Concord Point Light facts for kids
| Location | Concord and Lafayette Streets, Havre de Grace, Maryland, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Deactivated | 1975-1983 |
The Concord Point Light is a cool lighthouse in Havre de Grace, Maryland. It stands 36 feet tall! This historic lighthouse watches over the spot where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. When it was built in 1827, many boats used this area. It is the lighthouse farthest north on the bay. It is also the second-oldest tower lighthouse still standing there.
Today, the Concord Point Light helps private boats find their way.
Contents
About the Lighthouse
The Concord Point Light is one of many lighthouses in Maryland. A man named John Donahoo built it. He also built the house for the lighthouse keeper across the street. The tower is made from strong Port Deposit granite. The walls are very thick at the bottom, about 31 inches. They get a bit thinner at the top, about 18 inches.
How the Light Worked
When the lighthouse first opened, it used nine whale oil lamps. These lamps had shiny tin reflectors, about 16 inches wide. In 1854, a special lens called a sixth-order Fresnel lens was put in. This type of lens makes the light much brighter. Later, an even better fifth-order Fresnel lens was installed.
The lighthouse became automatic in 1920. This meant it could run without a person always being there.
Lighthouse History
Many people worked as lighthouse keepers at Concord Point. From 1827 to the mid-1900s, several members of the O'Neill family were keepers. The first O'Neill keeper was John O'Neill. He was a hero during the War of 1812. He defended Havre de Grace by using a cannon battery right on Concord Point.
Restoration and Museum
The lighthouse was stopped from working by the United States Coast Guard in 1975. Soon after, its special lens was stolen. In 1976, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
A lot of work began in 1979 to fix up the lighthouse. The keeper's house was also restored. Now, the keeper's house is a museum that people can visit. In 1983, a new fifth-order Fresnel lens was put back in the lighthouse. The Coast Guard loaned this lens.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Harford County, Maryland
- Lighthouses in Maryland
- Lighthouses in the United States
