Stingray Point Light

Infobox Lighthouse


caption = 1928 photograph of Stingray Point Light (USCG)
location = Mouth of the Rappahannock River north of Deltaville, Virginia
coordinates = coord|37.5613|N|76.2700|W|type:landmark
yearlit = 1858
automated = 1965
yeardeactivated = 1965
foundation = screw-pile
construction = cast-iron/wood
shape = hexagonal house
height = 34 ft
lens = sixth-order Fresnel lens
currentlens =
range = 8 mi
characteristic = Flashing 4 sec The Stingray Point Light was a lighthouse located at the mouth of the Rappahannock River.

History

Stingray Point took its name from an incident in which John Smith was stung by a stingray while fishing nearby. The light was built in 1858 to mark the entrance to the Deltaville harbor, just west of the point. A report from 1865 indicates repairs done after the light "plundered of all movable articles", but it is not indicated whether this reflects confederate raids (as affected other lighthouses in the area during the Civil War).

The light remained in service until 1965, when the house was removed and a skeleton tower erected on the old foundation. It had just recently been automated. This light remains in service. Sections of dismantled house were sold to one Gilbert Purcell, who owned a boatyard and intended to reconstruct the light on his property. His plans were never realized, but the Stingray Point Marina later constructed a full size replica of the light which still stands.

References

* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHVA.html Virginia Light Stations] , from the United States Coast Guard
* [http://www.cheslights.org/heritage/stingraypt.htm Stingray Point Light] , from the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society
*cite book
last= de Gast
first= Robert
title= The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake
year= 1973
publisher= Johns Hopkins University Press p. 154

External links

* [http://www.stingrayharbor.com/ Stingray Point Marina] website with pictures of the replica