Menu
CALIFORNIA LIGHTHOUSES
*
October 24, 1850: "Passed during the First Session of the 31st Congress, appropriations for: a light house at Alcatraz Island." (New Orleans Commercial Bulletin)
July 4, 1941: "Edward H. Schneider, lighthouse keeper of Alcatraz Island." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
June 2, 1970: "A fire which burned most of the night on Indian-occupied Alcatraz Island today destroyed the lighthouse, warden's home and infirmary of the former federal penitentiary.
The wooden lighthouse and hospital buildings were burned to the ground, while only two brick walls of the abandoned warden's home remained standing when the fire burned out.
Diesel oil stored near the base of the lighthouse continued to send black clouds above the fog-shrouded island after dawn.
The 150 Indians living on the island refused offers of evacuation and fire-fighting aid from the Coast Guard, but were unable to fight the blaze themselves because of a lack of water.
The federal government, which plans to make Alcatraz into a national recreation area., removed its water barge last week and the occupants have been bringing in water supplies in bottles and jugs." (The Deseret News – Utah)
June 14, 1971: "Coast Guard crews installed a portable generator Sunday and got lighthouse beacon working again on Alcatraz, the former federal prison island virtually stripped of its copper power cables during 19 months of Indian occupation.
The Coast Guard said permanent repairs to the lighthouse would take several months.
The lighthouse first went dark when the government disconnected the underwater power cable to the island not long after start of the Indian invasion. The Coast Guard then installed light buoys, but local mariners protested they were not as visible in the foggy bay as the old swinging lighthouse beam, and that the new buoy borne foghorns weren't as good as the now-silent old foghorn on the island." (The Spartanburg Herald-Journal – South Carolina)
March 9, 1931: "The auxiliary schooner Talaya arrived here this morning with three men aboard who had been picked up in a lifeboat seven miles off Anacapa Island.
They had put out from Hueneme yesterday morning aboard the launch Owl for Anacapa Island carrying sand and cement to be used in constructing a new lighthouse on Anacapa Island. When about 10 miles off the island the boat sprung a leak and sank quickly.
The men were trying to make the island in a small lifeboat when sighted by the Talaya and rescued. They had been without food or water for several hours and their frail craft was being tossed about by heavy seas and high winds." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
November 10, 1931: "On a small island off the California coast, 20 government employes and their families will shortly take up the task of saving mariners and warning ships of the rock shore from a newly completed lighthouse.
The most southerly of the Santa Cruz islands in the dreaded Santa Barbara Channel, scene of many ship wrecks, notably the S.S. Harvard disaster, and the grounding of seven Navy destroyers. Anacapa Island is directly in the steamer path.
Ships are to be protected and warned by a powerful radio compass, a powerhouse and foghorn station instead of the small flashing light now in operation.
There is no water on the island, a wind swept rock two miles long, and in places only two city blocks wide. Water and all materials must be brought from the mainland, 20 miles away.
Although uninhabited except for the Government employes, Anacapa Island has long been a haunt for deep-sea fishers. Sword fishing is said to be comparable to the best on the coast." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
November 21, 1934: "A lighthouse keeper's wife possibly owed her life today to the United States fleet which sent its $30,000,000 battleship, California, on an errand of mercy to Anacapa Island, 30 miles off the local coast line.
Mrs. C.R. Coursey's husband radioed operations base at San Pedro that she was in need of medical attention and the station ordered the California to offer aid. The battleship was steaming up the coast to Bremerton, Wash.
A ship's doctor went ashore and after prescribing hospital care, brought her aboard. The battleship transported her across Santa Barbara channel to Ventura, where an ambulance, summoned by ship's radio, was waiting to take her to the hospital.
Mrs. Coursey was given a good chance to recover." (San Jose News)
August 14, 1917: "Otto Nichaus, who is the lighthouse keeper on the island of Annuevo, situated in the Pacific ocean, 25 miles from Santa Cruz, is in town to join his wife and family, who came here a month ago." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
October 22, 1926: "Bay region shakes from four quakes.
The Ano Huevo Point lighthouse between San Francisco and Santa Cruz, was damaged when the upper tower shook so badly that the lens fell out." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
January 7, 1921: "Bound for Panama, where the greatest peace time fleet maneuvers in history will be held, the Pacific fleet gathered off the Coronado Islands, within sight of San Diego harbor early today. They lined up in fleet formation for the start southward. The Birmingham, flagship for the destroyer squadron: the tender Melville, and 18 destroyers got under way in San Diego harbor at 7 a.m. And proceeded to the Coronado Islands where the battleship squadron of the Pacific fleet was waiting.
Admiral Hugh Rodman, on the bridge of the flagship New Mexico, took charge of the entire squadron and the start for southern waters, where the Pacific and Atlantic fleets will join for the maneuvers, was made.
A near-accident occurred just before the start was made when the Birmingham narrowly missed running down a fishing boat of Ballast Point Lighthouse. The big warship was stopped just in time to allow the smaller craft to escape with but five feet to spare." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
May 31, 1923: "A small boat bearing the name 'Marry G.' with oar locks, but without oars, was picked up as it drifted into the harbor past the ballast point lighthouse by the lighthouse keeper at dusk last night. The boat had apparently been adrift a long time, he reported.
No 'Mary G.' is known along the local waterfront." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
BATTERY POINT
October 24, 1850: "Passed during the First Session of the 31st Congress, appropriations for: a light house at Battery Point." (New Orleans Commercial Bulletin)
May 29, 1855: "An act making appropriations for the civil and diplomatic expenses of government for the year ending the thirtieth of June eighteen hundred and fifty-six and for other purposes.
And for the construction of two light-houses in California, one at Crescent City and one at Trinity Bay, fifteen thousand dollars each, should the Secretary of the Treasury decide that said light houses were necessary, after proper examination and surveys." (Delaware State Reporter)
April 16, 1897: "The contract for building an oilhouse for the twelfth lighthouse district at Crescent City, Cal., has been awarded to P.B. McKay of Stockton, Cal., at his bid, $398." (Ukiah Republican Press)
CAPE MENDOCINO
February 25, 1871: "Major Sterling, late assistant keeper at the Mendocino Lighthouse, has been appointed Inspector of Customs at Big River, Mendocino county." (Sacramento Daily Union)
January 29, 1887: "The Lighthouse Inspector has been instructed to direct the light-keeper at Cape Mendocino to take charge of the lighthouse apparatus at that place." (Daily Alta California)
November 6, 1887: "Collector Hager, as ex-officio Inspector of Light-Houses, has appointed Thomas Reed second assistant keeper of the Mendocino lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
October 16, 1891: "From the Ferndale Enterprise we learn that Captain A.P. Marble, for so many years principal keeper of the Cape Mendocino lighthouse, has tendered his resignation to the department, to take effect November 1st." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
November 20, 1956: "The highest lighthouse on the Pacific coast of the U.S. is at Cape Mendocino, California. It rises 422 feet above sea level." (Port Angeles Evening News - Washington)
July 2, 1897: "Peter Tansen, formerly of the Point Bonita light station, has been assigned to the Cape Mendocino lighthouse vice W.H. Otto resigned." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
CARQUINEZ STRAIT
EAST BROTHER
March 4, 1940: "Fire destroyed a boathouse, four small boats and part of the dock at the Brothers Island lighthouse off Point San Pablo today. The lighthouse itself was scored by flames but was not severely damaged.
A crew from U.S. Coast Guard headquarters here was dispatched to fight the flames." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
FARALLON ISLANDS
October 24, 1850: "Passed during the First Session of the 31st Congress, appropriations for: a light house at the Farallon Islands." (New Orleans Commercial Bulletin)
July 5, 1901: "George Edwin Cain, 9 years old, son of the head keeper of the Farallon lighthouse, died of diphtheria, and two of the other ten children on the island are suffering with the same disease." (Amador Ledger)
March 20, 1905: "The tug Relief went to sea yesterday to take supplies to the lighthouse keepers on the Farallon Islands." (San Francisco Call)
January 7, 1913: "A bill appropriating $1,350,000 for the improvement and extension of the lighthouse system throughout the country was reported to the house today by the Interstate and foreign commerce commission. Among the principal items in the bill were:
Lighthouse, North Farallone Island, Cal., $100,000." (San Francisco Call)
June 25, 1931: "Desperately ill in a hospital here, Lexie Leigh Johnson, three-year-old daughter of a lighthouse keeper on the lonely Farallone Islands, had a chance for life today because of a mercy errand in which an Army transport and a government tender took part.
The Farallones, 33 miles off Golden Gate, have no medical attendant. When Lexie became ill her father, J.M. Johnson, sent a radio message asking for help. The transport Chaumont was nearby on its way to Manila and sent two doctors ashore.
The doctors said Lexie must go to a hospital, and a lighthouse tender was rushed from San Francisco to bring her back. Hospital attendants said they hoped for her recovery." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
FORT POINT
HUMBOLDT BAY
LIME POINT
October 11, 1956: "Two San Mateo women were rescued on a drifting cabin cruiser in the Golden Gate last night.
Lawrence M. Peet, the boats skipper, swam three fourths of a mile to summon coast guard aid after his boat ran out of fuel.
A coast guard cutter then overtook the drifting boat half a mile outside the gate and towed it to Sausalito." (The Modesto Bee)
LONG BEACH HARBOR
LOS ANGELES HARBOR
April 7, 1914: " 'Stop that man from going up those steps.' shouted John Peterson, first assistant light-keeper at the Los Angeles harbor lighthouse, as a man started up the stairs to the light tower. Then a bystander explained that the man in question was William C. Redfield, Secretary of Commerce, and Peterson's highest superior officer.
Peterson was preparing to apologize for his abrupt order, when the Secretary, who was inspecting the lighthouse as a matter of official business, explained he considered the matter as a good joke." (The Miami News – Florida)
MARE ISLAND
September 5, 1873: "The light in the new lighthouse at Mare island was lighted for the first time on Monday evening." (Morning Oregonian)
OAKLAND HARBOR
May 10, 1890: "George N. Cobb has been appointed Assistant Keeper of the lighthouse at Oakland." (Mountain Democrat)
May 5, 1891: "The Secretary of the Treasury has appointed Herbert Luff assistant lighthouse keeper at Oakland harbor, vice George D. Cobb, resigned." (Oakland Tribune)
January 18, 1902: "Letters from Senator Perkins and Congressman Metcalf in regard to proposed improvements to Oakland Harbor were read. In one communication from Mr. Metcalf he stated he would shortly present to Mr. Burton the project of the Oakland Harbor improvements. Senator Perkins wrote that he would shortly introduce a bill authorizing the construction of a new lighthouse at the mouth of Oakland Harbor." (Oakland Tribune)
PIEDRAS BLANCAS
August 9, 1876: "In the case of the Rancho Piedra Blanca, in Monterey County, Ca., an appeal to the Secretary of the Interior from the Commissioner of the General Land Office, Secretary Chandler has decided that the Government may direct selections so as to exclude from the grant the lighthouse reservation for the Piedra Blanca lighthouse, and confirm the surveyor-General, reversing the decision of the Commission of the General Land Office." (Oakland Tribune)
August 31, 1888: "Yesterday Collector Hager and Lighthouse Inspector Ludlow appointed Owen Dillon as second assistant keeper at the Piedras Blancas lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
PIGEON POINT
POINT ARENA
July 19, 1870: "In the general appropriation bill passed by Congress there are the following items for California:
For a new lighthouse at Punta Arenas, California (in addition to former appropriations) $20,000." (Morning Oregonian)
August 31, 1888: "Yesterday Collector Hager and Lighthouse Inspector Ludlow appointed Thomas O'Donnell to the third assistant keeper at the Point Arena lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
February 21, 1890: "Mr. H.B. Cartmell, former editor of the Record, has just secured a position in the U.S. Lighthouse Service, and will for the time be stationed as third assistant at the Point Arena Lighthouse.--Point Arena Record." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
April 3, 1896: "T. Bishop, a San Francisco contractor, was at the Point Arena hotel this week preparing to bid on the construction of the new signal building at the lighthouse. -- Record." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
May 29, 1896: "Work on the new signal station at the Point Arena lighthouse has commenced." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
November 25, 1898: "Uncle Sam is putting a telephone line out to the lighthouse. It will be a great help to the keepers." (Ukiah Republican Press)
December 9, 1898: "The telephone line from Point Arena to the lighthouse near that place has been completed." (Ukiah Republican Press)
POINT ARGUELLO
POINT BLUNT
POINT BONITA
November 6, 1887: "Collector Hager, as ex-officio Inspector of Light-Houses, has appointed Henry Ovaitt third assistant keeper of the Point Bonito lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
August 31, 1888: "Yesterday Collector Hager and Lighthouse Inspector Ludlow appointed Charles McCarthy to be third assistant keeper at the Point Bonita lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
POINT CONCEPTION
October 24, 1850: "Passed during the First Session of the 31st Congress, appropriations for: a light house at Point Conception." (New Orleans Commercial Bulletin)
June 12, 1941: "Motorized lifeboats from the Point Concepcion lifeboat station and the cutter Perseus were ordered to the scene by the Coast Guard.
The keeper of the Point Concepcion lighthouse said the vessel grounded on a sandy shore at Government Point about one mile east of the light and appeared to be resting easily." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
POINT DIABLO
POINT FERMIN
POINT HUENEME
POINT KNOX (ANGEL ISLAND)
POINT LOMA (Old)
POINT LOMA (New)
POINT MONTARA
POINT PINOS
January 7, 1913: "A bill appropriating $1,350,000 for the improvement and extension of the lighthouse system throughout the country was reported to the house today by the Interstate and Foreign commerce commission. Among the principal items in the bill were:
Improvement, Point Pinos, Cal., $30,000." (San Francisco Call)
POINT REYES
July 19, 1870: "In the general appropriation bill passed by Congress there are the following items for California:
For lighthouse and fog signal at Point Reyes, California (in addition to former appropriations) $45,000." (Morning Oregonian)
January 29, 1887: "The Inspector has been instructed to permit telephonic lines to cross the Point Reyes Lighthouse reservation. It is said to be probable that the signal station at the cape will be abandoned, despite the protests of mariners on the northern coast, who say that such an act will prove a great detriment to the shipping interests along that coast." (Daily Alta California)
July 22, 1900: "The real thing in the sea serpent line was found on the beach near Point Reyes lighthouse this morning. An employee while patrolling the beach came across it high on the sand where it was stranded after being washed in.
The animal was 7 feet long and 20 inches in circumference in the thickest part of the body. It had two large horns which protruded from the large head, large teeth and massive jaws. It was alive when found. It was killed with stones and taken to the lighthouse and will be preserved." (San Francisco Call)
POINT SAN LUIS (OBISPO)
June 28, 1886: "Major D.P. Heap, Secretary of the Lighthouse Board is making an inspection of the coast lighthouses. It is expected that he will recommend a new lighthouse and fog signal at San Luis Head." (Daily Alta California)
POINT VINCENTE
April 19, 1937: "Five persons were rescued early today from the private fishing boat Sea Bee after a fire broke out aboard the craft but was extinguished before help arrived.
The flames of unknown origin broke out as the boat was cruising near Point Vincente. The Keeper of the lighthouse at the Point witnessed the fire and placed a call to the Coast Guard.
When the cutter Ewing and a Coast Guard speedboat reached the 60-foot boat, the flames had been put out." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
PUNTA GORDO
January 25, 1895: "The National Lighthouse Board has recommended a lighthouse and fog signal at Punta Gorda, between Shelter Cove and Cape Mendocino, where there is a large number of dangerous rocks, the cost not to exceed $40,000." (Mendocino Dispatch Democrat)
ROE ISLAND
December 31, 1886: "The Lighthouse Inspector has recommended that a small lighthouse be erected on Roe's Island in Suison Bay, to cost about $10,000. A bill authorizing its construction is to be introduced in Congress at once. The place was selected is in a direct line between Benica and the mouths of the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, and is about five nautical miles from Army Point and nine miles from where the Stockton boats turn into the river. The tower will have a fixed white light visible for twelve miles." (Daily Alta California)
July 9, 1921: "Mrs. O. Anderson, who resides at the lighthouse on Roe Island, found a check for $1000 in a bottle. The check was dated 1906, and had a note on the back of it stating that the boat in which the writer was sailing was sinking, and that the finder might have the money. The check was drawn on a San Francisco bank. Mrs. Anderson expects to present it this week to test whether it is a joke or not. --Bay Point News." (Oakland Tribune)
March 6, 1932: "J.C. Building, San Francisco, has taken employment as assist lighthouse keeper on Roe Island in Suisun bay across from here." (Oakland Tribune)
April 4, 1939: "One of three superintendents' efficiency awards issued each year by the 18th lighthouse district has been awarded to Capt. T.J. Sauer, keeper of the Roe Island Light, opposite Port Chicago.
Captain Sauer has been keeper of the local lighthouse for two and a half years. Prior to his assignment to this post he was keeper of the Mile Rock Lighthouse, at the entrance to the Golden Gate." (Oakland Tribune)
April 25, 1946: "Obviously no doughboy is going to be interested, but some ex-sailor who still has his sea legs and a consuming yearning for the ocean blue might be interested in the purchase of a light station on Roe Island, Solano County. The property has been declared surplus by the U.S. Coast Guard and is being offered for sale by the Federal Public Housing Authority.
If the prospective purchase is interested from a residential standpoint, his present housing problem must be acute. The 3.32-acre property is on the southerly point of the island, about a mile north of Port Chicago, and can be reached only by boat.
A prospectus by the FPHA, with frankness seldom discernible in real estate sellers, Acknowledged that the land is low and partly marshy and has been overflowed by high stages of tide and river flow. It adds that there are two 2 1/2-story frame dwellings, carpenter and power-house building, pump house, boat landing, tender dock, small boat ways, wooden bulkheads, water supply, electric lighting system, and several small tanks.
Coast Guard officials said the station had been maintained for many years but because of channel changes has now become unnecessary. They hope that some duck club will be interested in its purchase.
So does the FPHA. It announces all information on terms and conditions of sale will be available after May 16 at its office, 760 Market Street, San Francisco. Priority on purchase is for Government agencies, State and local Governments, veterans, and non-profit institutions, in that order, with filing required before July 17." (Oakland Tribune)
November 24, 1946: (Caption under photo of lighthouse) "The city of Pittsburg purchased this abandoned lighthouse on Roe Island for $4000 and has made it available to the Berkeley-Contra Costa Area Council of Boy Scouts for recreational purposes. The Scouts obtained a landing barge to ferry them to the island." (Oakland Tribune)
June 27, 1954: (Classified Ad) "$7500. 3 1/2 acres, Roe Island, across from Port Chicago. Old lighthouse. Two 6-room houses, docks, breakwater. Suitable duck club or private retreat. Owner. (contact info)" (Oakland Tribune)
ST. GEORGE REEF (SEAL ROCK)
May 13, 1884: "The Government is going to erect a lighthouse on Northeast Seal Rock, twelve miles off Cresent City. It will be three years before the structure is completed." (Daily Alta California)
September 24, 1884: "Captain Payson, of the Lighthouse Board, has recently returned from a tour of inspection of the new lighthouse in progress of construction at Seal Rock, near Humboldt Bay. Owing to a scanty appropriation by Congress nothing more can be done than prepare the grnite for the foundations. The Board wanted $150,000, but they only received $30,000. The lighthouse is much needed at this place, and the delay in its construction may result in the loss of many valuable ships and cargoes." (Daily Alta California)
June 18, 1885: "Major Heap of the Lighthouse Board, Washington, has gone on a tour of inspection. Next Wednesday he will proceed north on a little tour. 'Northwest Seal Rock,' on which the Government has spent $60,000, will be visited. It is thought it will take $300,000 to build a lighthouse there and complete other proposed work." (Daily Alta California)
June 19, 1886: "It is expected that work on the lighthouse at St. Georges' reef, off Crescent City, will be soon commenced. The Sundry Civil bill, now before Congress and likely tp pass, appropriated $150,000 for construction of the lighthouse above named." (Daily Alta California)
May 26, 1887: "The steamer Aliance, formerly a whaler, will start for Eureka to-day loaded with stone for that place to be used in the construction of the Point St. George Lighthouse, now under way." (Daily Alta California)
July 1, 1887: "Lighthouse Inspector Ludlow, who returned from a northern tour of inspection Wednesday, has again started out, and is believed to be investigating the situation at the Farallones, where sealers and egg-pickers are believed to be still defying the law. During his recent northern trip he found that high winds had interfered with the laying of the foundation of the lighthouse to bw erected at Northwest Seal Rock." (Daily Alta California)
April 10, 1891: "The steamer Sunol will leave for Crescent City at 9 o'clock this morning. She will take the place of the Del Norte as a tender to the Seal Rock lighthouse, and for the next six months will ply between Eureka and Crescent City. She goes up laden with material for the new lighthouse." (Daily Alta California)
May 13, 1892: "The lenses to be used in the lantern in the lighthouse station on St. George's reef, Cal., have been shipped from France to San Francisco, via New York. Upon reaching New York they will be examined thoroughly, after which they will be shipped direct, reaching California some time in July." (The Republican Press)
September 20, 1892: "Notice has been given by the United States Board of Lighthouse Inspectors that owing to the scarcity of water at the St. George's Reef Lighthouse signal it has been found necessary to reduce the working of the signal in fogs to twenty-minute intervals for the present." (San Francisco Call)
SANTA BARBARA
SANTA CRUZ
December 28, 1940: "A small, efficient—and unromantic—light is to replace the Santa Cruz lighthouse and the man who for decades kept the light burning will be retired, along with the old light itself.
This change, duplicating others which have been taking place along our coasts, is not surprising. Of course we can build stronger and more efficient lights now than we did when these lighthouses were constructed. However, the faithfulness to duty of the lighthouse keepers has been proverbial, and many and dangerous have been their exploits. It is not without regret, therefore, that we see some of the lighthouses replaced." (San Jose News)
SANTA CRUZ BREAKWATER
SOUTHAMPTON SHOAL
TABLE BLUFF
TRINIDAD HEAD MEMORIAL (REPLICA)
YERBA BUENA
April 2, 1889: "Mr. McFarland, who is the lighthouse keeper on the island." (Oakland Tribune)
September 25, 1925: "Serious damage to Goat Island was averted yesterday when 200 sailors and fire boats from San Francisco checked a blaze that burned 10 acres on the island.
The fire started in the underbrush near the lighthouse at 2:45 o'clock. It is believed that the origin of the blaze was due to a carelessly thrown cigarette or match. For a time the signal tower, radio station and several barracks were threatened." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)
April 30, 1931: "In 1872 provision was made for a notary public at Yerba Buena Island, and in 1874 a resolution was adopted asking Congress to establish a lighthouse and fog bell on Yerba Buena Island. In the later instance the name Goat Island was mentioned alternatively as was also done in 1893 in a resolution regarding a railroad terminal on the island." (Berkeley Daily Gazette)