Five Courses Thick

The final lighthouse design used bricks five courses thick to withstand the severe cold and winds off the lake, and the structure cost $15,000. Construction began in September, 1872, and was completed by the following July, with the original 40-foot tower taking seven months to build. In August 1896, work began to raise the tower to 57 feet, adding 17 feet to improve the light’s visibility from the lake. Iron steps for the tower were made in Pittsburgh and shipped to Erie by barge. Attached to the tower is a ten-room residence that retains much of its original architectural character, including a typical 19th-century French interior design with rounded corners and handcrafted woodwork, much of it milled from trees near the station. Later years brought running water, indoor plumbing, and electricity. At the base of the stairway, the oil room, later used as a battery room, stored a one-night supply of oil for the lamp, while keepers maintained a night-long vigil to keep the light flashing for the heavy lake traffic of the 1800s. The family living area was simple in design but provided comfortable, roomy quarters for the keeper’s family.

Pennsylvania · United States