State: Massachusetts, Northeast USA, USA, World

Spotlight: Chatham Lighthouse — Barnstable Co, MA

Samuel Nye was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson as the first keeper and was provided with a one-bedroom house. Thirty years later the towers had deteriorated so that it was dangerous to ascend them in windy weather. Realizing this condition the Treasury Department appropriated $6,750 for construction of two brick towers in 1841, with a brick keeper's house between them. Collins Howes, who had lost his leg in an accident, was appointed keeper. He complained bitterly that the construction was inferior and that rats infested the cellar. Four years later he was replaced for political reasons, and Simeon Nickerson became keeper, but he died shortly therefore, and his wife Angeline took over. Deciding the he would like his old job back, Collins Howes tried to have Angeline removed but President Taylor ruled in her favor, and she remained as keeper for another ten years.

In 1857 the lights received fourth-order Fresnel lenses, each showing a fixed white light that was fueled by lard.

The most notable keeper was Josiah Hardy, who served from 1872 to 1900. In 1875 Hardy reported serious erosion of the bank in front of the lights, and by 1877 the towers were only 48 feet from the edge. The same year two 44 foot cast iron towers with brick interiors were erected. On December 15, 1879, the old south tower tumbled to the beach below, and 15 months later the north tower followed it.

[Note: There are multiple Samuel Nye's and Collins Howe's, but I have not been able to find enough biographical details to know which is which?]

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