Watts Island Lighthouse

Year Built

1833

Cost

$4,775

Type

Conical tower

Height

40 feet

Location

South of Watts Island in the lower Chesapeake Bay

Automated Year

1923

First Lit

1833

Lens Type

Fifth order Fresnel

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1944

Color

White w/black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Charles Hardenberg (1916 – at least 1917)

Description

A winter storm in 1944 toppled the tower and the island eroded away and only a shoal remains where the island and lighthouse once stood.

Brief History

•  1867 – Franklin lamps have been substituted for the Fountain lamps.
•  1869 – A cooking-stove and fixtures, and a new boat and fittings have been supplied. A boat-house is required.
•  1888 – Extensive repairs and renovations were made. The old store-house was removed and a new one built; the cistern house was replaced by a new one.
•  1899 – New model fifth order lamps were supplied in May and a zinc hood for protecting the lens from rain drip was furnished.
•  1901 – This station was thoroughly repaired in March and April. The iron oil house was taken down and a brick structure built in its place.