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Smith Point marks the southern side of the entrance
to the Potomac. The first lighthouse at Smith Point was
built in 1802. Thomas Jefferson appointed the first keeper,
William Helms (or Nelms, depending upon the reference).
By 1805, the keeper was already reporting that the lighthouse
was endangered by erosion. A seawall was built in 1806, but
keeper Elsey Borroughs reported in 1807 that the lighthouse
was still endangered. That year, a second lighthouse was built
further inland.
The second lighthouse proved ineffective. In 1821, a lightship
was placed at the point, and for a time the point was marked
by both. In 1828, erosion necessitated construction of a third
lighthouse. Built by Winslow Lewis, the light survived only
slightly longer than its predecessor. An 1855 report stated,
"The iron frame which supports the lamps is so weak that
no great effort would be required to shake it down. The tower
is badly cracked, and not more than 35' from the edge of the
bank, which is fast giving way." A new lightship was placed
on station in 1857, and the third lighthouse discontinued in 1859.
In 1861, Confederates destroyed the lightship. A new lightship marked
Smith Point by 1862, and served until a new screwpile lighthouse
was built off Smith Point in 1868. In 1893, the lighthouse was
severely damaged by ice - the keepers abandoned the station, fearing
its collapse. The light survived, but was not so lucky two years
later. On February 14, 1895, the superstructure was torn from the
foundation and fell into the bay. The lens and fog bell were recovered
from the wreckage.
In 1896, work began on a caisson lighthouse to replace the screwpile.
When the initial attempt was made to tow the caisson to
the site, a storm nearly sank the caisson. The caisson was towed
to the Great Wicomico River until the storm subsided.
A week later, the caisson was towed to the site and set in place.
Crews filled the caisson with concrete and placed stones
around the base.
Despite these efforts, the next day the caisson was tilted
by five feet. The caisson was leveled by placing rocks
on the low side of the light and removing sand from
the high side. The caisson was sunk to a depth of 15 feet
5 inches. When work was nearly complete, the crew tapped into
a vein of poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas. Thanks to the quick
work of a foreman named Griffin, who rescued several men trapped
at the bottom, no lives were lost in the accident.
The new lighthouse was completed in 1897. The caisson was topped
with an octagonal brick dwelling painted white, with black lantern
room. The station housed the fourth-order lens rescued
from the 1868 screwpile light. The light was built using the same
plans as the Wolf Trap, VA light. A fog bell was installed,
and remained as a backup fog signal when a diaphone was installed
in 1936.
The light was automated in 1971. When the cables connecting
the light to the shore needed replacing in the 1980's, the
Coast Guard considered discontinuing the light, but
backed down and replaced the cables in 1988 due to public
outcry over the plan.
In 2005, after failing to find a non-profit to take over the
light, the lighthouse was sold to a private owner for $170,000.
The light remains an active aid to navigation.
Bay Beacons, Turbyville pp. 92-95
The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake, de Gast p. 43
Lighting the Bay: Tales of Chesapeake Lighthouses, Vojtech pp. 7, 69-70, 160
The Keeper's Log Fall 2003
Lighthouse Digest December 2005
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