Hi - I'm Bonnie, A. K. A. iamhis1.
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Erie, PA has some wonderful lighthouses. I would like to use this page to show my visitors some of our lighthouses and to tell you a little something about them.
Erie Land Light.
It was built in 1867 and decommissioned in 1899. Erie Land Light was originally built on Presque Isle Peninsula to replace previous towers that had sunk into the ground due to quicksand below it. Land Light was built with a sandstone tower. This lighthouse was moved to the mainland and is currently located in Erie's Dunn Park. The lantern room has been replaced and the tower is restored. It has a walkway going to the place where the lighthouse keeper use to live, but, the house is no longer there. The money came from a Federal Lighthouse Bicentennial Fund for Local Community Development, the restoration was completed in 1991.
On display at the nearby Erie County Historical Society exhibit room, there sits a magnificent fresnel lens, a Bicentennial gift from the U.S. Coast Guard. It has been almost 100 years since a light has flashed from the Land Lighthouse tower to the great lakes water below, and now it is the dream of many people that before the 21st century arrives, the 19th century Land Lighthouse will once again call the sailor back to safe harbor.
Visitors and citizens of Erie can say hello to the Erie Land Lighthouse keepers, Mary and Pat Scutella, picnic at the shelter, and enjoy the view from the cliff overlooking the Channel leading to the Port of Erie, PA. The Land Lighthouse can be found just off East Lake Road. On highway 5 from New York to Ohio, turn north at Lighthouse Street. I found a Phone number for the Caretakers - 814-452-3937.
Presque Isle Light.
This lighthouse was built in 1873. It is located in a state park on the north shore of Presque Isle Peninsula. The tower is 68 feet high, and is still operated by the Coast Guard. The keeper's house has been leased to the state park and is used as the parks manager's residence.
Harbor Light.
It is unknown when Harbor Light was built. This light is at the end of a short pier on Lake Erie from the tip of Presque Isle Peninsula. It is 30 foot tall, square white tower with a black band around it. The lantern room and walkway are painted black.
The very first lighthouse was called "The Pharos of Alexandria". It is considered to be one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was located on the island of Pharos in the harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. It is dated between 283 & 246 BC. This lighthouse had a stone platform in three sections. Designed by the Greek architect Socrates. The bottom section was square, the middle was eight-sided, and the top was circular. A fire burned at the top of it for the light. The lighthouse stood for about 1500 years until a earthquake destroyed it.
Another first was the Erie Pierhead Lighthouse. It is carried in the Coast Guard's "Light List" as the direct descendant of the United States first lighthouse on the Great Lakes. It was built at Presque Isle, Erie, PA.
I hope you enjoyed this small tour of my area's lighthouses. I enjoyed being your hostess. Once again, thank you for reading my page.
January 1, 1999
~Given to me by~
The Lighthouse Nut
July 31, 1999 Litehouse Dreamer gave me a award for my page.
Given to me Aug. 25, 1999
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