East Point Lighthouse
Maurice River Cove, New Jersey
On
a warm spring day we journeyed to the remote site of the East Point LIghthouse.
It is miles from developed land. The grounds were open, so we took several photos,
and spent some time looking around, but found the infestation of biting bugs
in the area hastened our departure. This gave us the advantage, we suppose,
of having more time to visit other New Jersey lighthouses during our weeklong
trip to the state.
East Point Lighthouse is the second oldest New Jersey lighthouse still standing. It is located on the shore of the Maurice River Cove, and served to guide vessels to Port Norris and Port Elizabeth.
The building was constructed in 1849, deactivated in 1941, and then reactivated by the Coast Guard in 1980 as a result of local pressure. Thus it became the only functioning "onshore" lighthouse on the Delaware Bay.
The design of East Point, typical Cape Cod, was influential in the development of nine early west coast lighthouses of the late 1800's. The renovated exterior is white painted brick.
According to the National Park Service, there were 500 sailing vessels engaged in the oyster trade on the Maurice River employing 1500, making the need for the lighthouse apparent.
The Maurice River Historical Society has been restoring the interior, and group tours can be arranged at the site near Heislerville.
© copyright 2004 Kenneth M. Moffett. All rights reserved.