Hereford Inlet Light

Infobox_Lighthouse

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|360px]
caption = A picture of the Hereford Lighthouse
location = North Wildwood, New Jersey
coordinates = coord|39|00|24|N|74|47|28|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearlit = 1874
automated = 1964
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Wood pilings
construction = Wood
shape = Square
height = 57 ft (17 m)
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
range = 13 nm (24 km)
characteristic = White light flashing every 10 secThe Hereford Inlet Light is a lighthouse located in the, in North Wildwood, New Jersey, situated on the southwestern shore of Hereford Inlet. The 50-foot (15 m) tower and its beacon are visible for up to 13 nautical miles (24 km). [ [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=388 "Notice to Mariners"] ] The inlet had sunk many ships before, so the United States Lifesaving Service built a small station there in 1849, which was destroyed in favor of this 1874 lighthouse. John Marche served as the first lighthouse keeper for less than three months before drowning off the coast. Not much else is known about him. The next keeper, Freeling "Captain" Hewitt, an American Civil War veteran, served that position for the longest time -- 45 years. It closed in 1913 due to a storm but was reopened in 1914, after it had been moved 150 feet (50 m) west. The light was decommissioned in 1964 after a more modern navigational aid was installed nearby. Now owned by the town of North Wildwood, it has reopened to public tours of the light and its extensive gardens.

Chronology

*1872, 10 June: Congress acted to finance a fourth order light along the New Jersey shoreline.
*1873, 7 July: Humphrey S. Cresse sold the convert|1.5|acre|m2|sing=on site to the US government for $150.
*1874, 16 April: The US Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the lighthouse.
*1874, 11 May: A "Notice to Mariners" announced the operation of the light on the north end of Five Mile Beach.
*1913, August: A severe storm damaged the foundation of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was moved convert|150|ft|m westward where it stands today.
*1938, May: A fire caused extensive damage to the lighthouse.
*1963: The lighthouse property was transferred to the New Jersey Marine Police.
*1964: An automatic light tower was built to replace the lighthouse.
*1977, 20 September: The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historical Places after restoration by the city.
*1982: A 20 year no-cost lease to the City of North Wildwood from the Department of Environmental Protection was established.
*1983, 1 July: A portion of the restored lighthouse was used as a tourist information center.
*1986, April: The US Coast Guard relit the lighthouse using the beacon from the automatic light tower.
*2002: The lighthouse is open during the summer for tours.

References

* Crompton, Samuel Willard. "The Lighthouse Book." Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 1999. ISBN 0-7607-1135-6.
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=388 Hereford Inlet Lighthouse] - from Lighthousefriends.com

External links

* [http://www.herefordlighthouse.org/ Official Site]
* [http://www.the-wildwoods.com/activity/lighthse.html The Wildwoods Resort Web Site]
* [http://www.state.nj.us/dca/njht/funded/sitedetails/hereford_inlet_light_station.html New Jersey Historic Trust information]