Thursday, September 22, 2011
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The Keeper Of The Light
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The tumultuous history of Cape May’s lighthouses... by Ben Miller
he Cape May Lighthouse has guided sailors for more than 180 years. The tower seen todayhas only been in place since 1859. Prior to that, two other lighthouses helped ships navigate. What is believed to be the first lighthouse was built in 1823 and rose to a height of 68 feet – the present lighthouse is 157 feet tall. There’s been some debate as to whether the 1823 tower was the first. Public records show a land purchase in 1785, with a notation that the land was to be used for a beacon. An advertisement that appeared in a Philadelphia newspaper in 1801 also spoke of the “… confluence of Delaware Bay with the ocean, in sight of the lighthouse…” Supporters of this notion have claimed that President George Washington spoke to Congress about the issue in 1790. However, President Washington’s speech, recounted in a 1791 edition of Clay Poole’s Daily Advertiser, debunks the idea. While it’s true the president mentioned erecting a lighthouse on Cape Island, he was referencing a message received from the governor of North Carolina. The General Assembly of that state enacted a plan to build two lighthouses, including one on ‘Cape Island.’ Further research has revealed that the first Cape Hatteras lighthouse in North Carolina was constructed between 1799 and 1802. The US government officially recognizes Cape May’s 1823 lighthouse as the first and has pointed to a 1790 report by former Secretary of the Treasury, Alexander Hamilton, that indicates there was no lighthouse in Cape May. In hindsight, the 1823 lighthouse was constructed a little too close to the water. Due to a series of brutal storms, the land was eroded from beneath it by the Atlantic Ocean. A second beacon was built as a replacement in 1847. In what would prove to be a bad decision, it was hastily constructed to be placed into service quickly. The tower was placed further inland and stood 78 feet tall. The extra elevation made it more visible to the sailors. The builders employed a level of urgency, which meant that corners were cut in the construction. Mainly, the tower walls were not as thick as they should have been and the entire structure soon became unstable. As a result, the United States Lighthouse Service built a third tower only 12 years later. This third building is the one that stands
Postcards have depicted Cape May’s current lighthouse since it was built in 1859 Don Pocher at Cape May Point today. Construction began in 1857 and was completed in 1859. It was built much differently than the previous two. The third lighthouse was erected with two separate walls to increase the stability and longevity of the structure. It was also designed to endure winds more powerful than those of a major hurricane, thanks to a design that called for the outside wall to taper as the height increased. It measures almost four feet thick at the bottom and 18 inches thick at the top. The inside wall is just under nine inches thick from top
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Climb The Lighthouse The lighthouse is open to the public seven days a week. Sunday: 10am-5pm, Monday-Thursday: 10am-4pm, and Friday and Saturday: 10am-6pm. Tickets are $7 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12. Trolley Tours MAC offers a variety of trolley tours, many – like “Welcome to Cape May” and “Ghosts of the Lighthouse” – make stops at the light. Call 884-5404 or visit CapeMayMAC. org for more information. Friends Of The Lighthouse This group to helps raise awareness of the historic significance and value of this Guardian of the Sea. As a Friend, you and your family receive• free admission, invitations to special programs and a 10% discount on items purchased at the light, among other benefits.