Bells Rock Light

Infobox Lighthouse


caption = Undated photograph of Bells Rock Light (USCG)
location = Two miles downstream from West Point, Virginia on the York River
coordinates = coord|37.4839|N|76.7498|W|type:landmark
yearlit = 1881
automated = 1928
yeardeactivated =
foundation = screw-pile
construction = cast-iron/wood
shape = hexagonal house
height = 40 ft
lens = fourth-order Fresnel lens
currentlens =
range = 5 mi
characteristic = Flashing 4 sec The Bells Rock Light was a lighthouse located in the York River in Virginia.

History

In the nineteenth century West Point, Virginia was the head of navigation on the York River,and this light was requested in order to facilitate navigation there. A house was built for it at Lazaretto Point in 1880, but this was diverted to Thimble Shoal Light when the latter burned down. A second house was constructed and installed on this spot in 1881. Three years later it was struck by a schooner, breaking three of the support columns; there were repaired expeditiously, however, and the light passed the rest of its days uneventfully.

The diminishing of commercial traffic on the river made the light less important, and in 1928 the house was removed and a skeleton tower erected on the iron foundation. This arrangement continues to the present.

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHVA.html Virginia Light Stations] , from the United States Coast Guard
* [http://www.cheslights.org/heritage/bellsrock.htm Bells Rock Light] , from the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society
*cite book
last= de Gast
first= Robert
title= The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake
year= 1973
publisher= Johns Hopkins University Press p. 153