Hereford Inlet Lighthouse
Encyclopedia
The Hereford Inlet Light is a historic lighthouse
located in North Wildwood, New Jersey
, situated on the southwestern shore of Hereford Inlet. Its construction was completed and it became operational in 1874.
The 50-foot (15 m) tower and its beacon are visible for up to 13 nautical miles (24 km).
, who also designed Point Fermin
, East Brother, Mare Island, and Point Hueneme
(since replaced) in California
and Point Adams in Washington State in essentially the same style. The US Army Corps of Engineers undertook construction of the lighthouse on 8 November 1873, completing it on 30 March 1874. A "Notice to Mariners" issued 11 May 1874 announced the operation of the light on the north end of Five Mile Beach.
John Marche served as the first lighthouse keeper
for less than three months before drowning when his rowboat overturned on returning from the mainland. The next keeper, Freeling "Captain" Hewitt, an American Civil War
veteran, served that position for the longest time, 45 years. In August 1913, a severe storm damaged the foundation and the lighthouse was closed. It was reopened in 1914, after it had been moved 150 feet (45.7 m) west, where it stands today. A May 1938 fire caused extensive damage. In 1963 the property was transferred to the New Jersey Marine Police. The light was decommissioned in 1964 after a more modern navigational aid, an automatic light tower, was installed nearby. In 1982, a 20-year no-cost lease to the City of North Wildwood from the Department of Environmental Protection was established. On 1 July 1983, a portion of the restored lighthouse was opened as a tourist information center. In April 1986, the US Coast Guard relit the lighthouse using the beacon from the automatic light tower.
After its restoration, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1977. Now owned by the town of North Wildwood
, it was reopened in 2002 to public tours of the light and its extensive garden
s during the summer.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
located in North Wildwood, New Jersey
North Wildwood, New Jersey
North Wildwood is a city located on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. 4,935 residents were counted during the United States 2000 Census...
, situated on the southwestern shore of Hereford Inlet. Its construction was completed and it became operational in 1874.
The 50-foot (15 m) tower and its beacon are visible for up to 13 nautical miles (24 km).
History
On 10 June 1872, Congress acted to fund the erection of a fourth-order light along the New Jersey shoreline. On 7 July 1873, Humphrey S. Cresse sold the 1.5 acres (6,070.3 m²) site to the US government for $150. The lighthouse was designed by Paul J. PelzPaul J. Pelz
Paul Johannes Pelz was a German-American architect. He is best known as architect of the main building of the Library of Congress.-Life and career:...
, who also designed Point Fermin
Point Fermin Light
-History:The original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed in 1942 and a wood replica lantern was installed in 1974. The lighthouse was saved from demolition in 1972 and refurbished in 1974, and a new lantern room and gallery were built by local preservationists...
, East Brother, Mare Island, and Point Hueneme
Point Hueneme Light
Point Hueneme Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the southeast entrance to the Santa Barbara Channel, in Ventura County, California-History:thumb|left|Original 1874 Lighthouse, [[USCG]] photo...
(since replaced) in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Point Adams in Washington State in essentially the same style. The US Army Corps of Engineers undertook construction of the lighthouse on 8 November 1873, completing it on 30 March 1874. A "Notice to Mariners" issued 11 May 1874 announced the operation of the light on the north end of Five Mile Beach.
John Marche served as the first lighthouse keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
for less than three months before drowning when his rowboat overturned on returning from the mainland. The next keeper, Freeling "Captain" Hewitt, an American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran, served that position for the longest time, 45 years. In August 1913, a severe storm damaged the foundation and the lighthouse was closed. It was reopened in 1914, after it had been moved 150 feet (45.7 m) west, where it stands today. A May 1938 fire caused extensive damage. In 1963 the property was transferred to the New Jersey Marine Police. The light was decommissioned in 1964 after a more modern navigational aid, an automatic light tower, was installed nearby. In 1982, a 20-year no-cost lease to the City of North Wildwood from the Department of Environmental Protection was established. On 1 July 1983, a portion of the restored lighthouse was opened as a tourist information center. In April 1986, the US Coast Guard relit the lighthouse using the beacon from the automatic light tower.
After its restoration, the lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1977. Now owned by the town of North Wildwood
North Wildwood, New Jersey
North Wildwood is a city located on the Jersey Shore in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. 4,935 residents were counted during the United States 2000 Census...
, it was reopened in 2002 to public tours of the light and its extensive garden
Garden
A garden is a planned space, usually outdoors, set aside for the display, cultivation, and enjoyment of plants and other forms of nature. The garden can incorporate both natural and man-made materials. The most common form today is known as a residential garden, but the term garden has...
s during the summer.
See also
- List of museums in New Jersey
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Cape May County, New Jersey