Lighthouse Inn

Infobox_Lighthouse

---

caption = The original Bass River Light
location = West Dennis, Cape Cod,
Massachusetts
coordinates = coord|41|39|06.24|N|70|10|09.07|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearbuilt = 1855
yearlit = 1855
yeardeactivated = 1914
relit = 1989
foundation = Brick
marking = Red
height = convert|44|ft|m|abbr=on
elevation = Sea level
lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens
currentlens = 300 mm
intensity =
range = 13 nm
characteristic = Flashing White 1s every 6s

Bass River Light is a lighthouse located in West Dennis, Massachusetts. It is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as the West Dennis Lighthouse.

History

Creation

In 1850, the federal government of the United States appropriated $4000 to build a lighthouse near the breakwater at the mouth of Bass River (Massachusetts). Although an officer of the Marine Revenue reported that a light was unnecessary, the plans were carried through because the captains of the ships had been putting in 25 cents per month of their own money to buy kerosene for a lantern that was placed on Wrinkle Point in West Dennis. In 1854, construction began on the light and the keepers home. Oxen were used to drag the materials over the salt marshes and dunes. The light was lit on May 1, 1855, and continued in service until 1880, when the Lighthouse Service decided the Bass River Light was no longer necessary since a new light had been built at Stage Harbor in Chatham. One year later, the government changed its mind and decided to relight the Bass River Light.

Deactivation and Hotel Use

The light continued to serve seafarers until 1914, when the government considered the lighthouse unnecessary with the advent of the Cape Cod Canal and the installation of an automatic beacon, the Bass River West Jetty Light at the entrance to Bass River. After being sold at auction, the Lighthouse property was purchased by Harry Noyes of the Noyes Buick Company in Boston. Noyes enlarged the Main House, built several cottages, and landscaped the grounds. After his death in 1933, the property was on the market for five years until Everett Stone purchased the lighthouse property. Everett Stone was a developer from Auburn, Massachusetts who planned to develop the land and sell it. But the papers on the land were passed too late in June to begin any construction, so he decided to take in overnight guests to help pay the mortgage. So many of the 1938 guests asked to return, Stone changed his mind about developing the land and began the Lighthouse Inn.

1989 to present

After being dark for 75 years, the light itself was relit as the only privately owned, privately maintained working lighthouse in the country. The light is recognized by the Coast Guard as the West Dennis Light. The light was relit on August 7, 1989, on the 200th anniversary of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, now the U.S. Coast Guard.

External links

* [http://www.lighthouseinn.com/ Lighthouse Inn Official Website]
* [http://lighthouse.cc/bassriver/ Bass River Light] at New England Lighthouses