York Spit Light
 Undated photograph of York Spit Light (USCG) | |
  | |
| Location | At the mouth of the York River in the Chesapeake Bay |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 37°12′35″N 76°15′15″W / 37.2096°N 76.2542°WCoordinates: 37°12′35″N 76°15′15″W / 37.2096°N 76.2542°W |
| Year first lit | 1870 |
| Deactivated | 1960 |
| Foundation | screw-pile |
| Construction | cast-iron/wood |
| Tower shape | hexagonal house |
The York Spit Light was a lighthouse located at the mouth of the York River in the Chesapeake Bay, marking a long shoal paralleling the main channel into the river.
History
This light replaced lightships stationed at this location beginning in 1853. Extra fender piles were added to the usual six pile structure in order to provide extra stability against the current. In 1903 riprap was placed around the piles for additional protection. A hurricane in September 1933 damaged the light.
The house was removed and replaced with an automated light in 1960 as part of the program of decommissioning at that time. More recently this light was damaged in a hurricane, and a separate light on a single pole was erected next to the old screw-pile foundation.
Notes
References
- York Spit Light, from the Chesapeake Chapter of the United States Lighthouse Society
- de Gast, Robert (1973). The Lighthouses of the Chesapeake. Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 152.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/12/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.