The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-11-16
OLD BOSTON LIGHT
The First Mariners Beacon to Be
kindIed In America.
TWICE BURNED AND REBUILT.
Then Il Mas Destroyed by the British
Revolutionary Naval Forces and
Again Rebuilt Through the Efforts Of
Governor John Hancock.

The first lighthouse of which there
is any record was built by Pto|emy IL.
on the island of pharos, at the en-
trance to the harbor of Alexandria.
Egypt.
Probably the most famous lighthouse
of modern times is the EddyStone
light. which was one Of the first built
in Britain and which has been famous
because Of its dangerous situation and
Of its having been four times destroy
ed by the angry waters of the English
channel.
Ainots Ledge light, at the entrance
to Boston harDor, is among the most
noteworthy of American lighthouses
and shares with Old Boston light the
interest of every voyagcr who enters
the tortuous channel to the city OF
Boston.
Boston light is famous i'll its way,
1t was the first lighthouse built in
America. 1t is one of the most ilnpOr-
tant lighthouse stations on the north
Atlantic coast. Every sailornan and
seagoer knows Boston light. Every
school boy and girl has read the many
tales of sllipwreck in which Boston
light figures. 1t was captured and re-
captured several times in the early
days of the Revolution.
On the evening of Friday, Sept II.
1716, the light was first "kinllcI,' TO
use the expression Of the chroniclcr
Of the day.
For some years the shipowners aud
merchants of Boston agitatcd the prof
Get of establishing Il 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 d suitable light. At last fa
yorable 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 Worthylakc was
appointed keeper. He and his wife
and daughter were drowned two years
later.
Benjamin Franklin wrote n ballad
on the drowning of the family. The
salary of the first keepers of the light
was $3.50 a year
On the death of Wortlylake Captain
pointed,
The early lightkeeper had many 9th
er duties to perform besides looking
after the light. He had to act as pilot
for vessels and discharge the duties of
health officer of the port In the case
his duty to go to its rescue.
In 1920 the lighthouse was burned
and rebuilt. Again in 1851 the light.
house and other buildings were burned
and were AGAIN rebuilt.
Robert Ball. the keeper who succeed
ed Captain Hayes, remained until the
British feet sailed from Boston to Hal
flax during the Revolutionary war Ac.
cOruing to the stories at that line, Ball
sailed away With the feet aud never
returned.
The British WantOnly destroyed the
harbor property, including the light.
before they sailed away WHOM they
evacuated Boston. Thus it is that
the island on which Boston Ii@lt stands
is the last soil in Massachusetts occu-
pied by British armed forces.
The destruction of the light was IL
great loss to mariners and the mer-
chants, and shipping interests induced
Governor John Hancock to send a slv.
ciaI message to the Massachusetts ieSs
isature recommending an appropria-
ton for the rebuilding of the light
With commemorative lromptitude the
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 ard mainle
nance to the treasury department, un-
der whose jurisdiction they still re-
main. The island and the light We're
formally coded to the United States
government in 1880.
The treasury department has always
given Boston light 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. 1t displays an
incandescent oil vapor light, giving
white fash of 100000 candle power ev-
cry thirty seconds. visible sixteen miles
in clear weather. and as an auxiliary
aid in foggy weather sounds power.
full first class siren, with a double blast
Of five seconds each every minute
Boston Globe.
Some Execution