There is very little known about these beacons,
they
appear to have been a series of range lights on the Shrewsbury River,
that were lighted seasonally, from spring thaw to whenever the river
became unnavigatable due to ice. It does not seem that each light had a
resident keeper, rather, they may have been caretaker's that
periodically serviced the lights.
The National Archives in Sutcliff, Maryland has a
journals from the station that covers the period June 4, 1898 to April
19, 1929. Below is some information that was extracted from those
journals.
The station is referred to as the "Light-Station
at The
Shrewsbury River Beacon". It had 5 white and 2 red lights, although
which of these was in which station is unclear. All of the lights were
put into operation on June 4, 1898 being first lighted at 7:26 p.m.
Most of the journals note the weather and amount of oil consumed.
The entry for December 11, 1898 notes that "all
lights in the Shrewsbury River discontinued for the season of 1898."
- June 1, 1899 re-lit - January 1, 1900 extinguished.
- April 16, 1900 relit - December 17, 1900 extinguished.
- March 18, 1901 relit - December 17, 1901 extinguished.
- An inspection by Stuart T. Woods on October 29, 1901 is
noted and the lights are said to be in "very creditable condition."
- March 17, 1902 relit - December 16, 1902 extinguished.
- March 17, 1903 relit - December 19, 1903 extinguished.
- March 23, 1904 - relit - December 15, 1904 extinguished.
- May 1, 1904 An inspection mentions the stations in good
condition throughout. H. W. Harrison, Commander.
- July 29, 1904 entry mentions Sands Point Light out the rest
OK.
- August 5, 1904 Northwest Point Light mentioned.
- December
15, 1904 reports "All lights discontinued by reason of it being
impossible to navigate the Shrewsbury River on the account of ice."
- February 26, 1906 - Rocky Point Light mentioned.
- March 17, 1905 - relit.
- June 14, 1905 - All lights lit by acetylene gas.
- October 4, 1905 Lower Rock Point mentioned.
A second volume covers the period from July 1,
1907 to
June 30, 1915. The third volume covers the period July 3, 1915 to April
19, 1929.
A December, 1915, entry mentions Low Moor,
Northwest Point, Little Silver, Goose Neck Point.
The Annual Report of the Light-House Board for
the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 1902, reports the following:
402 to 410. Shrewsbury River
beacons, New Jersey. --A brick oil house was built.
402. United States Dike beacon No. 1. -- A brick oil
house was built.
403. United States Dike beacon No. 3. -- A brick oil
house was built.
404. Lower Rocky Point beacon No. 2. -- the beacon was
rebuilt and reestablished on May 5, 1902.
406. Northwest Point beacon, No. 2 A. -- Lanterns with
equipment were delivered, and the light was established on May 20, 1902.
408. Goose Neck Point beacon lights, No. 11, New Jersey. --Lanterns
with all equipments were delivered, and the light was established on
May 5, 1902.
409. Cooks Sedges beacon light, No. 13, New Jersey. --This
beacon was completed on May 5 and was established on May 20, 1902.
The names of the lights seem to be:
Little Silver
Low Moor
Cooks Sedges beacon light, No. 13
Goose Neck Point beacon lights, No. 11
Lower Rocky Point beacon No. 2
Northwest Point beacon, No. 2 A. - about 73° 59' 00" by 40° 23'
00"
Sands Point Light
United States Dike beacon No. 1
United States Dike beacon No. 3
