Fort Pickering Lighthouse

Year Built

1871

Cost

$10,000

Type

Conical tower

Height

28 feet

Location

Salem

Automated Year

Solar 1995

First Lit

1871

Lens Type

Fifth-order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1969-1983

Color

White

Last Keeper - Date

John E. Poyner (1929 – at least 1930)

Description

A cast-iron, brick-lined tower is all that remains.

Brief History

•   Fort Pickering named in honor of Timothy Pickering who served as Quartermaster General, Postmaster General, Secretary of War and Secretary of State under George Washington.
•  1969 – Lighthouse deactivated and replaced by an offshore buoy.
•  1978 – Blizzard took the door off the tower and deposited it in the water. The door was later salvaged and rehung.
•  1995 – Lighthouse converted to solar power after the power supply from shore was cut off due to damage to the underwater line.
•  The keeper’s house, walkway, barn and other out-buildings no longer exist.