Selkirk Light facts for kids
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| Salmon River Lighthouse | |
 Selkirk (Port Ontario) Light
Location in New York
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| Location | In New York, at the mouth of the Salmon River, on Lake Ontario, Pulaski, New York |
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| Coordinates | 43°34′24″N 76°12′06″W / 43.57333°N 76.20167°W |
| Year first constructed | 1838 |
| Year first lit | 1838 |
| Automated | 1989 |
| Deactivated | 1858–1989 |
| Foundation | Natural/Emplaced |
| Construction | Wood Tower on Fieldstone House |
| Tower shape | Octagon |
| Markings / pattern | Red Tower w/ Silver Lantern on three-story gray house |
| Focal height | 50 feet (15 m) |
| Original lens | 8 lamps, 14-inch (360 mm) reflectors |
| Current lens | 7.5-inch (190 mm) |
| Characteristic | Flashing White 2 seconds |
| ARLHS number | USA-719 |
| USCG number | 7-2015 (Private Aid, Mar 1 – Dec 1) |
The Selkirk Lighthouse stands proudly at the mouth of the Salmon River in New York. It is a special place because it's one of only four lighthouses in the United States that still has its original bird-cage lantern. This type of lantern looks like a birdcage and was a common design long ago.
Contents
Building the Selkirk Lighthouse
The land for the Port Ontario Lighthouse was bought by the United States government on September 1, 1837. Jacob Gould, who was in charge of lighthouses on Lake Ontario, asked for bids to build it. The plans were very detailed. They included the exact size of the wood and the weight of the copper sheets. They also described the house and a small outdoor building.
The job was given to Joseph Gibbs and Abner French, who were local builders. Most of the stone work was done by Jabez Meacham. He used stone from a nearby quarry. The metal railings around the lantern room were made by John Box, a local blacksmith. The lighthouse cost about $3,000 to build. Inside the tower, there were eight lamps. These lamps originally burned whale oil to create light.
Lighthouse Keepers
A lighthouse keeper was a person who lived at the lighthouse and made sure the light was always working. They had a very important job! Here are the people who looked after the Selkirk Lighthouse:
- Lewis Conant: August 1838 – July 1849
- Lucius B. Cole: July 1849 – October 1854
- Charles M. Lewis: October 1854 – March 1857
- A. H. Weed: March 1857 – 1858
Why the Lighthouse Closed Down
When the lighthouse was first built, lots of ships were using the Salmon River. Two piers were built to make the harbor better for boats. There was even a plan to dig a canal. This canal would connect the Salmon River to Oneida Lake and the famous Erie Canal.
Sadly, the canal was never built. Because of this, the area around Selkirk became less important for shipping. There wasn't enough boat traffic to need a lighthouse anymore. So, in 1858, the Selkirk Lighthouse was officially turned off.
The Lighthouse Becomes a Hotel
On October 16, 1895, a man named Leopold Joh bought the lighthouse. He bought it at an auction from the U.S. Government for $155. At first, the lighthouse was his home. But in 1899, he started to turn it into a hotel.
Leopold Joh died in 1907. His family kept running the hotel until 1916. Then, the Heckle family bought it. They made the hotel twice as big! People from places like New York City and Philadelphia came to stay there for their vacations.
In 1987, the Walker Family bought the hotel and a nearby marina. Later, in 2014, the Barnell Family bought them. They have made many improvements to the property. They completely fixed up the lighthouse and the three small guest cottages. They also added a new boat launch and modern floating docks for boats.
The old hotel building had been closed since an explosion in 1987. It couldn't be fixed, so it was taken down in early 2016.
The Lighthouse Shines Again
In 1989, something exciting happened! The United States Coast Guard put a new solar light in the lantern room. This light uses power from the sun. On August 6, 1989, the Selkirk Lighthouse was turned back on. It now helps guide boats again as a navigation aid.
Other Birdcage Lighthouses
The Selkirk Lighthouse is special because it has a rare bird-cage lantern. Here are the other lighthouses in the United States that still have this type of lantern:
- Prudence Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
- Baileys Harbor Lighthouse, Wisconsin
- Waugoshance Light, Michigan
More Information
- Oleszewski, Wes. Great Lakes Lighthouses, American and Canadian: A Comprehensive Directory/Guide to Great Lakes Lighthouses, (Gwinn, Michigan: Avery Color Studios, Inc., 1998) ISBN: 0-932212-98-0.
- U.S. Coast Guard. Historically Famous Lighthouses (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1957).
- Wright, Larry and Wright, Patricia. Great Lakes Lighthouses Encyclopedia Hardback (Erin: Boston Mills Press, 2006) ISBN: 1-55046-399-3
