Inventory of Historic Light Stations--New Jersey Lighthouses--Ship John Shoal Light

Inventory of Historic Light Stations
New Jersey Lighthouses

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SHIP JOHN SHOAL LIGHT

State: NEW JERSEY
Location: ON SHOAL IN DELAWARE RIVER
Nearest City: GREENWICH
County: CUMBERLAND
U.S.C.G. District: 5
Year Station Established: 1854

1999 photo courtesy Ted Smith

Existing Historic Tower:

Year Light First Lit: 1874 (TEMPORARY LIGHT)
Is the Light Operational? YES
Date Deactivated: N/A
Automated: 1973
Foundation Materials: CAST IRON/CONCRETE CAISSON
Construction Materials: CAST IRON
Markings/Patterns: BROWN HOUSE ON BROWN CYLINDER
Shape: OCTAGONAL W/MANSARD ROOF
Relationship to Other Structures: INTEGRAL
Tower Height:
Original Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed: 1877
Present Optic: SOLAR POWERED VRB-25
Year Present Lens Installed: 1997
Height of Focal Plane: 50
Fresnel Lens Disposition: FOURTH-ORDER FRESNEL LENS IS AT COAST GUARD AIR STATION, PONOMA, NEW JERSEY
Has tower been moved? NO

Previous Tower(s): NO

Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? NO

Fog Signal Type: HORN

Existing Keepers Quarters? YES

Year Constructed: 1877
Number of Stories: 2
Architectural Style: SECOND EMPIRE OCTAGONAL
Construction Materials: CAST IRON INTEGRAL

Other Structures: STORAGE PLATFORM

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION

Owner/Manager: U.S. COAST GUARD

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site:

National Register Status: NONE; Reference # 0
Name of Listing:
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

Miscellaneous:
In 1854, Congress authorized $30,000 for the construction of a permanent lighthouse on the shoal. The light station was to be similar to that designed for Cross Ledge also in Delaware Bay. Additional funding for the construction was provided in 1856. However, plans were soon cancelled following news of the destruction of the screwpile foundation for the Cross Ledge lighthouse in the winter of 1856. The 1857 Annual Report of the Light-House Board stated "It is very doubtful as to the practicability of erecting screw-pile light-house structures at that locality and on Ship John Shoal which would resist the ice, and, unless Congress should direct otherwise, (the funds being insufficient for completing the works,) they will not be commenced."

Last Modified: Fri, Mar 11 2005 2:34:02 pm EDT
JMP

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