The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-11-18
OLD BOSTON LIGHT
FIRST IN AMERICA
TO Guide SAILORS
Twice Burned and Rebuilt,
Then Destroyed Again
By British Force.


is any record was built by Ptolemy H.,
on the island of Pharos, at the en-
trance to the harbor of Alexandria,
Egypt.
Probably the most famous light
house of modern times is the Eddy
stone light, which was one Of the first
built in Britain and which has been IA
nous because Of it's dangerous situa-
ton and of it's having been four
times destroyed by the angry waters
Of the English channel
Minots Ledge light, at the entrance
to Boston harbor lis among the most
noteworthy of American lighthouses
and shares with Old Boston light the
interest of every voyager who enters
the tortuous channel to the city of
Boston.
Boston light is famous in it's way.
It was the first lighthouse built in
America. 1t is one of the most i'm
portant lighthouse stations on the
north Atlantic coast. Every sailor
man and seagoer knows Boston light.
Every school boy and girl has read
the many tales Of shipwreck in which
Boston light figures. 1t was cap
LUZ GU clu IcCdpIuT0u several IlIIlCS Ill
the early days of the Revolution.
On the evening of Friday, Sept. ID,
ills, the light was first "kindled,' to
use the expression of the chronicler
Of the day.
For some years the shipowners and
merchants of Boston agitated the pro-
ject of establishing lighthouse at the
entrance to the harbor. The general
court took the matter up on petition
of John George and others. The town
officials Of Boston also considered the
proposition and urged the colonial au-
thorities to make an appropriation to
erect a suitable light. At last ia
vorable action was taken by the au-
thorities, and the building of the light
on the outer Brewster began.
When the light was ready to put
into commission George Worthylake
was appointed keeper. He and his
wife and daughter were drowned two
years later.
Benjamin Franklin wrote a ballad
on the drowning Of the family. The
salary of theNfirst keepers of the light
was $3.50 a year.
On the death of Worthy1ake Cap
tain John Hayes, a shipmaster, was
appointed.
The early 1ightkeeper had many 9TH
er duties to perform besides looking
after the light. He had to act as pi-
lot for vessels and discharge the du-
ties of health officer of the port. In
the case of vessel being in distress
it was his duty to go to it's rescue.
In 1870 the lighthouse was burned
~,@I~, :,~.1
house and other buildings were burn
ed and were again rebuilt.
Robert Ball, the keeper who sue
ceeded Captain Hayes, remained un-
til the British fleet sailed from Boston
to Halifax during the Revolutionary
war. According to the stories at
that time, Ball sailed away with the
fleet and never returned.
The British wanton1y destroyed the
harbor property, including the light,
before they sailed away when they
evacuated Boston. Thus it is that the
island on which Boston light stands is
the last soil in Massachusetts, occu-
pied by British armed forces.
The destruction of the light was
great loss to mariners and the mer-
chants, and shipping interests induced
Governor John Hancock to send a spe-
cial message to the Massachusetts, leg
islature recommending an appropria-
ton for the rebuilding Of the light
With commendable promptitude the
legislature complied with the request
Of Governor Hancock, and plans were
made for one of the finest and largest
lights on the coast. This was in 1880
The new structure was of stone Oil
lamps furnished the light. Then the
government took over the lighthouses
and assigned their care and mainten-
ance to the treasury department, I'M
der whose Jurisdiction they still re-
main. The island and the light were
formally \ceded to the United States
government in 1890.
The treasury department has always
given Boston light a great deal of at
tention because of it's importance and
because it is the most widely known
landmark to the entrance to the sec
ond port in America.
1t has been improved and enlarged
from time to time, and the accommo-
dations for the keepers and their fam
lilies are all that could be desired. De-
spite its age the light station is, for
all practical purposes, essentially mod
ern and up to date. It displays an in
candescent oil vapor light, giving a
white fash Of 100000 candle power
every thirty seconds, visible sixteen
miles in clear weather, and as an aux
iliary aid in foggy weather sounds a
powerful first clas siren, with a dou-
BILE blast of five seconds each every
minute.
CIGARMAKERS ON STRIKEI