History
Built in 1874 on the north end of Five Mile Beach in 1874, at
39°
00' 00" latitude by 74° 47' 00". Its purpose was to mark the
entrance
of the inlet for the coal trade and other small steamers navigating the
coastal waters.
The lighthouse was completed on April 16, 1874, and equipped
with a
fourth order Fresnel lens made by P. Sauter of Paris, France. It
was first illuminated May 11, 1874. It is built in a style known as
Swiss Gothic. It is the only one of this type on the East Coast.
Threatened by the encroachment of the south side of Hereford
Inlet,
its foundation was damaged in a severe storm on August, 1913. As a
result the lighthouse was moved inland (150 feet to the west) in 1913.
In May, 1938, there was a fire in the lighthouse that began in
a
bedroom and quickly spread to the nursery causing extensive damage.
Just a few days earlier, Keeper Ferdinard Heinzman had been awarded a
pennant for efficiency. He was busy painting the exterior of the
lighthouse when the fire broke out.
Used until 1964, it was discontinued and superceded by a
nearby iron
tower. This iron tower stood from 1961-1983. The lighthouse was used
for a time by the Marine Police, until the Marine Police were
transferred to a nearby State Police building. No longer needed
Department of Environmental Protection backed a plan that became the
basis for a 20 year renewable, no cost lease with the City of North
Wildwood in 1982. The city began restoration, operation and maintenance
of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was listed on the National Registry
of Historic Places on September 20, 1977. In 1986, the light was
relighted and is still maintained
by the Coast Guard.
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