Egg Rock Light

Year Built

1875

Cost

$15,000

Type

Brick Tower in middle of Wood House

Height

39 feet

Location

Frenchman Bay

Automated Year

1976

First Lit

1897

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel Lens

Fog Signal

Horn: 2 every 30s

Year Deactivated

1922

Color

White

Last Keeper - Date

Paul E. Ranc (1970 – )

Description

The Egg Rock Light Station consists of two buildings, a combination light tower and keeper's house, and a fog station building.

Brief History

•   By July 1, 1875, the foundation for the lighthouse had been laid on Egg Rock, the brickwork was nearly finished, and the ironwork was completed and ready to be set in place.
•  During a gale on the 21st of March, 1876, the sea washed over the rock, carrying away the fuel shed and moving the bell tower some 30 feet.
•  In 1901, the fifth-order Fresnel lens was upgraded to a more powerful fourth-order lens that changed the light’s characteristic from fixed red to a white flash every five seconds.
•  In June 1904, the island’s fog signal was changed from a bell to a first-class Daboll trumpet, powered by a four-horsepower oil engine, air compressor, and air tank, in duplicate.
•  During automation in 1976, the Coast Guard removed the lantern room from the tower to make room for rotating aero-beacon.