The first keeper assigned to the lighthouse was Samuel C. mason, but for some reason, he never took the position. John Bell worked as the first keeper. In 1855, the lighthouse inspector noted that the new lenses saved 198 gallons of oil a year, almost enough to cover the keeper's salary.
During the Civil War, the Price's Creek range lights served to help blockade-runners navigate the treacherous Cape Fear River.
The brick lighthouse keeper's house was turned into a signal station.
--Old B-R'er
Showing posts with label Price's Creek Lighthouse. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Price's Creek Lighthouse. Show all posts
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Thursday, May 15, 2014
The Cape Fear Lighthouse System and Price's Creek Lighthouses-- Part 1
From the Friends of Price's Creek Lighthouse site.
Range lights, such as at Price's Creek, were built in pairs, with the shorter one in front of the taller. By centering the two, boats knew they were in the center of the channel and in safety.
All the Cape Fear lights were built between 1849 and 1850, except the lightship which went into service in 1851 and the Upper Jettee (Upper Jetty) which received range lights in 1855.
The 20-foot Price's Creek front range light was all brick and had a sister light 700 to 800 feet behind it which also served as keeper's quarters. The rear range light was 35-feet high and also built of brick. In a photo of the structure, the light appeared to be on top of the keeper's quarters, so was most likely a self-standing structure.
Both originally had 8 lamps and eight 14-inch reflectors which were replaced in 1855 by a 6th-order Frensl lenses.
--Old B-R'er
Range lights, such as at Price's Creek, were built in pairs, with the shorter one in front of the taller. By centering the two, boats knew they were in the center of the channel and in safety.
All the Cape Fear lights were built between 1849 and 1850, except the lightship which went into service in 1851 and the Upper Jettee (Upper Jetty) which received range lights in 1855.
The 20-foot Price's Creek front range light was all brick and had a sister light 700 to 800 feet behind it which also served as keeper's quarters. The rear range light was 35-feet high and also built of brick. In a photo of the structure, the light appeared to be on top of the keeper's quarters, so was most likely a self-standing structure.
Both originally had 8 lamps and eight 14-inch reflectors which were replaced in 1855 by a 6th-order Frensl lenses.
--Old B-R'er
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
NC Civil War Lighthouses-- Part 7: Price's Creek Lighthouses
From Friends of Price's Creek Lighthouse site.
There were two lights arranged in range form. The front one today, the only one remaining, is described as a "rather decrepit and inaccessible structure." It is the largest remaining piece of a light system designed to get ships up and down the Cape Fear River from its mouth to the port of Wilmington, 25 miles upstream.
Merchants had long lobbied and pushed for it.
Finally, on August 14, 1848, $35,000 was appropriated for seven beacons to be placed along the river and a lightship. From south to north, they were: the range light on Oak Island, range light at Price's Creek, lightship at Horseshoe Shoal, beacon on Orton's Point, beacon on Campbell's island and beacon at Upper Jeffie.
Price's Creek and the lightship were across from each other.
--Old B-R'er
There were two lights arranged in range form. The front one today, the only one remaining, is described as a "rather decrepit and inaccessible structure." It is the largest remaining piece of a light system designed to get ships up and down the Cape Fear River from its mouth to the port of Wilmington, 25 miles upstream.
Merchants had long lobbied and pushed for it.
Finally, on August 14, 1848, $35,000 was appropriated for seven beacons to be placed along the river and a lightship. From south to north, they were: the range light on Oak Island, range light at Price's Creek, lightship at Horseshoe Shoal, beacon on Orton's Point, beacon on Campbell's island and beacon at Upper Jeffie.
Price's Creek and the lightship were across from each other.
--Old B-R'er
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
North Carolina Civil War Lighthouses-- Part 6: Cape Fear River-- Price's Creek Lighthouse
Actually this was a lighthouse and ranging light, two lighthouses, built on the west bank of the Cape Fear River at the mouth of Price's Creek, opposite where the current Fort Fisher-Southport Ferry docks. The lights were authorized by Congress in 1848, along with several other Cape Fear River lights.
The main Price's Creek Lighthouse was built on top of the keeper's house. It was illuminated for the first time on January 4, 1851. The light on it is thought to have been damaged during the war, but the keeper's quarters remained standing for many years afterwards. It is no longer there.
The other lighthouse stood between the keeper's house and the Cape Fear River. It stood 20 feet high of hard brick. During the Civil War, Confederates utilized it as a signal station. The remains of this tower can still be seen by persons on the ferry, although it is on private land.
The light atop the keeper's quarters was thought to have been severely damaged during the Civil War, but long remained a prominent Brunswick County landmark.
--Old B-Runner
The main Price's Creek Lighthouse was built on top of the keeper's house. It was illuminated for the first time on January 4, 1851. The light on it is thought to have been damaged during the war, but the keeper's quarters remained standing for many years afterwards. It is no longer there.
The other lighthouse stood between the keeper's house and the Cape Fear River. It stood 20 feet high of hard brick. During the Civil War, Confederates utilized it as a signal station. The remains of this tower can still be seen by persons on the ferry, although it is on private land.
The light atop the keeper's quarters was thought to have been severely damaged during the Civil War, but long remained a prominent Brunswick County landmark.
--Old B-Runner
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