An exact scale replica of the top of Minot Light
The Chief Engineer of the Army Corps of Engineers, Joseph G. Totten, personally took charge of the project to design and construct a permanent lighthouse on Minots Ledge.Totten's design was as simple as it was effective. Totten, who had extensive experience building fortifications, had a full appreciation of permanency and strength of granite constructions. He designed the lighthouse so the first 40 feet of lighthouse would be a solid granite base weighing thousands of tons. To secure the lighthouse to the ledge he had several massive iron pins emplaced so that the lighthouse would be literally pinned to the ledge by its own weight. This idea necessitated working on the ledge on the fairly few times when the sea was calm and the ledge exposed at low tide.Work started on the current lighthouse in 1855, and it was completed and first lit on November 15, 1860, with a final cost of $300,000 that made it the most expensive light house that was ever constructed in the United States.
|
The keepers of the original Minot Light perished in a storm
In 1843, lighthouse inspector I. W. P. Lewis compiled a report on Minots Ledge, showing that over 40 vessels had been lost due to the ledge from 1832 to 1841, with serious loss of life and damage to property. The most dramatic incident was the sinking of a ship with ninety-nine Irish immigrants, who all drowned within sight of their new homeland. It was initially proposed to build a lighthouse similar to pioneering Eddystone Lighthouse. However Captain William H. Swift, put in charge of planning the tower, believed it impossible to build such a tower on the mostly submerged ledge. Instead he built an iron pile light, a spidery structure drilled into the rock.The first Minots Ledge Lighthouse was built between 1847 and 1850. One night in April 1851, the new lighthouse was struck by a major storm which caused damage throughout the Boston area. The following day only a few bent pilings were found on the rock. Two assistant keepers who were tending the lighthouse at the time perished.
|
Gary at Cohasset Harbor |
Coahasset Harbor-Lobster Boat Fleet |
Mansion overlooking Cohasset Harbor |
Cast Bell from 1878 used by the US Lighthouse Service, Cohasset |
The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage, Cohasset |
Mr B snaps away |
The burly Mr B poses with a huge anchor |
These boats were common off Cohasset in the late 1800's |
We met the artist who painted this scene. He'll hold an exhibition in the Sailing Club next week |
Scituate Lighthouse, Scituate
Old Scituate Light also known simply as Scituate Light is a historic lighthouse located on Cedar Point in Scituate, Massachusetts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 as Scituate Light
|
Gary and Bruce at Scituate Light |
Scitutae Light
1810, May: The Federal Government appropriated $4,000 for a lighthouse to be built at the entrance of Scituate Harbor.1811, September 19: The lighthouse was completed two months ahead of schedule making it the 11th lighthouse in the United States.1814, September, the War of 1812: Rebecca and Abagail Bates "The Lighthouse Army of Two" warded off an attack by British soldiers by playing their fife and drum loudly. The British retreated since they thought the sound came from the Scituate Town Militia.
|
Lighthouse Keepers Cottage, Scituate Light |
