(Also known as Craighill Light [Channel named after William Craighill of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and member of the Lighthouse Board] and North Point Range Light. Located off
shore, two miles east/southeast of North Point – updated 5/27/2020
1870: Major dredging and enlarging of the channel.
1873: Construction of caisson crib at Havre de Grace begun. Crib bolted to the first
course of 30-foot diameter cast-iron cylinder and placed on top of
underwater piles. Additional courses later added. 4th order Fresnel lens
installed on a make-shift wooden structure that served as temporary keeper
dwelling.
1874: Cylindrical 42-foot one-story dwelling, consisting of kitchen, sitting room,
two bedrooms and outside cantilevered privy placed on top of the caisson.
Watchroom built between the first floor and the lantern. Second oldest caisson
lighthouse in the US and second oldest sparkplug tower. Located 2.4 miles
south of the rear light. Equipped with two lights – fixed beacon above
gallery deck on the south side serves as front range light. 5th order Fresnel lens
in lantern room used for general navigation. Dwelling painted white with
red lantern.
1900: Dwelling & foundation painted red and lantern black.
1918: Keeper Jorgen Johansen is awarded the inspector’s efficiency star.
1926: Keeper Jorgen Johansen rescues four people from the water near the station.
1929: Light electrified with the installation of generators and storage batteries. 94-watt lamp installed in a fixed lens. 150-watt lamp placed in a 5th-order lens. Weight-driven fog bell striker replaced by electric blower siren.
1936: Station abandoned briefly (13 days) due to dangerous ice conditions.
1964: Lighthouse automated.
2005: Lighthouse awarded to Historical Place Preservation, Inc. managed by Cathy
Taylor. The group begins restoration. The light remains an active aid to navigation.
Sources: Lighthouse Friends web site – http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=416 , Lighting the Bay – Tales of Chesapeake Lighthouses by Pat Vojtech and The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake by Robert deGast
