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Concord Point Light (Havre de Grace, Maryland)
Concord Point Light is one
of the most northern of the Chesapeake Bay lighthouses located on the west shore
at the mouth of the Susquehanna River. Just
a short way from Interstate I-95, the light is located in Havre de Grace,
Maryland. To protect ships from the
dangerous shoals and currents at the mouth of the Susquehanna River the Town of
Havre de Grace deeded the U.S. Government a 484 square-foot piece of land in
1826 for the purpose of establishing a lighthouse. John Donahoo was hired to
build the lighthouse and on May 21, 1827 the completed lighthouse was
commissioned. The tower was 32 feet tall
placing the light at a height above seawater of 38.5 feet. Designed as a conical
stone tower, the wall was constructed of granite that was nearly four feet thick
at the base and eighteen inches thick at the top. The interior diameter at the
base was eleven feet. The interior spiral staircase was also made of granite. The lantern room was
initially equipped with a lamp configuration that consisted of nine lamps and
reflectors. In 1869 the lighting apparatus was changed and a 6th-order
Fresnel lens was installed. A
larger 5th-order Fresnel lens was installed in 1891.
The Station was electrified and automated in 1920. The first keeper of the
light was John O’ Neil. Originally
from Ireland, he had come to America and had become somewhat of a local hero due
to his efforts in defending the town against the British in 1813 during the War
of 1812. He maintained this job
until his death in 1838. The responsibilities of keeper were then passed down
through his descendents. When the lighthouse was
automated in 1920, a potion of the land, including the keepers quarters was
sold. The light was decommissioned
by the U.S. Coast Guard in 1975. At
the point of it’s decommissioning the Concord Point Light had been in
operation for 148 years – longer than any other Maryland Lighthouse. In 1975 when the light was
decommissioned the grounds and tower were showing signs of neglect.
The 5th-order Fresnel lens was stolen from the tower and local
residents feared the loss of the lighthouse tower. So in 1979 they formed a
non-profit organization called the Friends of the Concord Point Lighthouse for
the purpose of protecting and restoring the lighthouse.
The tower and grounds were restored and recently the old keeper’s
quarters were purchased and restored by the organization.
The light is currently fitted with a 5th-order Fresnel lens on
loan from the St. Michael’s Maritime Museum. The lighthouse is surrounded
by a pretty tree-lined park and is open to the public April-October
on Saturdays and Sundays 1 - 5 pm.
[Back to the Maryland Lighthouse Page]
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All pictures are the original work of Rick Totton and are protected under copyright laws. Do not reproduce any images from this website without permission of the author. Copyright (c) 2000 Rick Totton.
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