Hereford Inlet Lighthouse facts for kids
| Location | North Wildwood, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 39°0′24″N 74°47′32″W / 39.00667°N 74.79222°W |
| Year first constructed | 1874 |
| Year first lit | 1874 |
| Automated | 1964 |
| Foundation | Wood pilings |
| Construction | Wood |
| Tower shape | Square |
| Height | 57 feet (17 m) |
| Original lens | Fourth-order Fresnel lens |
| Range | 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) |
| Characteristic | White light flashing every 10 sec |
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is an old lighthouse in North Wildwood, New Jersey. It stands on the southern shore of Hereford Inlet. This is at the north end of Five Mile Beach. It was finished and started working in 1874.
The lighthouse tower is 50 feet tall. Its light can be seen up to 13 nautical miles away.
Contents
History of the Lighthouse
Early Days at Hereford Inlet
Hereford Inlet is a gap in the barrier islands near Cape May. Whalers first used this area in the 1600s. Many people visited the area. But shifting sandbars and strong currents made it dangerous. Because of this, a life-saving station was built there in 1849.
Shipwrecks were happening more often across America. So, in 1871, the United States Life Saving Service was created. A bigger Life-Saving Station replaced the old one at Hereford Inlet. After only one year, the Life Saving Service saw a need for a lighthouse. They suggested a small light. This light would help coal ships and steamers in the Delaware Bay. It would also mark the entrance to the inlet. The inlet was a safe harbor for small coastal ships.
Building the Lighthouse
Finally, on June 10, 1872, Congress agreed to pay for a new lighthouse. It would be built along the New Jersey coast. On July 7, 1873, Humphrey S. Cresse sold 1.5 acres of land to the U.S. government for $150.
The lighthouse was designed by Paul J. Pelz. He also designed other lighthouses like Point Fermin Light in California. The United States Army Corps of Engineers started building the lighthouse on November 8, 1873. They finished it on March 30, 1874. A notice was sent out on May 11, 1874. It announced that the light was working at the north end of Five Mile Beach.
Facing Storms and Fire
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse has survived many dangers. A big storm hit from September 8 to 12, 1889. This hurricane stayed off the coast. It caused a lot of erosion and covered parts of many barrier islands. Many people from Anglesea found shelter at the lighthouse.
A more serious storm in August 1913 brought water very close to the lighthouse. It damaged the foundation and threatened the building. The lighthouse closed for a short time. It was then moved 150 feet to the west. It reopened in 1914.
A fire later threatened the lighthouse in 1938. The keeper, Ferdinand Heinzman, was painting it. A coastguardsman saw thick smoke from an upstairs window. He called the fire department and warned the people inside. Heinzman tried to put out the fire but couldn't. He then got a ladder and a garden hose. He climbed to the second story and fought the fire through a window. He saved the lighthouse! An investigation found that the fire started by itself.
Modern Times and Restoration
The lighthouse stopped being used in 1964. This happened when the United States Coast Guard built a new, automated light tower. It's not clear exactly when the lighthouse was given to the New Jersey State Police's Marine Services Unit. Some say it was in 1963, others say it was when the buildings were no longer needed.
The Life Saving Station is still used by the New Jersey State Police today. However, the lighthouse was boarded up and unused until 1982. That year, local people asked to take over the building. In 1986, the light from the new tower was moved into the old lighthouse. Steve Murray, North Wildwood's park superintendent, took care of the grounds.
When the lighthouse closed, it was white with red trim and blue shutters. In 2003, it was painted back to its original buff color. A new light was put in on July 19, 2018. The United States Coast Guard still takes care of the light. It helps guide ships even today.
Today, the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a working lighthouse and a museum. The City of North Wildwood and its Historical Commission manage it. The lighthouse was added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places in 1977. It is also part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. Donations and fundraising projects help keep the lighthouse running.
Lighthouse Keepers
John Marche was the first lighthouse keeper. He served for less than three months. He drowned when his rowboat flipped over while returning from the mainland. The next keeper was Freeling "Captain" Hewitt. He was a veteran of the American Civil War. He served as keeper for 45 years, which is the longest time any keeper served there.
See also
