From a church bell to a lighthouse (Point Wilson)
ON June 20, 1878, Congress allocated $ 8,000 for a fog and light signal, but only the fog signal was built as the money was not enough for both. On March 3, 1879, an additional $ 12,000 was allocated for the station. On September 1, 1879, a twelve-inch steam whistle was put into operation and installed inside a signal building, giving an eight-second beep every minute.
In 1879 a lighthouse was built at a cost of $ 923 and a lens that had been used in Point Bonita, California was installed.
The lighthouse was a twelve-foot-square tower that rose forty-six feet from the roof of a two-story warden’s dwelling. The steady white light could be seen for up to thirteen miles. The sailors greatly appreciated the new light and fog signal and expressed their feelings on December 15, 1879.
In 1894, the light changed from a solid white to a solid white with a red flash every twenty seconds. That same year a galvanized iron oil house was built on the grounds of the lighthouse.
The first goalkeeper was David M Littlefield, a local resident and a war veteran. He maintained the lighthouse for a salary of $ 800 a year for four years until he moved back to Port Townsend and served as a City Councilor and Customs Collector.
Believe it or not, there was often a shortage of water at the point. This is because Port Townsend is in the rain shadow behind the Olympic Mountains and receives very little rain in the summer months. Water was needed to operate the steam whistle. It was collected in cement water sheds and stored in a brick cistern.
On September 29, 1896, the steamer Umatilla left Victoria British Columbia for Puget Sound. There was heavy fog and the signal at Point Wilson was not working due to lack of water. The 310-foot-long ship sailed by blowing its whistle frequently and listening for echoes to judge the distance to land. About a mile west of Point Wilson, they collided with rocks. Captain JC Hunter was able to get the steamer afloat and decided to go to Port Townsend. But the impact had blown a hole in the hull and the water began to flood. Captain Hunter, realizing the danger he was in, purposely ran aground the ship a few hundred yards from the Point Wilson lighthouse. To keep the ship in place, he lowered the bow anchors. All the passengers were unloaded safely, but the boat suffered damage of around $ 100,000. Captain Hunter and his pilot were cited for “overconfidence.”
In 1917, during World War I, all lighthouse keepers were urged to grow their own vegetables in anticipation of food shortages. Lighthouse keeper William Thomas agreed and after the harvest sent the following letter to the lighthouse inspector.
“Sir, I mailed you today a sample of some of the vegetables I grew here at the station. Peas, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, garlic, and squash work fine, but tomatoes, cabbage and turnips are a good choice. fails; beans pretty good after planting four times; have 4 gallons of salted beans and 2 gallons canned. Yield was good, but small quantity of course as space was limited. Onions and early lettuces were splendid; she gave Heather tender) some for her mess. “
Warden Thomas received praise for his efforts in gardening. A photograph is displayed in the National Archives showing a potato, parsnip, carrot and garlic bulb that he harvested from the sandy soil.
It was on April 1, 1921, during goalkeeper Thomas’ season as goalkeeper, that he heard a terrible screech and knew it was a problem. He called Port Townsend for help.
The noise he had heard was that of the loaded passenger ship Governor of the Admiralty Line crashing into the West Hartland freighter. The 417-foot passenger liner was bound for Seattle from Victoria. It was hit by the freighter as it circled Port Townsend.
During World War II, the light at Point Wilson was turned off to protect Fort Worden and the entrance to Puget Sound.
Subsequent accident reports concluded that the governor’s pilot did not yield because he thought the freighter’s running lights were the steady lights at Marrowstone Point. The collision opened a 10-foot gash in the governor’s helmet. The captain of the West Hartland ordered at full speed to keep the hold covered, but to no avail. The Governor began to sink in 240 feet of water while all but eight of his passengers were able to climb aboard the freighter.
The following account of the accident was provided by
Lighthouse keeper Thomas:
“It was just 12:05 this morning when I heard the clatter. As I turned in the direction of the sound, I saw the West Hartland with its nose pinned into the starboard side of the Governor in the middle of the ship. It was clear and the ships were clearly clear. in about three-quarters of a mile away. I immediately called Port Townsend and tried to call the Coast Guard, Arcata, and Snohomish. They were both out of port. I finally got several boats. It wasn’t more than an hour before the governor left. sink “.
The light at Point Wilson was automated in 1976 and today it is monitored by a computer at the Coast Guard Air Station in Port Angeles.
Point Wilson Light is an active navigation aid located in Fort Worden State Park near Port Townsend, Jefferson County, Washington. Wikipedia
Address: 200 Battery Way, Port Townsend, WA 98368
Height: 46 ′
Inauguration: 1879
Phone: (360) 344-4412
Construction: Concrete