History
A lighthouse was erected on Ludlum Beach in 1885, 20 nautical
miles
SW of the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City at 39° 09' 42"
latitude
by 74° 41' 05" longitude. The lantern had an elevation of 36 feet
above
sea level, with a white fourth-order light.
The light flashed once every 15 seconds and was visible about
11 1/4 nautical miles.
One of the keepers was Joshua H. Reeves, who was transferred
to
Ludlum from Barnegat Lighthouse on October 2, 1885. It is believed he
was the lights' first keeper. He served the Ludlum Beach Lighthouse
until his retirement on August 6, 1946. It is very likely that he was
the only keeper.
In 1923, after a fire in the lighthouse probably caused by a
keeper's pet knocking over a kerosene lamp, the lighthouse was replaced
by an automatic steel tower. Keeper Reeves job title was changed to
"Lamplighter" at this time. The lighthouse was sold and moved to the
corner of 31st Street and the beach. Sometime in the 1940's it was
again moved to 3414 Landis Avenue, Sea Isle City. It is a private
residence today.
The steel tower was designed on nautical charts as "Fl 6sec.
45ft.
12m.", which indicates a 45 foot tower with a light that flashes every
6 seconds and is visible for 12 miles. The tower was electrified and
had two bulbs, both with red sectors; the second bulb swinging into
place when the first bulb burned out.
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