BlockThe nomination, in full
Bibliography, boundary description, and the people who prepared and reviewed the nomination.
LIGHTHOUSE INFORMATION FORM MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL COMMISSION 80 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116 PHOTOGRAPH KEY 1) Minot's Ledge Light view from boat. SKETCH MAP NUMBER 26 Determination of Eligibility 1/26/81 HISTORIC NAME: Minot's Ledge Light TOWN: Scituate LOCATION:_approx. one mile off coast of Hull and Scituate COUNTY:_P1ymouth _CODE:023 CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: 10 LOCATION OF LEGAL DESCRIPTION: Plymouth County Registry of Deeds Russel1 Street, Plymouth VERBAL BOUNDARY DESCRIPTION: The nomination is confined to the lighthouse structure itself and the underwater ledge on which it stands. LAT./LONG. :_ UTM COORDINATE: 19/354/800/4680/800 USGS QUADRANGLE : BOSTON, MA;NH;CT;RI ;ME SCALE: 1:250,000 ACREAGE: .10 acres OWNER (S) : U. S.
Coast Guard First Coast Guard District 408 Atlantic Ave., Boston, MA 02210-2209 STATUS: urmanned/active RECORDED BY: Lauren Boudreau, Seman ORGANIZATION: USCG:MHC DATE: April, 1986 LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 1 SITE DESCRIPTION Minot's Ledge is a twenty-five foot wide ledge of rock located approximately one mile offshore from the Town of Cohasset. It is part of the Cohasset Rocks, a reef extending for some two miles in a southwesterly direction off Cohasset and Scituate. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 2 MAJOR ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION Single 102' foot tapered cylindrical tower of granite rising to a flared convex projection which supports the watchroom and lantern. An iron ladder up the side leads to an entranceway at the approximate mid-point of the tower.
The entrance has a pedimented hood and a block and tackle mechanism used to hoist a boat to the entrance level. Above the entrance, the tower is punctuated by small square windows which light five interior levels of 1 iving and working space. The watchroom is encircled by a narrow walkway with a cast iron rall ing; this arrangement is repeated at the uppermost (lantern) level. The lantern itself is bronze with a domed roof surmounted by a lightning rod. The tower design is shown on the attached plan. The granite masonry for the tower was cut and preassembled at the mainland site to assure proper fit at Minot's Ledge. The stone cutters alternated between the ledge and the staging area located on Gulf Island, Cohasset Harbor. a precisely cut system of horizontally interlocking radial and spacer stones of gray granite.
These courses are held in place by the mass of the tower, and by iron dowels and iron dogs between courses. consist ofvertically interlocking wedge-shaped granite blocks. These courses form a cylindrical void, which provide six levels of living and work space. The lantern house is secured into the top collar course. The overall height of the tower is 102 feet 9 inches. The Minot's Ledge Shore Station, consisting of the duplex keeper's dwelling, the second assistant keeper's dwell ing and ancillary buildings, was also established on Gulf Island c. 1860. Following the automation of Minot's Ledge Light in 1947, the island was sold to the town of Cohasset and is now known as Government Island. The duplex keeper's dwelling with a triple gable elevation is extant and has been converted to apartments.
The waterfront, including a building which was probably converted from the second assistant keeper's dwelling, is used by a local sailing club. The American Society of Civil Engineer's National Historic Engineer ing Landmark Plaque commemorating the construction and staging of Minot's Ledge Light is also located there. The Shore Station is not included in this nomination. Fo llowing is a description of the construction of the lighthouse, which was accompl ished between 1855 and 1860: The first workmen landed on the ledge on 12 June, 1855. They loosened the wedges around the stumps of the legs from the old 1igh thouse and removed the mussels from the top of the ledge. The season was too far advancedto accomplish much more on the rock. Still, the small party of workers ga ined valuable experience and laid outwork for the intense effort scheduled for the followingyear.
The rockwas worked 130 hours during1855. The second work ing season began on the 1 April, 1856. Before construction of the tower could begin, the uneven ledge had to be cut into steps and two partial courses of stone had to be laid before the first complete one. Temporary cofferdams made of sandbags were built around small areas of the ledge to faciliate work on the foundation. (A permanent cofferdam was impossible due to exposure to the sea.) LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 3 MAJOR ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION (Continued) 2 In June, an iron scaffold was erected to provide safety for workmen and a temporary haven in case of a workboat accident. The scaffold was also expected to serve as a platform for the derrick needed to lay the lower courses of masonry in the it neder to lay ehe ad tower.
Nine wrought-iron legs were inserted into the foundation holes of the old lighthouse. Thes e piles would serve as huge bolts to secure the lighthouse to the rock foundation. The scaffolding, rising twenty feet above the low-water, was bound together at the top by a strong wrought-iron frame. In addition to the scaffold, ropes were crisscrossed about the three feet above the ledge in order to give the workman a handhold when unexpected waves broke over the rock. The rock was worked 157 hours in 1856. The scaffold built in the summer did not survive the winter. On 19 January, 1857, the rigging of the bark New Empire crashed against the scaffold dur ing a storm. Though the bark survived, the scaffold legs broke off in much the same way as those of the first lighthouse, and areas of the "dressed" rock were shattered.
In the spring, workmen found that much of the cutting done the previous year had to be reworked. They recut the two bottom partial courses of stone, which had to fit into the rock like teeth in a jaw. A new scaffold was prepared but never fully erected. The eight outer legs of the scaffold, however, were stepped and were eventually incorporated into the stone tower to hold it firmly in the rock. During this most unfavorable seaason, the rock was worked on for only 130 hours, but the foundation pit was near ly completed, with four stones of the foundation in place. A nagging problem for Lt. Alexander IBarton S. Alexander, Army Corps of Engineers, the construction supervisor; General Joseph G. Totten of the Lighthouse Board des igned the structure] was how to adhere the stones to that part of the rock that lay underwater.
At the wharf, exper iments were conducted in which stones were cemented together under water, and a solution was eventually worked out. A large piece of thin musl in was laid out and covered with a layer of mortar. The finished stone was laid on the cloth and the vertical sides of the stone were plastered. The musl in was then folded up and laid smooth around the stone. This package set in five co ten minutes, with the cloth adher ing to the stone. When che stone was lala on the rock, the cloth acted as an envel ope to protect the mortar from the dissolving action of the seawater. LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 4 MAJOR ELEMENTS DESCRIPTION (Continued page 3) Dur ing the 1858 season, workmen used a derrick to lay the Tower courses of stone.
The iron mast of the derrick was set in the centre hole originally excavated for the old A lifting machine was built on a raft so that it could be floated to and from the rock daily. worked dur ing 1858, the foundation pit was finished, and the tower was completed to the sixth course. In the 377 hours worked dur ing the 1859 season, the tower was completed to the thirty-second course, rising sixty-two feet above low tide. On 29 Jume, 1860, five years after Lt. Alexander first landed on Minots Ledge, the last stone was laid. The ligh thouse rose ninety-seven feet into the air. The tower's first forty feet were solid granite, while the next forty feet contained 1iving quarters, storerooms and working space. Resting on top was the lantern room, where the new lantern and lens were installed that summer.
The light from the new stone tower was exh ibited for the first time at sunset on 15 November 1860.
reTredseed in TALA ulleeion, 1983, S ledgel.)) Robert Scheina, LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 5 CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY 1843 - Lighthouse Service recognizes need for lighthouse on Minot's Ledge (40 ships had been lost in the area between 1830-1840) 1847 - construction of a skeleton tower of wrought-iron commenced 1850 - first Minot's Rock Light completed; consisted of 60" high iron structure topped by three stage superstructure with storage room, keeper's quarters and lantern room with Fresnel lens (lighted January 1, 1850) 1851 - Minot's Rock Light washed away in April gale; two keepers perished 1851 - light ship placed at ledge 1855 - construction of Minot's Ledge Lighthouse commenced; preparation of the ledge to accept the base stones of the 30' diameter tower took three seasons since the ledge is exposed only at extreme Tow tides; 1860 - lighthouse completed and lit 1894- light signal changed to 1-4-3 sequence; taken by Tocal residents to mean "I Love You" and caus ing adoption of sobriquet "Lover's Light" to identify light 1947- ligh thouse automated; original Fresnel lens removed 1978- "Blizzard of "78" damaged access platforms, entrance and masonry 1983 - light converted to solar power; small unobtrusive solar array installed between watchroom and lantern decks 1987 - extensive rehabilitation to repair masonry cracks at watchroom level are planned by USCG LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION Lighthouse #26 page 6 LE VEL OF SIGNIFICANCE Minot's Ledge Lighthouse possesses integrity of location, design, setting, associations with the development of aids to navigation in Massachusetts.
The national importance. Nationally, the Lighthouse is one of only a handful of lighthouses constructed directly in the sea; it is the earliest and arguably, the most famous of these. Minot's Ledge Light is a monument to the skill of the engineers and stone masons who worked on this complex and difficult construction project. The construction of the light is recognized as a National Historic Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers. It meets criteria A and C of the National Register as well as suryey criteria 1, a; 1, d; 1, e; 2, a, and 2, on the local, state and national levels. It is recommended that Minot's Ledge Light be considered for National Historic Landmark status. seaLe A rape - pee peer. SECTION Taking its name from the rock formation on which it was built, the Minot's Ledge Light was the second such structure to stand on the same foundation.
The Cohasset Rocks, of which Minot's Ledge is one, were responsible for scores of shipwrecks and drownings. It was determined to place a light there, and construction began in 1847. Lighted on January 1, 1850, the first structure caused its keeper, Isaac Dunham, such concern that he wrote to Washington demanding that it be strengthened. When no reply was received, he resigned, and was vindicated when, on April 17, 1851, a great storm toppled the structure into the sea. taking the lives of two men. The second and present structure, begun on July 9, 1857, rests on seven massive zranite blocks cemented to the ledge more than two feet below low water. The granite construction, reinforced by eight twenty foot high shafts of iron, rises 97 feet. Designed by Joseph G.
Totten, it has successfully withstood the severest storms since opened in 1860, and represents an outstanding triumph over the tremendous power of open sea wave forces. The 4500 candlepower light, in 1897, is visible for 15 miles. "NPS Form 10-900-a (3-82) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form Continuation sheet Item number OMB No. 1024-0018 Exp. 10-31-84 For NPS usa anly recaived MAY 4987 date antered Page 274 Multiple Resource Area Thematic Group Name Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR State MASSACHUSETTS Nomination/Type of Review f1. Minot's Ledge Light iatered in the Ilatomn1 Bogdster 82. Nauset Beach Light , 138 Inpoed Bogdstar tresper Attest fieeper Date/Signature f3. Ned Point Light Delmußogu elh Aelmueßgun afot Newburyport Harbor Light 'p5.
Newburyport Harbor Front Range Light Iabned Mational Regtater {6. Nobska Point Light Station ntered 1m National Registor Race Point Light Station 28. Sankaty Head Light Jatsred in tlae Matiomel Regiater fikeeper Attest Burered in the Mstionel Rogister JKeeper AulosesBgen6/e51, Attest dlrueByeu61576, Attest fheeper dleueByeu6)et8. Attest fokeeper Deluu Bzer 6hett, P82 - 202 Attest Hatered *Keeper Shld Byerpofst6 National Register 19. Scituate Light 20. Straightsmouth Island Light Attest Butorad Mn bouei Rogistar Keeper AelreByen 6/56.
Attest Jkeeper S Aelmußyen 6/5/87 Attest 87001489 ASO Form - 17 R" June 198 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES EVALUATION/RETURN SHEET Minot's Ledge Light (Lighthouses of Massachusetts TR) Plymouth County X resubmission nomination by person or local government - owner objection - appeal Substantive Review: -sample Reviewer's comments: -request Working No. 4/28/82 Fed. Reg. Date:M4/Q Date Due: _ /18187 antered in tiAction: _ACCEPT 6-15-8: Intlone1 Bogdster -RETURN REJECT Federal Agency:USCG LJappeal -NR decision Recom./Criteria Reviewer Discipline Date see continuation sheet Nomination returned for: _ technical corrections cited below _ substantive reasons discussed below 1. Name 2. Location 3. Classification Category Ownership Public Acquisition 4. Owner of Property 5. Location of Legal Description 6.
Representation in Existing Surveys Has this property been determined eligible? 7. Description L yes Condition -excellent J good J fair J deteriorated ruins J unexposed Check one - unaltered altered Describe the present and original (if known) physical appearance summary paragraph completeness clarity alterations/integrity dates - boundary selection Status Accessible Present Use Check one -original site moved date 8. Significance Period Areas of Significance-Check and justify below Specific dates Builder/Architect Statement of Significance (in one paragraph) summary paragraph completeness clarity applicable criteria justification of areas checked relating significance to the resource context relationship of integrity to significance justification of exception other 9. Major Bibliographical References 10.
Geographical Data Acreage of nominated property Quadrangle name- UTM References Verbal boundary description and justification 11. Form Prepared By 12. State Historic Preservation Officer Certification The evaluated significance of this property within the state is: national state local State Historic Preservation Officer signature date title 13. Other Maps Photographs Other Questions concerning this nomination may be directed to - Signed._ - Date - Phone: - GPO 918-450 Comments for any item may be continued on an attached sheet MiNotS, Ledse Light, fom beat Ploto: 1985 MiNOTS LigHT LIGHTHOUSES OF MASSACHUSETTS THEMATIC GROUP NOMINATION MINOT'S LEDGE Kind of Light. Secondary Sea Coast. Order of Light. .... 2na Characteriszic of Light... . Fired Wlute. Base of 'Tower ubove water level... .....-8f. Focal Plane...... ............. ..10a. ft Sind of F'og Signal Belletruckby machinery, 30sec.
LIGHT STATION. MASS. Lat. 42'16'10" Long. 70'45' 35- N. Site Yurchased... July 15,1858. Deed Recoried in Nurfolk Co. Heg.Bk.267.p. 201. First builduugs, when built. .......1849 Whier rebuilt or renorated Iebuile 1859. Area of Kesenation to M.H.WV. Line... 7.s7 Acres Area enclosed....... Reservation. Surveyed May 27 to Junel8,1886, by E.P. ADAMS. C.E., L.H.Surveyor, Scale. Tobo ei Harbo R LOCUS - H Mara Moadow. LOCATION MAP SHORE STATION, GULF ISLAND, COHASSET. CONTAININO STORE HOURE ANO KEEPERS DWELLINOS. NOTE. The Light, Tower ie on Outer Minot, (ore of the Cohoaset Rocts) entrance to Bostor bay, Mass. It is 2es miles N.34:45E. (true bearing) from shore atation. The vbserratury (H, Siynal PointiI), teinperary founclations(J&K) were ured in the construction of the Light House in 1855-9: (I) was theoffice. The Area given in the deed mas measured to low walerline. N. +267 102 2-IM 3 M..
ad nist - EXPLANATIONS. - The Mayneric Declination in 1858 wue estmated in 1886, by comparison of uuthorities te have been 10'S6i the dedinatione at timne of survey was determined, by odservation oj Polaris to Le 12'20: Courses given on plan am True beeringe. Contours J/t apart. * Leghe Tower. 1.B.C. Kenpers Dwellinys. D. Sture House. E. Harn. IBootHouse GPriy ---Boundary of Reserration ---- Fence. -..... Stome Woll. -Stalce set fortrueM - - M.H.W. Line. LL2 ML.V.Line - Stone Bowul, 3f. long, 6'+6' rop cue chus - per Bole Iduam,5 long 6 Pckdani N.1. LH.Surveyor/'&2 Dists LHE Uno Maj of Engrs. Engr. /82'LR Duta Form No. 10-301 (Rev.
10-74) UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR NATIONAL PARK SERVICE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES PROPERTY MAP FORM FOR NPS USE ONLY RECEIVED DATE ENTERED SEE INSTRUCTIONS IN HOW TO COMPLETE NATIONAL REGISTER FORMS TYPE ALL ENTRIES -- ENCLOSE WITH MAP 1 2 3 4 NAME HISTORIC AND/OR COMMON Minots Ledge Light Lovers Light LOCATION CITY. TOWN Scituate MAP REFERENCE SOURCE Geological Survey VICINITY OF SCALE 1:25 000 DATE 1974 COUNTY REQUIREMENTS (property located on Nantasket Beach quadrangle) TO BE INCLUDED ON ALL MAPS 1. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES 2. NORTH ARROW all quadrangle sheets are oriented north 3. UTM REFERENCES 19/354,880/4,681,000 STATE Massachusetts INT: 34 64 - 75 Please refer to the map in the Multiple Property Cover Sheet for this property Multiple Property Cover Sheet Reference Number: 64000282