If you are like me, you may have wondered how they built the 1871 lighthouse and keeper dwelling on the same site as the 1825 lighthouse and dwelling. Between escorting group tours during the summer of 2021 I did a lot of reading through some of our old files, and came across that answer and much more.
    First, let us recall the original lighthouse was built in 1825. That lighthouse was built with an inadequate foundation, found to be just two feet deep! By 1869 the tower was found to be in “hazardous condition”.
    One of the iron bands that were designed to help support the brick tower had fallen off due to the severe strain on the tower and foundation. The original keeper’s dwelling was also found to be in poor condition. In 1868, temporary repairs were made to both structures to help them survive the approaching winter, while awaiting plans and funds for the future.
    To answer the question as to how a new tower was built on the same site, I found that a temporary tower was built near the 1825 tower. On December 10, 1869 a light “was first exhibited in the temporary structure”, and at some point after that the 1825 lighthouse was demolished over the following weeks. So this temporary light allowed a beacon to continue to be shone from the harbor during the demolition, and subsequent construction progress of the new tower.
    On April 4, 1870 work began on the new lighthouse tower. This time, they wanted to avoid the problems found with the 1825 lighthouse, so earth borings were first performed. Based on the borings, it was determined that the tower base would be excavated to a depth of 11’ 4” and “piles were driven flush with the bottom of the pit”. The upper portion was encased in a one foot slab of concrete. On top of the slab a “grillage of two courses of twelve inch timber was placed” On top of that, foundation limestone was added, “which extended to the surface of the ground” where the tower itself was to begin.
    Work continued from April 4 until September 5, 1870. This was due to an Act of Congress of July 1870, which directed unspent funds be returned to the treasury. Work stopped for several months, and the uncompleted tower was protected by placing a “board roof-covering over it”. At this time of this work stoppage 29 of the 45 courses of Berea stone had been laid, and 32 of the 69 steps completed. During the pause in construction it was determined that it was necessary to replace the keeper’s dwelling, rather than attempt repairs.
    By Congressional Act of March 3, 1871 funds were appropriated to complete the tower and erect a new brick keeper’s dwelling, now home of our museum and offices. Funds were also included for an oil house, but it seems the iron oil house on site today was not added until 1904. (I am not sure if there was another oil house in the interim.) In May 1871 work resumed on the tower, and the light in the new tower was first lit on August 11, 1871. The new keeper’s dwelling was finished in October 20, 1871. The total cost for the tower and dwelling was just under $29,000.
As early as 1838, a Lt. Platt of the US Navy recognized the need for a beacon at the end of the pier, instead of the 1825 (and later 1871) lighthouses. But no action on this idea was taken on Lt Platt’s idea for decades. In fact, improvements to the 1871 lighthouse are noted between 1880 and 1902. Some of the improvements included painting of the dwelling and fences (1880), a 235 foot plank walk on the south side (1891), piped water from the village waterworks (1892), addition of the handrail in the tower (1892), and in 1895 a roof was added over the walkway between the dwelling and the tower. 1917 was the beginning of the end for the service life of the 1871 lighthouse. By Act of Congress that year, $42,000 was appropriated for what we know today at the West Breakwater Light, and the original plan called for the 1871 lighthouse to be eventually demolished. (As I understand it, it was common practice for demolition funds to be encumbered when a new lighthouse was built, to ensure funds were available for future demolition.) World War I and other factors delayed construction, thus the new west breakwater lighthouse was not completed for almost eight years after the 1917 Act. The new light was placed in service on June 9, 1925.
    Of course, as we all know, the 1871 lighthouse and keeper’s dwelling was not razed as planned. Through a combination of protests and other efforts, both were saved and are home to our wonderful museum today. How this came about is a story unto itself, and there is not enough space in this newsletter to go down that road in this issue.
Credit: Much of the information herein is obtained and condensed from a much longer 1971 report authored by “Pearl E. Killinen, FHHS Historian”.