Cross Island, one of the many islands which dot the southwest coast of Nova Scotia, is located at the entrance to the fishing village of Lunenburg and about 60 miles southwest of Halifax, the capital of Nova Scotia. Historically Lunenburg has been a prosperous fishing village. Its protected harbor is home to a fleet of lobster boats, draggers and long liners. At the turn of the twentieth century a large number of schooners sailed out of Lunenburg to fish cod off the Nova Scotia coast.
I thought I was starting to know something about lighthouses. After all, I have been researching and writing about lighthouses for over five years now. Then one day I was looking for some keeper's information in one of the microfilms produced by the National Archives, and on the oldest reel, I suddenly came to a lighthouse I never heard of before. "Cunningham Creek Ohio, J. R. Cunningham keeper starting 24 April 1843, at $350, Henry Richardson keeper starting 5 February 1846," and then, "this light abandoned." I was intrigued.
The feeling of quietude within the Currituck Beach Lighthouse complex is quickened by undertones of excitement as visitors anticipate climbing all the way up the towering lighthouse's spiral stairs and taking in an unforgettable panoramic view. This histonc northern Outer Banks site is steeped in history, architecture, romance, and mystery. Besides offering some of the best aerobics on the East Coast by climbing the tower, the Currituck Beach Light Station is part of an authentic living-history district.
March 1, 1876 - The Italian Bark Ottarina struck this beach and went to pieces the next day. The crew of the L.S.S. station lost their lives attempting to rescue the crew (of this vessel). Nine of the crew were lost and four saved.
Nov. 26, 1877 - Some bodies from the wreck of the Huron came ashore near this station, more came on the 26 through the 29. The light keeper helped bury them.
They have no shining light, dutiful bell or raucous horn; nor do they possess a beautiful superstructure, but make no mistake about it, the daybeacon is a lifesaver just like its aids to navigation cousins, the lighthouse, light tower and buoy.
Maybe it's becuase this long-time beacon once took the place of so many Fresnel lenses in major lighthouses throughout North America, or maybe it's due to its less than beautiful appearance, which is devoid of all romance; but whatever the reason, the DCB-36 beacon seems to have all but disappeared into lighthouse history without so much as a whimper.
The story of the Delaware Breakwater East End Light Station cannot be told without first delving briefly into the history of the Delaware Breakwater's massive stone wall. At the time of its construction, the engineering marvel that yielded the eight-tenths-of-a-mile-long wall of protection off Cape Henlopen was the second largest such work of its kind in the world.
Not many people today are aware of the fact that in addition to the existing Delaware Breakwater East End Lighthouse, the Delaware Breakwater, or inner stone wall in Lewes Harbor, was home to another beacon of the sea. In fact, this forgotten lighthouse-known as the Delaware Breakwater West End Light Station-actually preceded the east end light and stood sentinel around the midway point of the breakwater wall.
Three miles off the low surf-swept beaches of Cape Henlopen, the lightship OVERFALLS (WAL 605) dips and plunges through the endless swells. Inbound traffic makes a sharp turn at her moorings and heads up the Delaware Bay Channel. Most outbound traffic turns north and heads out past the FIVE FATHOMS Lightship towards European ports. The OVERFALLS acts as a mid-channel marker with safe water on each side. Good pilots learn to keep close to mid-channel markers, but sometimes they get too close.
A small lighthouse with an interesting history sits alone today lat the end of Derby Wharf in Salem, Massachusetts. But thanks to Friends of Salem Maritime, working closely with the Peabody Museum of Salem, the United States Coast Guard and the National Park Service, the historic lighthouse should have more visitors in the future.