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Port Washington
Historical Society Ozaukee
County, Wisconsin |
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History of the Port Washington Light House by
"Lighthouse Linda" Nenn, Co-Director June 7, 2004 History of the Port Washington USCG Light
Station 1849-1859 Port Washington's first lighthouse was
built on purchased land, in 1849. The land was bought from Henry and Emma
Allen, for $200 in 1848 and includes the current site. A local myth still
circulates that the land was donated by Solon Johnston. Solon Johnston may
have once owned the land but it was no longer his land to give, much less
sell in 1848. The lighthouse rose 36-38 feet from the
ground to the lantern. The lantern housed a 14" reflector and 5 fixed
lamps. Lighthouse and keeper's dwelling were constructed of cream city brick.
The keeper's dwelling was some distance from the lighthouse, right where the
current light station is situated, based on an 1849 Corps of Engineers
map. In 1856 the lantern was refitted with a
sixth order lens, white light. Focal plane 36' above base of tower and 109'
above sea level. Distance visible: 9
miles. By 1859 the lighthouse had to be
replaced, possibly due to poor mortar or substandard bricks. This was the
case at many sites around Lake Michigan, although a definite citation
regarding the reason for demolishing the 1849 lighthouse has not been found
to date. In 1852 the Light-House Establishment was
reorganized under the leadership of George Putnam. It was then generally
referred to as The United States Light House Service. 1860-1888 The current lighthouse was completed in
1860. Light-House Service documents
refer to the project as a "rebuilding." The project was completed at the same time
the Sheboygan light was "rebuilt."
It appears that the old brick was salvaged and reused in the new
construction and the kitchen and the west, first floor exterior masonry was
saved intact and incorporated into the present structure . A sixth order
fresnel lens was to be used in the new lantern. It is not known if a 6th
order was ever installed. We do know that in later years 4th order fresnel
lenses were in use at the station. In Scott's New Coast Pilot, 1899 it reads,
"Port Washington Light Station. A fixed white light, visible 18 1/4 miles,
4th order. Lantern on yellow brick dwelling, 40 feet high. A coast-light on
the bluff in the north part of the town of Port Washington" The tower on
top of the dwelling was of beam construction. 8" x 8" beams rose
from the attic to the lantern. The tower was supported by bearing walls on
the first and second floors, with 8" x8" cross beams in the
basement which rested on 3 brick piers and the front foundation. The lantern was cast iron, 9 sided. The cast iron frame was wainscoted below
the glass panels. The lantern was made accessible via a stairway in the SW
corner of the first floor and then a series of three ladder stairs rising
from the second floor to the attic, attic to watch room and watch room to
lantern deck. 1889-1903 In 1889 Port Washington's first pierhead
lighthouse was built. It housed a sixth order fresnel lens and was a red
fixed light. he light was exhibited
for the first time on the night of September 15, 1889. It was powered by a
gasoline generator. The "gas
machine" was removed in 1902. At that time the lamps were converted to
electricity and the sixth order lens replaced by "improved fifth order
lamps." The lighthouse was a pyramidal wooden framework tower with upper
portion enclosed. It had a cast iron lantern. Height of tower from base to
center of ventilator ball, 42' 11". Focal plane: 36' 2". The tower
was built by local contractors under the guidance of the Light-House
Superintendent of this district. From September 15, 1889 to October 31, 1903
the lightkeeper, later with the help of an assistant, was responsible for
keeping both lights lit. The brick oil house was constructed in 1894. It was built of red brick with a cement
roof. 1903-Present Light Station beacon was discontinued
October 31, 1903. Lightkeeper Charles Lewis, Jr. retired in 1924. The
pierhead light was automated and the city ran the fog siren from the water
works. No keeper was needed. According to Lewis's grand-daughter, Jeanette
Dallmann (who turned 91 in May, 2004), Charles and Linda Teed Lewis continued
to live in the Light Station without the knowledge or consent of the
government. Newspaper accounts of the time seem to indicate the Lewises were
allowed to stay at the site as caretakers. No official records have been found
that confirm exactly what occurred. We do know that the pierhead light was
serviced by personnel from Milwaukee during the period 1924 to 1934. In 1934 the Lewises moved to a small home
on Chestnut street. Linda Teed Lewis
died in 1935, Charles in 1937. They are buried in Port's Union Cemetery.
Charles was Port Washington's longest serving keeper. He was permanently appointed in 1882,
making his tenure 42 years. Charles Lewis's parents, Capt. Charles H. and
Maria Lewis also served as keepers. Charles, Sr. was a whaling captain before
becoming a lighthouse keeper. He replaced Mr. Keogh in December, 1874 and
served until his death, April 20, 1880. Maria was recommended to replace her
husband but never received an appointment. She undoubtedly kept the light
burning until her son could return to Port Washington. Charles, Jr. sailed on
the Great Lakes before assuming his post at the Light Station. Charles, Sr.
and Maria are buried in Milwaukee's Forest Home Cemetery. Maria died Jan. 27,
1897 at the Light Station. She was 76. Maria was born in New Haven, Oswego
County, New York. Charles, Jr. was born in Milwaukee. Linda Teed Lewis was a
Port Washington native, from a family of some means. The tower and lantern
were removed in 1934 when the new pierhead light was nearing completion. It was at this time that the entire light
station was gutted and converted into a two family dwelling. Port’s current art deco style lighthouse
was built and lit in 1935. The United States Light-House Service, under the direction
of the Light-House Board, was incorporated in the US Coast Guard in
1939. Some civilian keepers were
allowed to continue in their role as keepers until they retired. Port Washington had either civilian or
Coast Guard keepers manning the light until 1976 when the pierhead light was
fully automated. It is now serviced by Coast Guard
personnel out of Milwaukee and occasionally from Sheboygan. Although local
authorities petitioned the US government numerous times to have a life-saving
station established in Port Washington, this was never done. |
The Port Washington Historical Society is a volunteer, non-profit organization