With no bridges to Hunting Island, supplies such as oil for the lighthouse lamp and books for the lightkeeper's family had to come by boat from the mainland. In 1889, a wharf was built at Johnson Creek and 3,000 feet of wooden tracks were laid connecting it to the compound here. A small railcar could then bring loads overland to the station. A man moved it by pumping a large lever on the attached handcar, which was easier than carrying goods by hand for more than half a mile. Originally built to facilitate relocating the light station to this site, the tramcar was also used when the Civilian Conservation Corps was building Hunting Island State Park in the 1930s.