Dumpling Rock Lighthouse

Year Built

1829

Cost

$4,000

Type

Skeleton tower

Height

46 feet

Location

Dumpling rocks, Barnstable County

Automated Year

1942

First Lit

1889

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens, fifth order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

Second-class Daboll trumpet, blasts 3 seconds, silent intervals 12 seconds

Year Deactivated

1942; replaced by skeleton tower

Color

White (tower), black (lantern)

Last Keeper - Date

Octave J. Ponsart (1937 – 1942)

Description

A white frame tower attached to northeasterly corner of white frame dwelling.

Brief History

•  1838, Dumpling-rock light to be reduced from 10 to 6 lamps.
•  1880, The keeper’s dwelling was repaired and painted, and the fog-bell machinery overhauled.
•  1901, The engine house was enlarged, a brick oil house was built, and minor repairs were made to the boat slip.
•  1938, The New England Hurricane of 1938 seriously damaged the lighthouse.
•  1942, The lighthouse was demolished and a skeletal tower erected to display an automatic light.