Screwpiles: The Forgotten Lighthouses

J ames R iver S crewpile L ighthouses – C hronology of I mportant E vents

Date

Event

Date

Event

May 31, 1866

Claims made by W. A. Hines and Nathaniel Gray for back pay for unpaid 1861 service at White Shoal Complete destruction of Deep Water Shoals station by ice reported by keeper Congressional inquiry into the destruction of Deep Water Shoals Light White Shoal Light reported in precarious condition from storm damage; new lighthouse recommended Completion of Point of Shoals and White Shoal Lighthouses Requisition for fog bell apparatus for all James River lights White Shoal station fitted with Stevens fog bell mechanism with a strike every 10 seconds Payment of claim to estate of Nathaniel Gray for 1861 back pay completed New fog bell machinery installed at all James River stations, each with its own distinctive ring pattern Notice to mariners for lighting of Nansemond River Light Nansemond River Lighthouse first exhibited with a fixed, red sixth-order lens Second assistant keeper position abolished for all James River lighthouses Drowning of White Shoal assistant lightkeeper Edward H. Brown (African American) reported Funck-Heap lamps recommended for all James River stations White Shoal change in characteristics, adding a red sector Discontinuance of White Shoal and Point of Shoals Lights recommended Discontinuance of Nansemond River Light recommended Nansemond River Light wooden structure removed and replaced by steel skeleton tower Incandescent oil vapor lamp installed at Deep Water Shoals Lightship placed at Deep Water Shoals Deep Water Shoals Light Station reestablished Site location approved for Nansemond River Light Post lights established on the James River Deep Water Shoals red sector added

August 31, 1852

U.S. Congress appropriates funds for James River lighthouses Site locations selected for all James River lighthouses Bill passed by Virginia Legislature ceding jurisdiction to the United States Designs and estimates completed; recommended for contracting

January 23, 1867

December 11, 1852 February 14, 1853

June 1867

June 4 , 1853

November 9, 1867 January 15, 1868 September 20, 1869

August 5, 1853

Advertisements placed for contract bids

February 27, 1854

Contract awarded to F. E. Geiger for construction of lighthouses

January 27, 1871 April 25, 1871

May 10, 1854 July 13, 1854

Site locations marked

Foundations completed and inspected

1873

October 18, 1854 February 6, 1855

Completion of White Shoal Light construction reported James River light stations first exhibited using masthead lenses found to be suitable for the James River Deep Water Shoals keeper reports leaving station in fear of safety due to ice Point of Shoals keeper reports leaving station in fear of safety due to ice White Shoal lightkeeper reports leaving station in fear of safety due to ice Oath taken for Nathaniel Gray, assistant keeper at White Shoal White Shoal lightkeeper W. A. Hines and his assistant, Nathaniel Gray, taken from station by armed Confederates; all James River lighthouses extinguished by Confederate raiding parties and their apparatus lost or destroyed Major General John Dix urges reestablishment of lights G. Castor Smith recommends placing troops for protection of lighthouses Captain H. J. Purviance reports relighting of James River lights Captain James Milward, Jr. reports discontinuance of James River lights and placement of apparatus at Fort Monroe G. Castor Smith reports reestablishment of James River lights fitted with sixth-order Fresnel lenses. Instructions for placing foghorns White Shoal Lighthouse damaged by fire

October 14, 1876 March 22, 1877

January 30, 1856

1878

January 30, 1856

August 7, 1878

January 30, 1857

November 1, 1878

February 29, 1858

August 19, 1882

August 6, 1859

November 2, 1860

July 30, 1885

August 1, 1861

March 3, 1892 October 5, 1899 December 1, 1899

1927

July 1, 1862 July 8, 1862

March 10, 1931

May 25, 1933

July 13, 1862

December 12, 1934

September 1, 1862

1947 1966

Removal of Deep Water Shoals Lighthouse; replaced by daymark on skeleton tower

May 16, 1864

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