Erie Land Light

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Script error: No such module "Distinguish". Template:Short descriptionScript error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "lighthouse tracking".Expression error: Unexpected < operator. The Erie Land Light, also known as the Old Presque Isle Light, is a lighthouse on the shore of Lake Erie in Erie, Pennsylvania. It is one of the three lighthouses in Erie, along with the Presque Isle Light and the North Pier Light. The lighthouse is situated on the bluffs overlooking the lake in Lighthouse Park east of downtown Erie.

The lighthouse was originally constructed in 1818 becoming one of the first to be built by the United States on the Great Lakes. The tower was replaced in 1851 for the first time; in 1858, due to its poor foundations and soil quality, it sank into the ground. The current structure was built in 1867 and remained in service until 1880. It was reactivated five years later before being permanently decommissioned in 1899. Both the lenses and lantern were eventually removed. The Erie Land Light was sold to the city of Erie in 1934 and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) in 1936. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Design

The Erie Land Light consists of a sandstone tower and a small, one-story building attached to the tower's southern side; the entire structure was constructed from Berea sandstone lined with brick. The lighthouse tower is Script error: No such module "convert". with a diameter of Script error: No such module "convert". tapering to Script error: No such module "convert"..Template:Sfn The interior diameter of the tower is Script error: No such module "convert". and contains a cast iron, spiral staircase with 69 steps. The balcony where the lantern room sits is Script error: No such module "convert". wide. The structure attached to the tower is Script error: No such module "convert". wide, Script error: No such module "convert". long, and Script error: No such module "convert". tall; it is separated from the tower by Script error: No such module "convert". steel doors.Template:Sfn

The beacon itself, when it was in operation, was fueled by mineral oil and exhibited a fixed, white light.Template:Sfn It had a focal plane Script error: No such module "convert". above mean lake level and a range of Script error: No such module "convert".. When the current lighthouse was built a third-order Fresnel lens was installed; the lens were transferred to another lighthouse when it was deactivated. Currently, the tower is equipped with a modern marine navigational beacon.

History

In 1810, Congress authorized the construction and appropriated $1,600 for the first two lighthouses on the Great Lakes; one to be located at "the junction of Buffalo Creek and Lake Erie" and the other "on or near Presq' isle [sic]".[1]Template:Sfn A total of Script error: No such module "convert". of land overlooking the entrance to the channel into Presque Isle Bay was ceded by Brigadier General John Kelso of the Pennsylvania militia on April 2, 1811 for the lighthouse.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Both the construction of the Buffalo Main Light and the Erie Land Light were delayed until 1818.Template:Sfn

File:Erie land lighthouse pre 1914.jpg
On a pre-1914 postcard

By 1858, the original, square, Script error: No such module "convert". tower had begun to sink into the ground.[2] The second tower was a Script error: No such module "convert"., cylindrical tower built from "Milwaukee brick".[2]Template:Sfn The foundation of this tower was also unable to cope and had to be replaced again by 1866.Template:Sfn An investigation found that a layer of quicksand was below the foundation of the Erie Land Light.Template:Sfn To ensure the third tower remain sturdy, unlike its predecessors, the foundation was dug Script error: No such module "convert". deep. Eight courses of oak timbers Script error: No such module "convert". and Script error: No such module "convert". long formed the base of the foundation. Atop the timber was poured Script error: No such module "convert". of Portland cement mixed with crushed limestone; stone Script error: No such module "convert". thick was laid on the concrete.Template:Sfn The third tower was built from sandstone. The Fresnel lens that was installed in the new tower cost $7,000 and shipped from Paris, France.[2]Template:Sfn A two-story, saltbox lightkeeper's house was also built at the same time.

File:Erie Land Light HABS 1.jpg
HABS photo of the lighthouse in 1936 without its lantern.

On the recommendation of the naval inspector for the lighthouse district, the Erie Land Light was deactivated in 1880; it was sold for $1,800.Template:Sfn After much public outcry, the lighthouse was repurchased in 1884 for double the amount and was reactivated the next year by an act of Congress.[3]Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn In 1886, the lighthouse was again decommissioned, though caretakers were still appointed and the beacon continued to operate until December 26, 1899 when it was finally extinguished.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn The lenses were removed in 1902 and were sent to the Marblehead Light in Ohio.[2] After the lantern room was removed, the top of the tower was covered in tar paper.Template:Sfn The lighthouse was acquired by the city of Erie in 1934.

Modern use and restoration

The Erie Land Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 30, 1978.[4] A wooden replica of the lantern room was placed on the tower in 1990 and was relit on December 26, 1999.[5][6] The replica lantern room was eventually blown off of the tower on May 5, 2003 during a windstorm.[7]

In 2004, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission provided $400,000 in grants for restoration work on the lighthouse.[6] The lighthouse's interior stairs and over 200 bricks were replaced, and a Script error: No such module "convert". copper replica of the original lantern room was built. The lantern was hoisted on to the lighthouse on March 19, 2004.[8] The restoration was completed on June 19, 2004.[9] The Erie–Western Pennsylvania Port Authority proposed in 2005 to take ownership of the Land Light from the city to increase its tourism potential, and, in 2010, to assume responsibility for the maintenance of the grounds surrounding the lighthouse.[10][11] The lighthouse is opened to the public annually in the summer as a fundraiser for the Erie Playhouse.[12]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Act of May 1, 1810, ch. 48, 2 Stat. 611–612.
  2. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Act of July 7, 1884, ch. 332, 23 Stat. 196–197.
  4. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
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  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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Sources

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Further reading

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External links

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Template:Lighthouses of Pennsylvania Template:National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania Template:Authority control

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