The Patriotic Lighthouse at Concord Point
by Arlene Carmel
Title
The Patriotic Lighthouse at Concord Point
Artist
Arlene Carmel
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
In our nation's early years, waterways provided the only means of effective transportation and communication. In 1789, Congress made aids to navigation, including lighthouses, the responsibility of the federal government instead of individual states. Cape Henry and other Virginia locations on the Chesapeake received the first lighthouses. Finally in 1819, Congress authorized the first Maryland lights at the entrance to Baltimore Harbor. The next 2 lighthouses were authorized in 1824 for Thomas Point Bar (entrance to Annapolis) and Pooles Island (guiding ships to the Gunpowder River and points north). The next year, the federal government authorized construction of a lighthouse on Concord Point in Havre de Grace at the entrance to the Susquehanna River.
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Concord Point Lighthouse and Keeper's House were constructed according to the government's specifications. The original contracts are in the National Archives. Donahoo chose to use local granite from Port Deposit, Maryland. The stone was barged down the Susquehanna River to the construction site. The stone tower extends below ground to bedrock. It is 26 feet tall with a lantern on top, bringing the total height to 36 feet with a focal plane of 32 feet. The walls at the base are 3'1'' thick and narrow to 18'' at the top. The 27 steps are solid granite stones that rest upon each other and are dovetailed into the walls. An eight-rung ships ladder goes from a stone landing through a trap door to the lantern. The nine-sided lantern is metal with wood walls, 3 brass wall vents, a copper roof, ventilation ball and lightning rod. http://www.concordpointlighthouse.org/
Uploaded
May 31st, 2013
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