Whale Rock

Type:
Year Established:
1882
Existing:
No
Source:
LL-1908
Whale Rock RI
Download:
File Type:
jpeg (image/jpeg)
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
Narragansett Bay West Channel
Latitude:
41° 26.4'
Longitude:
71° 25.27'
City / Town:
NARRAGANSETT
U.S. State:
Rhode Island
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. Whale Rock
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1938
Disposition:
Destroyed in 1938 Hurricane; Replaced with Cylindrical Steel Tower and Later a Lighted Gong Buoy; Caisson Survives
Year Tower Established:
1882
Tower Construction Material:
CAST IRON
Tower Foundation:
CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
73
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
71
Tower Shape:
CONICAL
Tower Daymark:
White
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
No
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1882
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
CAST IRON

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1882
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No

More Information

Documents Photographs Postcards Architectural Plans Newspaper Clippings Objects People
Comments:
  • 1881 funding for a lighthouse and fog bell was appropriated
  • A foundation was anchored to the rock and a "spark plug" style lighthouse was assembled on top, with the cistern in the foundation
  • 1882 the lighthouse was completed showing a red light
  • The daymark was changed to brown from 1886 - 1892, otherwise the iron was painted white
  • Keeper turnover was great due to the isolation
  • In 1897 Assistant Keeper Henry Nygen (a Swede) got drunk in town. Upon his return he and Keeper Judson Allen got into an altercation. Nygen attacked Allen with a knife inside and chased around the outside of the lighthouse. Eventually Allen got in a boat and made his way to shore, with Nygen in pursuit. Allen evaded Nygen and found a place to hide on a farm. Nygen returned to the lighthouse, still intoxicated, got the light burning but continuing to destroy items in the station. He was arrested the following day and removed from service.
  • In 1938 a hurricane surprised everyone, causing amazing damage to the east coast. Keeper Daniel Sullivan was ashore but couldn't get back due to rough seas. 2nd Assistant Gustav Larson was away on vacation, leaving 1st Assistant Walter Eberle alone at the station. Waves completely overtook the lighthouse, eventually taking the structure off its foundation. Eberle's body was never found.
  • A whistle bout temporarily replaced the lighthouse, but caused too much noise for residents and was replaced with a minor automatic green light. This was replaced by a gong buoy.
  • In 2008 a plaque was dedicated to Walter Eberle at the Beavertail Light Station.
  • The original foundation is slowly eroding, but a lighted gong bout remains
    • Entered by:
    t.wheeler
    Entered Date:
    Jan 15, 2018