Selkirk Light

Selkirk Lighthouse is located at mouth of the Salmon River in New York. It is one of only four lighthouses in the United States that retains its original bird-cage lantern.

Construction

Land for the Port Ontario Lighthouse Reservation was purchased from Sylvester and Daniel Brown by the Federal Government on September 1, 1837. Jacob Gould, Superintendent of Lighthouses on Lake Ontario, publicized for bids about a week after the purchase. The specifications included dimensions of the lumber and weight of the copper sheets, as well as the materials and dimensions of the house and an outhouse. There were eight lamps in the tower which originally burned whale oil.

The bid was awarded to Joseph Gibbs and Abner French, local contractors. Most of the stonework was accomplished by Jabez Meacham, using stone from a nearby quarry. The wroght iron railings that encircled the birdcage lantern room were formed by John Box, a local blacksmith. The total cost was about $3,000.00.

Keepers

*Lewis Conant, August 1838 - July 1849
*Lucius B. Cole, July 1849 - October 1854
*Charles M. Lewis, October 1854 - March 1857
*A. H. Weed, March 1857 - 1858

Deactivation

Commerce was booming at the time the lighthouse was constructed. Two piers were built at the mouth of the Salmon River to improve the harbor. A canal was proposed to connect the Salmon River to Lake Oneida and the Erie Canal. Unfortunately, the canal was never built, and Selkirk faded in importance. With an official beacon no longer justified, the lighthouse was deactivated in 1858.

The lighthouse was purchased from the government by Leopold John in 1895 for $155. He used it as a private residence, which was then developed into a hotel complex in 1899. John's family continued to operate the hotel after his death in 1907. It was then sold to the Heckle family in 1916.

elkirk Lighthouse Hotel

The Heckles doubled the size of the hotel. It attracted vacationers from as far away as New York and Philadelphia. Eventually, the hotel and nearby marina was purchased by Jim Walker in 1987. It has been used for weddings, honeymoons, and family reunions.

Reactivation

In 1989, a Coast Guard approved solar light was installed in the lantern room. On August 6th of that year, the Selkirk Lighthouse was reactivated as a Class II navigation aid.

Remaining Birdcage Lights

*Prudence Island Lighthouse, Rhode Island
*Baileys Harbor Lighthouse, Wisconsin
*Waugoshance Light, Michigan

External links

* [http://www.salmonriverlighthousemarina.com/ Selkirk Lighthouse Website]
* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=309 Lighthouse Friends]