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History
Cape May Lighthouse
The wind it blew from Sou'sou'east,
It blew a pleasant breeze
And the man upon the lookout cried:
"A Light upon the lee!"
They reported to the Captain and
these words did he say -
"Cheer up my sailor lads,
Its the light on old Cape May.
Although the English are believed to have laid the ground work
for a lighthouse on the cape as early as 1744, there has yet to be
found positive proof that the lighthouse was actually built. What is
certain is that Congress granted authority for the appointment of
commissioners to purchase a site on Cape May for the erection of a
lighthouse.
The site selected was a high bluff at Cape Island (Cape May
City) in front of the property later occupied by Congress Hall. A deed
dated September 23, 1785 conveyed title of a tract of land from Thomas
Hand II to the Board of Wardens of the Port of Philadelphia.A letter
dated November 12, 1785 confirms the conveyance. There is no evidence
as yet, however, that the lighthouse was actually completed. A search
of old maps of the area reveals that the earliest map of the region, a
1779 Des Barres chart does not show a lighthouse at Cape May, but does
indicate a lighthouse at Cape James (now called Cape Henlopen). The
earliest map on which the Cape May lighthouse is shown is the map from
the 1828 edition of Gordon's Gazetter.
In 1821, Congress appropriated money of the construction of a
lighthouse at Cape May. A site on Cape May Point was selceted, not far
from the present lighthouse. Work began on it in 1822. Bricks were
brought down the Delaware River from Philadelphia by barge. A stone
foundation was constructed upon which the brick structure would rest.
The first lighthouse at Cape May was completed in October, 1823. It was
described as:
...70 feet high, arched at the top, with a revolving
light consisting of 15 lamps. One hundred steps led from the base of
the tower to the walk at the top which was surrounded by an iron
railing...It was 65 feet high to the base of the lantern. The wall was
25 feet in diameter and 6 feet thick at the base, tapering to 2 1/2
feet thick at the top.
The light flashed to distinguish it from its counterpart
across the bay at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, whose light was fixed.
An inspection report of 1838 imparted the following:
Cape-May light-house.-Revolving; burns fifteen lamps;
the foundation appears to be settling; stucco on the tower bad.
As is frequently the case with such structures, the elements
in general, and erosion in particular, are a constant enemy. The sea
had eroded the beach so that by 1847, the tower was surrounded by water
at high tide, and it continued existence was threatened. the lighthouse
was discontinued as untenable on May 1, 1847.
A second lighthouse was built about a third of a mile inland
from the old light, on a high bluff called Great Island. The firm of
Samuel and Nathan Middleton were selected as the contractors. The new
lighthouse was built 75 feet high to the base of the light, and 94 feet
high to the dome, showing a light 14 feet higher than its predecessor.
The light was produced by 15 concave reflectors mounted on a triangle
making a full light every minute.
An inspection report of 1852 described the lighthouse as:
Tower built in 1847, by Samuel Middleton and Nathan
Middleton, contractors; tower 78 feet high; keeper took charge April,
1850; removed predecessor; no training or experience before taking
charge; no instructions as to the mode of doing teh duty; thin-plate
glass 20x28 in the lantern; no paint in dome or frame of
lantern-painted black originally; astragals and sashes rusty, and
greatly in want of paint; iron conductor; rough square box for leading
weight of clock-work movement down; wood-work rough beyond anything
seen before; everything rough and unfinished; tower damp, from base to
lantern; a rough hole through the arch of lantern floor for leading
weight to clock-work; the whole thing crude in the extreme; cement in
this hole good and perfectly hard; tower wants whitewashing outside and
in; stairs leading to lantern clean; trims lamps once every night;
leaves the light at 9 o'clock and returns at midnight; lights up after
sunset, when he thinks it right to do so; extinguishes lights a little
before sunrise. Has a copy of written instructions from collector,
(appointment.) Has no printed instructions; never received any. Keeps a
tally of oil consumed by the light-house and dwelling conbined; oil
always good; received oil from Captain Howland, June 21; summer oil 354
gallons, winter oil 152 gallons; no rule as to the quality or quantity
left; no supplies bad; no trimming-scissors; no repairs since keeper
came here; Captain Howland overhauled lamps, repaired burners and put
in new burners; two spare lamps and burners; does not know when light
was inspected, but not since about June 1850; reported condition of the
walls-need whitewashing; has never been supplied with paint or
whitewash; no putty; no repairs on buildings except oil-house; no
brooms or brushes for cleaning; good water, well out of order; got
discouraged at not gettingwhat he asked for, and did not apply any
more; cannot tell when the tower was whitewashed inside-outside last
spring; burners bad, 7/8 inch; no storerooms or shelves for wicks,
chimneys, tripoli, c., summer oil very offensive to the smell; winter
oil not so bad, very light color; Howland left two tanks, of bad tin,
(thin.) No journal kept; makes returns once a quarter in the usual
form; collector at Wilmington, Del., is the superintendent. Dwelling
built in September 1847; leaks through the walls in a stream; rain
drives in at the windows; plastering broken; whitewashed three weeks
since; windows loose; oil consumed last year for house and lamps, 449
gallons; (evidently a bad light, and a great want of ventilation;)
Howland wanted to know what had been done the over over and above the
quantities used by the keeper; Captain H. sounds the oil-tanks,
determines what is on hand, and leaves what quantity he pleases; keeper
receipts for the quantity he says he leaves; has no means of
ascertaining the quantity; does not know how much the tanks hold;
Captain Howland remains less than half a day, usually; no clock
allowed; finds his own timepiece.
Despite its relocation, the second Cape May Lighthouse met the
same fate as the first.
In 1859, the second lighthouse was razed and the present
lighthouse was constructed, a thousand feet further inshore. Up until a
few years ago, some of the foundation of the 1847 tower could be seen
on the beach in front of the present lighthouse. The foundation of the
1847 tower remained for many years after the tower was razed abd was
used as an icehouse in the 1860's, and as a stable at the turn of the
century.
The third and present Cape May Lighthouse is 157.5 feet tall
(170 feet to focal plane), has a base diameter of 27 feet. The tower
has both and inner and outer wall with a space in between. The outer
wall is 3' 10" at the base of the tower. The inner wall is 8.5" at
thebase. The diameter at the top is 13'6" (15" to base of watch
gallery). At the time of its construction the lanthorn was equipped
with a first-order Fresnel Lens, and kerosene wick lamps. In 1910, the
lamps were replaced with incandescent oil vapor apparatus. This too,
was replaced in 1938 with a 250 watt electric bulb which cast a beam 19
miles.
The Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board from 1900
complained:
The following recommendation made in the Board's last
four annual reports is renewed: This is a first-order seacoast light,
and three keepers are employed to attend it. There are quarters for
only two families, and the third keepr has to be accomodated by
make-shift arrangements which are thoroughly unsatisfactory and
detrimental to the discipline and efficiency of the service. It is
estimated that an additional keeper's dwelling can be built here at a
cost not exceeding $4,000, and it is recommended that an appropriation
of that amount be made therefor.
The wheels of government turn slowly at times, for work on the
additional dwelling was not even begun until 1902. The 1903 Annual
Report of the Lighthouse Board noted that work was still
progressing on the house.
In 1932, the Superintendent of Lighthouses for the
Philadelphgia District, Irving L. Gill, circulated a letter among the
maritime community asking for opinions as to whether the lighthouse
ought to be abolished in the interest of economy. Fisherman adn
skippers began an organized protest against the light's extinction. It
was decided to keep the lighthouse in operation.
Despite the results of the survey, times were changing, and in
1940 there were rumors that the Coast Guard, (successor of the
Lighthouse Service) was going to discontinue the lighthouse. The Coast
Guard was quick to deny this, but cautioned that such a decision be
made after all factors made been considered.
The Mid-Atlantic Center for the Arts is currently leasing the
lighthouse from the state, and has restored and repainted the
lighthouse to its former glory.
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