Wonson, a great grandson of the light's first keeper, was given the honor of being the last person to manually turn on the light, which now exhibits a white flash every five seconds After taking East Main Street past Niles Beach one is permitted to pass the stone pillars marked private to access the small parking area at the station, where an oceanfront path leads to the Dog Bar Breakwater. Access to the lighthouse and keepers dwelling and anywhere inside the station's fence is prohibited. Nevertheless, Coast Guard personnel at the station have witnessed tourists who picnic on the lawn, peer in the windows, and even one who walked into the front door of the dwelling without knocking. Besides the lighthouse and attached keeper's dwelling, also found at the station are an oil house (1894), a radio beacon (1931), and a foghorn building (1951).
Cape Cod's oldest lighthouse, locally known as the Highland Light, is officially named "Cape Cod Light" on the NOAA nautical chart for the region. It sits perched 120 feet above the ocean in the Highlands of Truro. Its beam shines 174 ft. above sea level to give mariners warning of the treacherous sandbars off this shore. The Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse is a major attraction for visitors to Cape Cod. The Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse Upgrades The Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse was built in 1797, rebuilt in 1853, and replaced in the same location with the current structure in 1857. The first illumination was fueled with whale oil, then subsequently, lard, kerosene, and finally, electricity. In 1901 a new, more powerful lens was installed. This "First Order" Fresnel lens greatly extended the seaward reach of the beam of light, flashing one half-second flash every 5 seconds. In 1932 the light was electrified. During the 1950's this Fresnel Lens was replaced by a four-way beacon. In 1986 the Highland Light was automated with a 2-way beacon, using the same signature. The Highlands of Truro have been steadily eroding since 1797. When Thoreau visited Highland Light in the 1850's, he wrote in "Cape Cod" about the extensive erosion of the cliffs fronting the lighthouse. In 1990 only 128 feet of the original 500 foot setback remained. Then concerned citizens of the Town of Truro took action. After years of fund-raising, which included contributions from the citizens of Truro and many visitors from all over the world, the lighthouse was moved to its present site. Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse Relocation In July of 1996, when the Highland Light was only 100 feet away from the edge of the cliff, the lighthouse was moved to its present location. The International Chimney Company of Buffalo, New York lifted the 430 ton lighthouse, and pushed it on steel "I" beams, lubricated with Ivory Soap, 453 feet to a safer location. The $1.54 million dollar cost was shared among the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the United States Coast Guard, the National Park Service, and the Truro Historical Society. The Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse is owned by the Cape Cod National Seashore and is managed by Highland Museum and Lighthouse, Inc., a private non-profit organization. The light is maintained by the United States Coast Guard, and continues to function as a primary aid to navigation. Handicap Accessibility At Cape Cod Highland Lighthouse There is limited handicap parking at the lighthouse. Anyone that is unable to climb the lighthouse stairs is welcome to come into the base of the lighthouse and also view the video part of the lighthouse tour at no charge. The 10 minute video (accessible through the gift shop entrance) includes a history of the lighthouse, the moving of the lighthouse in time lapse photography and the relighting of the light. A one hour long version of the video is available in the gift shop.
Bright Starts Tropical Turtle is an entertaining toy that teaches shapes and colors through lights and sounds. Press sides of shell to begin a fun color game and activate dancing lights and tropical melodies. The music mode plays four calypso tunes. It has wheels which promote crawling. The fun flippers with popping beads rattle and you can shake as baby pushes the turtle.- $15
Points of light.
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
Illustration of a christmas shiny starburst (Dynamic Editable Colors)
See photo in original gallery.
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