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Photo from
Coast Guard Historians Office
Photo taken in 1946
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History
Built in 1838 at the northwestern end of the Maurice River Cove at
39° 10' 44" latitude by 75° 08' 13" longitude. An 1838
inspection report describes the lighthouse as a "Light on keeper's
dwelling; burns ten lamps with parabolic reflectors. The lamps badly
constructed; house negligently built, and materials bad; several panes
of glass in the lantern broken; the walls beginning to crack." This for
a lighthouse that was barely a year old.
The lighthouse was built on an island and reachable only by boat. The
lighthouse had a revolving kerosene light and clockwork that was wound
with a crank. The interior of the lighthouse had a hard wood finish and
a large fireplace. There was a cove and a little creek ran from the
cove. Supplies came into the creek in a long-boat. A small crane with a
wheel wound the supplies into the dock. The light was believed
automated around 1935.
The Egg Island Lighthouse was destroyed by fire on August 20, 1950. The
fire was allegedly begun by two fishermen who had entered the abandoned
lighthouse and started a fire to dry their clothes.
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