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Concord Point Light

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Concord Point Light
Concord Point Light
Map
LocationConcord and Lafayette Streets, Havre de Grace, Maryland
Coordinates39°32′27″N 76°05′05″W / 39.5407°N 76.0848°W / 39.5407; -76.0848
Tower
Constructed1827
ConstructionGranite
Automated1920
Height36 feet (11 m)
ShapeConical
MarkingsWhitewash
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place Edit this on Wikidata
Light
First lit1827
Deactivated1975
Focal height11.5 m (38 ft) Edit this on Wikidata
Lensfifth order Fresnel lens (1983–), sixth order Fresnel lens (1854–1975) Edit this on Wikidata
CharacteristicF W Edit this on Wikidata

Concord Point Light is a lighthouse in Havre de Grace, Maryland, overlooking the point where the Susquehanna River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, an area of increasing navigational traffic at the time it was constructed in 1827. It was built by John Donahoo who built many lighthouses in Maryland.[4] It is the northernmost lighthouse on the Chesapeake Bay.

Description

Concord Point Light is a 36-foot (11 m) tower that was built in 1827. It is the second oldest tower lighthouse still standing on the Chesapeake Bay. The lighthouse is constructed of Port Deposit granite. The walls are 31 inches (790 mm) thick at the base and narrow to 18 inches (460 mm) at the parapet. John Donahoo also built the keeper's house across the street.[5]

The lantern was originally lit with 9 whale oil lamps with 16-inch (410 mm) tin reflectors. In 1854, a sixth-order Fresnel lens was installed. This was later upgraded to a fifth-order Fresnel lens. The lighthouse was automated in 1920.

History

Several members of the O'Neill family served as keepers at Concord Point from 1827 to the mid-1900s. There were other keepers not related to the O'Neills who served as well. The first O'Neill, John, defended the town of Havre de Grace by manning a cannon battery on Concord Point during the War of 1812. Local documents describe the lighthouse area as being "seriously blighted" by 1924, and apparently remained that way for many years. The lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1975 and soon after that the lens was stolen. The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Extensive restoration began in 1979, and is ongoing. The keeper's house has been restored and is now open to the public as a museum.

The lighthouse and keeper's house are maintained by The Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse. Both the tower and keeper's house are open to visitors Saturdays and Sundays from 1:00 p.m. until 5 p.m., April through October. The grounds are open year-round.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Maryland" (PDF). United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
  2. ^ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Maryland". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
  3. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  4. ^ Simms, William Q. (April 2001). "Two Lights on the Hill". Lighthouse Digest. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
  5. ^ W. M. Whittington (November 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Havre de Grace Lighthouse" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved 2016-01-01.
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