The Blackistone Island Light was a lighthouse located on what is now St. Clement's Island on the Potomac River in Maryland. It is best known as the target of a Confederate raid in the Civil War. Completed in 1851, the structure was destroyed by fire in 1956 and its shell was razed; a replica was completed in 2008.
The lighthouse replica can be visited on weekends from June through October. After driving to the St. Clement's Island Museum, one may take a water taxi on weekends and walk the grounds. A 50-foot (15 m) cross is also on the island. The lighthouse is open on Saturdays and the first Sunday of every month from June through October.
Congress appropriated $3,500 for the construction of a lighthouse on the island in 1848; John Donahoo was awarded the contract, which cost $4,535. He designed an integral lighthouse, a two-story brick keeper's dwelling with a tower through its center, which sat on a 2-acre (0.81 ha) plot at the southern tip of the island. Construction was completed, and the light lit, in 1851.
The lighthouse, like many in the South, was a target for Confederate raiders. In 1864, CSA Captain John Goldsmith, a former owner of the island, led a party which destroyed the lighthouse lens and confiscated the oil used to light it; the group then declared its intent to destroy the structure. Keeper Jerome McWilliams, an acquaintance of the captain's, succeeded in convincing the men not to destroy the lighthouse because his wife was pregnant; he argued that destroying the family home would leave both her and the baby vulnerable.
The United States Navy purchased the island in 1919 and razed most structures on it, leaving only the lighthouse and building piers and a landing strip. The light was automated in 1932 and left unattended, gradually decaying over the next twenty years. Fire gutted the structure on July 16, 1956; to this day, the cause of the blaze is uncertain, but many suspect that a stray artillery round fired from the proving ground at Dahlgren, Virginia, may have been to blame. In any event, the Navy viewed the shell as a hazard and ordered it razed.
Through the efforts of the St. Clement's Hundred, a local community organization created for the preservation of St. Clement's Island, a replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse was constructed and completed in June 2008.[1]
Galleryedit
Rebuilt Blackistone Lighthouse, September 2009
Referencesedit
^. Recreation And Parks Museum Division listings. St Mary's County. September 5, 2009. Archived from the original on December 7, 2009.
External linksedit
"Blakistone Island Light". Chesapeake Chapter, USLHS. 2001.
"Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Maryland" (PDF). United States Coast Guard Historian's Office.
Greenwell, Megan (April 22, 2007). "Rebuilt Lighthouse To Crown St. Clement's". Washington Post.
blakistone, island, light, blackistone, island, light, lighthouse, located, what, clement, island, potomac, river, maryland, best, known, target, confederate, raid, civil, completed, 1851, structure, destroyed, fire, 1956, shell, razed, replica, completed, 200. The Blackistone Island Light was a lighthouse located on what is now St Clement s Island on the Potomac River in Maryland It is best known as the target of a Confederate raid in the Civil War Completed in 1851 the structure was destroyed by fire in 1956 and its shell was razed a replica was completed in 2008 Blackistone Island LightRebuilt lighthouse September 2009LocationSouthern point of present day Saint Clement s Island in the Potomac RiverCoordinates38 12 27 N 76 44 42 W 38 20750 N 76 74500 W 38 20750 76 74500TowerConstructionwoodAutomated1932Shapekeeper s house with lantern on roofLightFirst lit1851Deactivated1956 The lighthouse replica can be visited on weekends from June through October After driving to the St Clement s Island Museum one may take a water taxi on weekends and walk the grounds A 50 foot 15 m cross is also on the island The lighthouse is open on Saturdays and the first Sunday of every month from June through October Contents 1 History 2 Gallery 3 References 4 External linksHistory editCongress appropriated 3 500 for the construction of a lighthouse on the island in 1848 John Donahoo was awarded the contract which cost 4 535 He designed an integral lighthouse a two story brick keeper s dwelling with a tower through its center which sat on a 2 acre 0 81 ha plot at the southern tip of the island Construction was completed and the light lit in 1851 The lighthouse like many in the South was a target for Confederate raiders In 1864 CSA Captain John Goldsmith a former owner of the island led a party which destroyed the lighthouse lens and confiscated the oil used to light it the group then declared its intent to destroy the structure Keeper Jerome McWilliams an acquaintance of the captain s succeeded in convincing the men not to destroy the lighthouse because his wife was pregnant he argued that destroying the family home would leave both her and the baby vulnerable The United States Navy purchased the island in 1919 and razed most structures on it leaving only the lighthouse and building piers and a landing strip The light was automated in 1932 and left unattended gradually decaying over the next twenty years Fire gutted the structure on July 16 1956 to this day the cause of the blaze is uncertain but many suspect that a stray artillery round fired from the proving ground at Dahlgren Virginia may have been to blame In any event the Navy viewed the shell as a hazard and ordered it razed Through the efforts of the St Clement s Hundred a local community organization created for the preservation of St Clement s Island a replica of the Blackistone Lighthouse was constructed and completed in June 2008 1 Gallery edit nbsp Rebuilt Blackistone Lighthouse September 2009References edit St Clement s Island Recreation And Parks Museum Division listings St Mary s County September 5 2009 Archived from the original on December 7 2009 External links edit Blakistone Island Light Chesapeake Chapter USLHS 2001 Historic Light Station Information and Photography Maryland PDF United States Coast Guard Historian s Office Greenwell Megan April 22 2007 Rebuilt Lighthouse To Crown St Clement s Washington Post Blackistone Lighthouse Rowlett Russ Lighthouses of the United States Maryland The Lighthouse Directory University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill nbsp Maryland portal nbsp Engineering portal Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blakistone Island Light amp oldid 1140371280, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
