New Point Comfort Light
Encyclopedia
New Point Comfort Light is a lighthouse
in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay
. It is the third oldest surviving light in the bay, and the tenth oldest in the United states.
New Point Comfort was one of four locations in the Chesapeake Bay designated for a lighthouse by the newly formed federal government, and in 1801 funds were appropriated for its construction along with a light at Smith Point
. Both were constructed by Elzy Burroughs
, who also constructed the light at Old Point Comfort
which is nearly the twin of this light. (Note that Old Point Comfort and New Point Comfort are two different locations, not two different lights on the same spot.) Burroughs's involvement with New Point Comfort, however, extended beyond construction. New Point Comfort at the time was a small island separated from the mainline by a narrow passage named Deep Creek. A dispute with the owner of the island over the portion needed for the light led first to an additional appropriation; but then Burroughs bought the entire island and sold the government the few acres needed for the light. His decision to subcontract out the construction of the keeper's house proved unwise, and the subcontractor took sick and was unable to supervise the firing of the bricks for the house, which were thus ruined. In the end, Burroughs was appointed keeper himself, a position he held for ten years.
In the War of 1812
British forces destroyed the lantern of the light and the keeper's house. This brought Burroughs back into the picture, as he was called upon to rebuild the house. It was he who also took the first steps against the erosion which already threatened the light, by putting a pile- and debris-lined ditch around the tower. The light was extinguished again in the Civil War
, but the damage at that time was relatively light. By this time a fourth-order Fresnel lens
had been installed. The light was upgraded to acetylene in 1919 and was fully automated in 1930; in the intervening years the keeper's house was demolished and the light maintained with occasional visits only.
Erosion was a constant problem. In 1839 it was already necessary to use a boat to reach the light. The hurricane of 1933 finally cut through the island and left the tower standing on a tiny parcel isolated from the rest of the island. At the same time shoaling to the south of the light rendered it useless as a marker, and it was replaced by an offshore beacon in 1963 and deactivated.
New Point Comfort Light was an early beneficiary of conservation efforts, being transferred to Mathews County
in 1975, three years after being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.The lighthouse was reactivated in 1999. In 2001 a taskforce was formed by the county to oversee the preservation of lighthouse. The tower still stands, surrounded by water, visible from a walkway constructed at the southern tip of the county.
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....
in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay
Chesapeake Bay
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States. It lies off the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by Maryland and Virginia. The Chesapeake Bay's drainage basin covers in the District of Columbia and parts of six states: New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West...
. It is the third oldest surviving light in the bay, and the tenth oldest in the United states.
History
Smith Point Light
Smith Point Light is a caisson lighthouse in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Potomac River. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.-History:...
. Both were constructed by Elzy Burroughs
Elzy Burroughs
Elzy Burroughs was an American stonemason, engineer, lighthouse builder and keeper.A native of Stafford County, Virginia, Elzy Burroughs' family leased and operated a sandstone quarry in the Aquia Creek area of Stafford County...
, who also constructed the light at Old Point Comfort
Old Point Comfort Light
Old Point Comfort Light is a lighthouse located on the grounds of Fort Monroe in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay. It is the second oldest light in the bay and the oldest still in use.-History:...
which is nearly the twin of this light. (Note that Old Point Comfort and New Point Comfort are two different locations, not two different lights on the same spot.) Burroughs's involvement with New Point Comfort, however, extended beyond construction. New Point Comfort at the time was a small island separated from the mainline by a narrow passage named Deep Creek. A dispute with the owner of the island over the portion needed for the light led first to an additional appropriation; but then Burroughs bought the entire island and sold the government the few acres needed for the light. His decision to subcontract out the construction of the keeper's house proved unwise, and the subcontractor took sick and was unable to supervise the firing of the bricks for the house, which were thus ruined. In the end, Burroughs was appointed keeper himself, a position he held for ten years.
In the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
British forces destroyed the lantern of the light and the keeper's house. This brought Burroughs back into the picture, as he was called upon to rebuild the house. It was he who also took the first steps against the erosion which already threatened the light, by putting a pile- and debris-lined ditch around the tower. The light was extinguished again in the 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...
, but the damage at that time was relatively light. By this time a fourth-order Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
had been installed. The light was upgraded to acetylene in 1919 and was fully automated in 1930; in the intervening years the keeper's house was demolished and the light maintained with occasional visits only.
Erosion was a constant problem. In 1839 it was already necessary to use a boat to reach the light. The hurricane of 1933 finally cut through the island and left the tower standing on a tiny parcel isolated from the rest of the island. At the same time shoaling to the south of the light rendered it useless as a marker, and it was replaced by an offshore beacon in 1963 and deactivated.
New Point Comfort Light was an early beneficiary of conservation efforts, being transferred to Mathews County
Mathews County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 8,978 people, 3,932 households, and 2,823 families residing in the county. The population density was 108 people per square mile . There were 5,333 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
in 1975, three years after being listed in the National Register of Historic Places.The lighthouse was reactivated in 1999. In 2001 a taskforce was formed by the county to oversee the preservation of lighthouse. The tower still stands, surrounded by water, visible from a walkway constructed at the southern tip of the county.
External links
- New Point Comfort Lighthouse Lighthouse History
- New Point Comfort Lighthouse Preservation Task Force Save the Light!
- Chesapeake Bay Lighthouse Project - New Point Comfort Light