Screwpiles: The Forgotten Lighthouses

sites for the aids before the U.S. Lighthouse Board finally authorized money to begin work. An act of the U.S. Congress dated September 28, 1850, authorized $3,500 for the preliminary work of soundings and design for four beacons on the James: White Shoal, Glover’s Bluff Shoal, Point of Shoals, and Deep Water Shoals. 4 On November 19, 1851, the Richmond City Council appointed a committee to obtain an appropriation for the improvement of James River below the head of tidewater, including dredging, clearing of obstructions, and the installation of navigational aids. The U.S. Coastal Survey of 1852–1853 showed the treacherous shoals in the James River and spurred construction funding for several screwpile design lighthouses in the river. 5 James River Lighthouse Contracts and Specifications The original August 31, 1852, appropriation for the improvements to navigation specified a lighthouse at Day’s Point, a dumb beacon at White Shoal, and lighthouses at Point of Shoals, Deep Water Shoals, and Jordan Point. In a letter to the U.S. Lighthouse Board, dated December 11, 1852, Bache made the point that a lighthouse would be more effective at White Shoal, while the dumb beacon should be positioned at Day’s Point. The reason for this was to establish a lighthouse at the lowest point of difficult navigation on the river. The lighthouse at White Shoal gives a straight line of navigation in good water directly to the Point of Shoals Lighthouse. 6 The term “dumb beacon” deserves an explanation. We were not sure if “dumb beacon” was interchangeable with “day beacon.” We found two plans at the U.S. National Archives in College Park, Maryland, that answered the question. The first is titled, “Design for a Dumb Beacon on White Shoal,” signed by Hartman Bache. The design calls for a 4.5" diameter iron shaft supporting a 6' high by 4'6" diameter iron cage. The total height is 35 feet. The second plan is titled “Beacon for Day’s Point, James River VA.” That plan is dated September 6, 1853, and it is nearly identical to the earlier dumb beacon plan. A “dumb beacon” is distinct in its design and could also be called a “day beacon” because it exhibits no light and it is only useful during the day. 7 1852 River and Harbor Bill The Virginia State Committee to Improve the Navigation of the James River applied to the Virginia General Assembly for funds. There was support for the bill, but it did not move forward, however, because of the assembly’s concerns about the state funding what should be a federal project. The committee then solicited congressional representatives and senators to appropriate federal funds for the improvements. The committee also successfully influenced the Virginia Congressional Delegation to amend the August 31, 1852, River and Harbor Bill to appropriate $45,000 for the

57