Bright Ideas · Lighthouse Construction

Bright Ideas #14: James C. Duane

James Chatham Duane was born in Schenectady, NY in 1824. His great-grandfather, James Duane, had been a member of the Continental Congress. He graduated West Point 3rd in the Class of 1848 and joined the Corps of Engineers. His antebellum service included two stints teaching engineering at West Point and two stints with the Company… Continue reading Bright Ideas #14: James C. Duane

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Bright Ideas #13: Little Known Cape Mala Light Station

Where was the southernmost light station operated by the United States? Most people would guess the Florida Keys or Hawaii. Lighthouse buffs might guess Navassa Island. Harbour Lights collectors might have the edge in guessing the Panama Canal, if they’re aware that the Lighthouse Service and Coast Guard were responsible for aids to navigation there… Continue reading Bright Ideas #13: Little Known Cape Mala Light Station

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Bright Ideas #12: Screwpile Cottage Lighthouses, Part 2

Although the majority of screwpile cottages were square, a significant number were not. A hexagonal design was common from the beginning and was used for at least 34 lighthouses. It seems the hexagonal lights usually had a fog bell, so presumably the shape was intended to provide additional space for that reason. The last two… Continue reading Bright Ideas #12: Screwpile Cottage Lighthouses, Part 2

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Bright Ideas #11: Screwpile Cottage Lighthouses, Part 1

For the average person, the word “lighthouse” conjures up images of a tall masonry tower on dry land. However, one of the most widely used lighthouse designs in American history is the opposite of that stereotype in almost every way. What the modest little screwpile cottage lighthouse lacks in stature it made up for in… Continue reading Bright Ideas #11: Screwpile Cottage Lighthouses, Part 1

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Bright Ideas #10: Poe Towers

Orlando Poe’s lasting lighthouse legacy is the Poe Tower. Fifteen lighthouses of this design were built on the Great Lakes between 1867 and 1895: Big Sable Point (Grande Pointe au Sable), Cana Island, Sturgeon Point, New Presque Island, South Manitou Island, St. Helena Island, Grosse Point, Little Sable Point (Petite Point au Sable), Au Sable… Continue reading Bright Ideas #10: Poe Towers

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Bright Ideas #8: Paul Pelz & The Final Form Of Standard Brick Lighthouse Design

William J. Newman’s design for Cape Hatteras Lighthouse served as the template for most postbellum brick lighthouses. For that it seems we have Paul J. Pelz to thank. Pelz had an impressive engineering career, including the Library of Congress. (See my 2017 article in Keeper’s Log Vol. 33 No. 4 for more about his life… Continue reading Bright Ideas #8: Paul Pelz & The Final Form Of Standard Brick Lighthouse Design

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Bright Ideas #7: Postbellum Evolution Of The Standard Brick Lighthouse Plan

The Civil War was an important event in the history of lighthouse design. Many Southern lighthouses that would otherwise have been in service for a long time, probably even standing today, were destroyed during the conflict. The need to rebuild created new opportunities to innovate and improve. The lighthouse engineers of the 1850s had nearly… Continue reading Bright Ideas #7: Postbellum Evolution Of The Standard Brick Lighthouse Plan

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Bright Ideas #6: The Standard Brick Lighthouse Plan Enters Widespread Use

As discussed in my preceding column, by 1857 the Lighthouse Board introduced the Antebellum Standard Brick Tower Plan. Daniel Woodbury designed and built the first in this lighthouse class at Loggerhead Key. At least four other engineers followed in Woodbury’s footsteps: Danville Leadbetter, George Horatio Derby, William Henry Chase Whiting, and Lorenzo Sitgreaves. Between them… Continue reading Bright Ideas #6: The Standard Brick Lighthouse Plan Enters Widespread Use

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Bright Ideas #5: Daniel Woodbury and Standard Lighthouse Design

There was not much standardization of early American lighthouses. Masonry towers were generally octagonal, but rarely did the same contractor design or build multiple towers. As engineering techniques improved, conical brick towers became feasible. The first real step toward a standardized design came from Winslow Lewis. Around 1820, he developed a simple design for a… Continue reading Bright Ideas #5: Daniel Woodbury and Standard Lighthouse Design