Avery Rock Lighthouse

Details
Category: East Coast Lighthouses
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Avery Rock Lighthouse Postcard
Avery Rock Lighthouse Postcard

Location: On southerly end of Avery Rock, Machias Bay, Maine

Station Established: 1875

First Lit: October 1875

Operational: No

Automated: 1926

Deactivated: Destroyed by a storm in 1946

Structure Details

  • Foundation Material: Not specified
  • Construction Material: Brick and wood
  • Tower Shape: White square tower
  • Markings: White square tower rising from a square dwelling
  • Relationship to Other Structures: Attached

Optics & Illumination

  • Original Lens: Not specified
  • Tower Height: 34 feet
  • Range: 13 miles
  • Original Optic: Fourth Order Fresnel lens
  • Present Optic: A buoy in the water 100 feet from the site of the lighthouse
  • Characteristics: White flash every 6 seconds (In 1931, it was a fixed red light)

Expanded History of Avery Rock Lighthouse

  • First Keeper: Warren A. Murch
  • Current Use: No longer exists (Destroyed by a storm in 1946)
  • Fog Signal: Fog Bell (1931) - One stroke every 10 seconds

Avery Rock Light was established in 1875 after President Ulysses S. Grant authorized its construction in 1874. The lighthouse was built on a barren rock at the southern end of Machias Bay, Maine, approximately three miles from the mainland. Due to its exposed location, the lighthouse was designed with 18-inch-thick walls and four-inch-thick shutters to withstand the harsh coastal weather.

Structural Features & Upgrades

  • Originally featured a Fifth Order Fresnel Lens, emitting a white flash every six seconds.
  • In 1902, the light was upgraded to a fixed red light.
  • The station also had a fog bell, which struck once every 10 seconds to aid navigation in poor visibility.

Destruction & Replacement

Despite its reinforced structure, Avery Rock Lighthouse faced severe weather conditions throughout its existence. In 1946, a powerful storm demolished the lighthouse, leaving only remnants of its foundation. Following its destruction, a buoy was placed in 50 feet of water, 100 yards from the original site, serving as a navigational aid.

Sources & Further Reading