Most freestanding lighthouses were accompanied by keeper's quarters that housed the light keepers and their families. The Piney Point Lighthouse and its keeper's quarters were built in 1836 by John Donahoo of Havre de Grace, Maryland. The original brick structure measured 30 ft. × 20 ft. and was built as a one-story dwelling with a central fireplace and ground level basement. Over the years, it underwent numerous renovations and preservation efforts. For more than a century, the house served as a residence for light keepers and their families. After the site became a U.S. Coast Guard Station in 1939, the house alternately served as a barracks for as many as 20 servicemen or as a residence for families stationed with the Coast Guard. The property is now owned by St. Mary's County Government.