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Lighthouse History
Built: 1875
Type: Conical Tower
Height: 136 feet
Status: Non Active
Location: Northern Hunting
Island
Deactivated: 1933
Lens: Second Order Fresnel
Signal: Bell
Keepers:
Notes: Construction started
in 1859, but was set back as the tower was destroyed during the Civil War
in 1862. Major George H. Elliot is credited with the 1860s development
of what is known as the "segmented cast-iron" light house design. In the
United States, two were constructed: the Hunting Island Lighthouse and
subsequently Florida's Cape Canaveral Light House.
Hunting Island's Lighthouse
was designed to be disassembled and moved if required. It consists of cast-iron
sections, each weighing up to 1200 pounds which are bolted together to
form the shell. the shell is lined with brick, which constitutes the main
load-bearing structural element. Erection commenced in 1873, and was completed
in 1875. With its 167 steps that lead to an impressive observation deck,
the Hunting Island Lighthouse has handsomely built cast and wrought iron
staircase, railings and support beams that were fashioned by the Phoenix
Iron Works company of Philadelphia. The Lighthouse was first located on
the northern portion of Hunting Island, South Carolina, but severe beach
erosion threatened the light station and its structures. By 1888 it was
reported that the Atlantic Ocean's high tide had reached within 35 feet
of the keeper's house. As a result, the Lighthouse, the keeper's home and
two other structures were relocated a mile away in 1889 to their present
locale. When operational the Hunting Island Lighthouse was visible for
17 miles. Historic records from March 1890 note that the Light House was
complete,"including one of the larger sized fire proof oil light houses."
At the time of the 1893 Sea Islands Hurricane the Hunting Island Lighthouse
functioned as a sanctuary for some passengers aboard the steamer "City
of Savannah I" which had been forced onto the shoals.
The Light House continued
operation until deactivation in 1933. As part of Hunting Island State Park,
the tower remains open to the public. The tower is made mostly of brick
with a cast iron shell. The conical tower is 136 feet tall with a second
order, fresnel light (the original light is no longer lit and the lenses
are at the base of the tower for the public to view). The top third of
the tower is painted black and the lower two-thirds is painted white. A
fog horn was not installed. The only sound signal is a large bell.
Currently, a rotating light
is in place to mimic the original lamp in the lighthouse. It is turned
on at dusk and rotates brightly through the night. While not bright enough
for navigation, it provides night visitors to the island the feel of an
operating lighthouse. |