Minot's Ledge Lighthouse

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Minot's Ledge Lighthouse, Scituate, Massachusetts

 Photo by Jeremy D'Entremont (All rights reserved)

History of Minot's Ledge Lighthouse

Overview

Minot's Ledge Lighthouse, officially known as Minots Ledge Light, is located one mile offshore from the towns of Cohasset and Scituate, Massachusetts, southeast of Boston Harbor. Situated on a treacherous rock formation known as Cohasset Rocks, the lighthouse has a storied history marked by tragedy, engineering triumphs, and romantic lore. Its distinctive 1-4-3 flashing pattern, adopted in 1894, has earned it the nickname "I Love You Light" due to the number of letters in the phrase "I love you."

Early History and First Lighthouse (1847–1851)

Minot's Ledge, named after Boston merchant George Minot who lost a ship there in 1754, was notorious for shipwrecks. Between 1832 and 1841, over 40 vessels were lost on the ledge, including the tragic sinking of the ship St. John in 1849, which claimed 99 Irish immigrants. In 1843, lighthouse inspector I. W. P. Lewis highlighted the urgent need for a lighthouse due to these frequent disasters.

In 1847, Congress appropriated $20,000 for a lighthouse on the Outer Minot rock. Captain William H. Swift designed an iron-pile structure, believing waves would pass harmlessly through its legs. Construction began in 1847 and was completed in 1850, with the light first lit on January 1, 1850. However, the design proved flawed. Keeper Isaac Dunham reported severe instability, noting the tower swayed like a "drunken man" during storms. Despite warnings, no reinforcements were made.

On April 16–17, 1851, a powerful nor'easter, later called the "Lighthouse Storm," destroyed the lighthouse. Assistant keepers Joseph Wilson and Joseph Antoine perished while keeping the light burning. A message in a bottle, found later, read: “The beacon cannot last any longer. She is shaking a good three feet each way as I write. God bless you all.” Their bodies were later found on nearby shores.

The Current Lighthouse (1855–1860)

After the tragedy, a lightship was stationed at Minot's Ledge until a permanent structure could be built. Construction of the current granite lighthouse began in 1855 under the supervision of Chief Engineer Joseph G. Totten and Captain Barton Stone Alexander of the Army Corps of Engineers. The project required meticulous planning, with 1,079 granite blocks cut in Quincy and transported to the ledge. The foundation was anchored with iron dowels into the rock, a process that demanded calm seas and low tides.

Despite setbacks, including a storm in 1856 that destroyed the initial framework, the lighthouse was completed and first lit on November 15, 1860. At a cost of $300,000, it was the most expensive lighthouse in U.S. history at the time. The 87-foot tower, built with dovetailed granite blocks, has withstood countless storms, with waves occasionally breaking over its 114-foot height but causing minimal damage.

Notable Features and Legacy

The lighthouse was equipped with a third-order Fresnel lens and, in 1894, adopted its iconic 1-4-3 flashing pattern. It was automated in 1947, ending the era of resident keepers. The lighthouse was designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 1977 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. In 2009, it was deemed excess by the Coast Guard and sold at auction in 2014 to Boston philanthropist Bobby Sager for $222,000.

A replica of the lighthouse’s upper section, including remnants of the original lamp chamber, is located on the shores of Cohasset Harbor. The lighthouse’s image has also appeared on Cohasset Punch liqueur labels and inspired cultural references, including works by Edward Hopper and Henry David Thoreau.

Folklore and Hauntings

Minot's Ledge Lighthouse is steeped in ghostly lore. Some believe the spirits of Joseph Wilson and Joseph Antoine haunt the tower, with reports of mysterious voices, footsteps, and a figure on the ladder warning boaters during storms. These tales, while unverified, add to the lighthouse’s mystique, making it a subject of fascination for historians and paranormal enthusiasts alike.

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