Linda’s Monthly Monday Mornings Moaning’s for May 1, 20023
In 1808 two octagonal wooden towers, forty-feet tall and seventy-feet apart were erected, along with a one-story, three room keepers house. These 40 foot brick twin lights, pictured below, were built and established in 1841 to replaced the two wood towers used from 1808. The lantern rooms on the towers are referred to as ‘bird-cage style lanterns’ because of their appearance.
Around 1857, the bird-cage style lanterns on the twin lights are replaced with new lanterns that would used a sixth order Fresnel lens. But erosion would overtake these twin towers. These lights were left to the elements and around 1879 most of the towers and the keepers house fell into the ocean. For many years, the remaining base of the north light would remained on the ledge, with it becoming a tourist attraction. When first built the twin lights were 400 feet from the edge of the cliff, with the remaining tower would going over that cliff by 1940.
In 1877, two new cast-iron and brick lined towers were built across the street from the original site along with a new keepers house. The 48 feet tall the lantern room would house a fourth-order Fresnel lens and the Chatham Light Station would take on new form, as seen below.
In 1923 the north tower was removed and taken to Eastham, Massachusetts to become the new Nauset Lighthouse. The south tower would receive a new fourth-order Fresnel lens. Over the years the Light Station would make many changes. The Chatham Light was automated in 1982.
A thank you to the ‘Lighthouse Digest’ magazine, their May / June edition for the top two images of the Chatham Lighthouse and content. Bottom two postcards, part of the authors collection. The Chatham Light Station is one of many lights highlighted in the July 26 publication of Arcadia’s new ‘Lighthouses of the North Atlantic Coast’.
On that ‘wee note’ till Monday June 5, 2023.
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Linda Osborne Cynowa 