Cape Ann Light Station on Thacher Island - A National Historic Landmark
HISTORY
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1 - Island view from eastern shore to the west.
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2 - North tower with covered walkway c.1910.
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3- North tower keeper house without covered walkway c.1930.
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4 - Principal keeper and assistant keeper houses with picket fence and outhouse c.1880.
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5 - Principal keeper and assistant keeper houses c.1898.
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6 - Keeper George E. Kezer. Uniforms were required after 1884.
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7- Third assistant keeper William Merrill Reed and his wife Dora and daughters Alice and Louise 1904.
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8 - Unidentified keepers pose on July 28, 1896. This may be Principal keeper Addison Franklin Tarr, with telescope, who served from 1881 to 1912.
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9 - Assistant keeper John E.H. Cook with his wife Emma and son Donald in 1911.
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10 - John E.H. Cook (far right) with other assistant keepers.
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11 - Visitors arrive from Loblolly Cove c.1930.
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12 - Keeper wives often fished to supplement the family food supply.
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13 - Eugene Larsen with wife “Dina” and children Eugen, Alice, and Marie c.1916.
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14 - Eugene Larsen served as keeper at Sankaty Head Light on Nantucket shown here as a model for a Granger tobacco ad in 1930.
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15 - First Assistant Keeper, William Daggett, 1918 -1926.
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16 - George Kezer with his oldest son Harlen and younger son Thatcher Warren born on the island in 1900.
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17 - North tower with fishing schooner passing c.1910.
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18 - Keeper William Daggett (1870-1945) tending his cow near the North tower c.1918.
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19 - South tower with two original fog signals c.1868.
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20 - Coal cart near the radio compass tower operated by the U.S. Navy c.1911.
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21 - Whistle house with railway trestle to the roof where coal was deposited to run the steam powered fog signal.
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22 - Lighthouse tender USLHT “Mayflower” delivering coal and supplies on August 12, 1913.
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23 - Current whistle house with cover cistern and schooner passing by the South tower.
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24 - South Tower , covered walkway and keeper house, 1864.
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25 - North tower keeper house c.1868.
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26 - Unusual perspective showing all major structures, c1890.
Interesting
Facts about Thacher
• The island encompasses about 50 acres
• Only operating Twin lighthouses in America
• One of only seven twin and one triple light all on the Atlantic
Coast
• The eleventh and last lighthouse built under British rule in
1771.
• The original First Order Fresnel lens from the south tower is
on display at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Groton Ct.
• The first lighthouse to mark a “dangerous spot” along
the coast, all previous lights were built to only mark harbor entrances.
• First test site for Winslow Lewis’ modified Argand lamp
in 1814 later adopted for use in all U.S. lighthouses.
• Twin lights were used to be distinguishable from other lights
on the coast prior to the development of revolving lenses and unique
blinking patterns were incorporated.
Thacher Island is named for Anthony and Elizabeth Thacher who were the sole survivors of a terrible shipwreck on August 14, 1635 in which twenty one passengers including their four children were drowned. 1605-Thacher Island was sighted by Samuel De Champlain who named the surrounding area “Cap aux Isles” (the cape with islands). 1614- Captain John Smith sees Thacher along with Straitsmouth and Milk Island’s calls them the “Three Turks Heads”. 1635- A small boat out of Ipswich, bound for Marblehead. It was caught in the Great Storm on August 14, and was dashed to pieces on the rocks. Only Anthony Thacher and his wife survived as their four children and friends are lost. 1635-September 3, - The Massachusetts General Court voted “40 Marks” to Anthony Thacher as well as awarding him the island “at the head of Cape Ann, as his inheritance.” 1717- Island is sold by John Appleton (an heir of Thacher), of Ipswich, to the Reverend John White-30 acres, more or less, for 10 pounds. 1726-27- The Reverend White sold it to Joseph Allen of Gloucester for 175 pounds. 1771- The Massachusetts Colonial Government bought it back for 500 pounds. The same year, two 45 foot tall lighthouses were erected and lighted for the first time on December 21st. |
1861-The present 124 foot granite towers were completed raising the lights to 166 feet above sea level. 1888- The Town of Rockport adds the image of the twin towers to its official town seal. 1932-The north light was shut off as an economy measure during the depression. 1980- The Coast Guard, which has manned the Island since 1939, removed its last crew of four men after automating the south light and fog signal. Since then the Island has been staffed by volunteer civilian keepers during the summer months. 1988- The north tower was relit for the first time since 1932 and approved as a private aid to navigation. Today a solar powered LED light with an amber lens replicates the original kerosene oil light and can be seen eight miles to sea. 1998- The Coast Guard installed solar panels to power the south tower and fog horn. 2001- The Cape Ann Light Station was designated a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service. Later that year the southern end of the Island was deeded to the Town of Rockport by the Coast Guard. |