Isla Cabras Light, also known as Faro de Isla Cabras, was a lighthouse located on a rocky but flat islet with the same name, which sit just off the coast near Ceiba, Puerto Rico, toward the Vieques Passage.
Fishing boats were not the only ones to cross the Vieques Passage, but also ocean-going ships. In fact, the expanse of water between Cabras Island and Vieques had become an important passway during the long duration of the Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico.[1] So, when in 1869 Madrid approved the lighthouse's construction on Cabras Island, few questioned its wisdom.[2] The initiative was not an isolated event, but part of an island-wide modernization project for "maritime illumination" (es: "Plan de Alumbrado Maritimo en la Isla de Puerto Rico"). Puerto Rico's coasts were coming into the light with the establishment of fourteen lighthouses of which the Cabras Island Light was the twelfth in line.[2]
At its roots, the project responded to unprecedented political pressure. Accusations against the Crown of abandonment and military upheavals of which the Grito de Lares ("Lares Cry" or "Lares Uprising") was only the best known, marked the year 1868. The following decade saw in Puerto Rico the formation of political parties, the abolition of slavery and environmental legislations like the act to protect the Yunque, among the oldest U.S. National Parks.[3] Though the increasingly liberal local government showed signs of life and interest in developing the island's infrastructure, the overstretched Spanish Empire, embroiled in wars for independence in Cuba and the Philippines,[4][5] neglected the construction of the Cabras Island Light.[6]
In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, the U.S. fleet maneuvered near the Cabras Island, learning first hand the value of its position between the bays of Bahía de Puerca and Ensenada Honda.[7] Soon after replacing the Puerto Rican autonomous government with a military regime, the U.S. picked up the light project as part of its naval expansion in the Caribbean area.[8] In 1904, the U.S. Coast Guard purchased the 20 acres (8 ha) of land for $200, and by May 13, 1908, the lighthouse was ready for service. The cost of the undertaking, including the entrance road and the pier, reached a total of $5654.55.[6][9][10]
Structure
The lighthouse building was unique among the lighthouses in Puerto Rico in that it resembled the rectangular shape and design of the better-known light in the Morro, but with the castle's stone structure.[6] Differently from its San Juan relative, the building overseeing the Vieques Passage was a small two-story lightgray stone daymark structure with a red stripe and a clear white trim.[11] Its black lantern room sat on a small cylindrical tower on of its corners at the top of the building. It stood 78 feet off the ground, and projected a white light visible all around, showing higher intensity on range line for nine miles away (some even say 14).[12][13] Its original lens was a sixth-order Fresnel lens.[14]
Employment
A keeper managed the light and occupied the building's two rooms. As the islands of Culebra and Vieques became both military posts and tourists destinations, the lighthouse played a role in safeguarding the increasing number of trips across the passage. Traveler's accounts refer to its beauty and powerful light over the waters.[12][15] In 1937, as part of the changes that Gustaf Dalén affected in the gas and lighthouse technologies,[16] the authorities installed an automated acetylene torch. Six years later, the building was closed and boarded. In 1965 the light was replaced with a range light called "Vieques Southwest Channel Range Front Light".[17] The original structure was destroyed in 1966.
Setting
Cabras Island is located in the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station. The small island separates the entrance of Puerca Bay, a small open-mouth bay and the Ensenada Honda harbor. The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway.
Gallery
Faro Isla Cabras, Puerto Rico (Encenada Honda, Ceiba)
^Ubeda y Delgado, Manuel (1878). Isla de Puerto Rico: estudio histórico, geográfico y estadístico de la misma. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Academia Puertorriqueńa de la Historia.
^ abColección legislativa de España: Volume 102. Madrid: Imprenta del Ministerio de gracia y justicia. 1869. pp. 135–36.
^Hailey, Adrian; Byron S. Wilson & Julia Horrocks (2011). Conservation of Caribbean Island herpetofauna. Leiden: Brill. p. 343. ISBN978-9004194083.
^Villafaña, Frank (2012). Expansionism its effects on Cuba's independence. New Brunswick, N.J.: Transaction. pp. 89–129. ISBN9781412846561.
^Alvarez López, Luis (2009). The Dominican Republic and the Beginning of a Revolutionary Cycle in the Spanish Caribbean: 1861–1898. University Press of America. pp. 28–75. ISBN978-0761847144.
^ abc"Out of the past: Cabras Island Puerto Rico". Lighthouse Digest. April 2005. Retrieved 2013-01-03.
^Casado, Matt A. (2014). La guerra hispano-estadounidense de 1898. Palibrio. pp. 115–118. ISBN978-1463383701.
^Negroni, Héctor Andrés (1992). Historia militar de Puerto Rico. San Juan, P.R.: Comisión Puertorriqueña para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de América y Puerto Rico. Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario. ISBN9788478441389.
^ (in Spanish). Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on 2010-06-21. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
^. United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. Archived from the original on 2017-05-01. Retrieved 2009-05-12.
^Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic/Topographic Center (2007). List of lights, radio aids, and fog signals. Greenland, the east coasts of North and South America. Bethesda, MD: The Center and ProStar Publications. p. 165. ISBN9781577858065.
^ abPappas, Douglas (1940). Puerto Rico; a guide to the island of Boriquén, compiled and ... United States. American guide series. New York: The University Society. p. 371.
^Buoy List: Porto Rico and other islands. Department of Commerce, Lighthouse service. 1926. p. 9.
^United States coast pilot. West Indies, Porto Rico and Virgin Islands / Department of Commerce, U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. GPO. 1949. pp. 114, 121, 190, 197.
^Colorado, Antonio J. (1972). Puerto Rico: la tierra y otros ensayos. San Juan, Puerto Rico: Editorial Cordillera. p. 83.
^Almqvist, Ebbe (2014). History of Industrial Gases. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 62. ISBN9781461501978. Retrieved January 18, 2016.
cabras, island, light, islet, located, entrance, juan, isla, cabras, light, cabra, island, philippines, cabra, island, lighthouse, isla, cabras, light, also, known, faro, isla, cabras, lighthouse, located, rocky, flat, islet, with, same, name, which, just, coa. For the islet located at the entrance of the San Juan Bay see Isla de Cabras For the light on Cabra Island in the Philippines see Cabra Island Lighthouse Isla Cabras Light also known as Faro de Isla Cabras was a lighthouse located on a rocky but flat islet with the same name which sit just off the coast near Ceiba Puerto Rico toward the Vieques Passage Isla Cabras LighthouseView of the lighthouse in 1916LocationCeiba Puerto RicoCoordinates18 12 42 N 65 36 0 W 18 21167 N 65 60000 W 18 21167 65 60000TowerConstructionStoneAutomated1931ShapeCylindrical attached to a square houseMarkingsNatural Turret LightFirst lit1908Deactivated1946 LensSixth order Fresnel 1908 Contents 1 Planning and construction 2 Structure 3 Employment 4 Setting 5 Gallery 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksPlanning and construction EditFishing boats were not the only ones to cross the Vieques Passage but also ocean going ships In fact the expanse of water between Cabras Island and Vieques had become an important passway during the long duration of the Spanish colonial rule in Puerto Rico 1 So when in 1869 Madrid approved the lighthouse s construction on Cabras Island few questioned its wisdom 2 The initiative was not an isolated event but part of an island wide modernization project for maritime illumination es Plan de Alumbrado Maritimo en la Isla de Puerto Rico Puerto Rico s coasts were coming into the light with the establishment of fourteen lighthouses of which the Cabras Island Light was the twelfth in line 2 At its roots the project responded to unprecedented political pressure Accusations against the Crown of abandonment and military upheavals of which the Grito de Lares Lares Cry or Lares Uprising was only the best known marked the year 1868 The following decade saw in Puerto Rico the formation of political parties the abolition of slavery and environmental legislations like the act to protect the Yunque among the oldest U S National Parks 3 Though the increasingly liberal local government showed signs of life and interest in developing the island s infrastructure the overstretched Spanish Empire embroiled in wars for independence in Cuba and the Philippines 4 5 neglected the construction of the Cabras Island Light 6 In 1898 during the Spanish American War the U S fleet maneuvered near the Cabras Island learning first hand the value of its position between the bays of Bahia de Puerca and Ensenada Honda 7 Soon after replacing the Puerto Rican autonomous government with a military regime the U S picked up the light project as part of its naval expansion in the Caribbean area 8 In 1904 the U S Coast Guard purchased the 20 acres 8 ha of land for 200 and by May 13 1908 the lighthouse was ready for service The cost of the undertaking including the entrance road and the pier reached a total of 5654 55 6 9 10 Structure EditThe lighthouse building was unique among the lighthouses in Puerto Rico in that it resembled the rectangular shape and design of the better known light in the Morro but with the castle s stone structure 6 Differently from its San Juan relative the building overseeing the Vieques Passage was a small two story lightgray stone daymark structure with a red stripe and a clear white trim 11 Its black lantern room sat on a small cylindrical tower on of its corners at the top of the building It stood 78 feet off the ground and projected a white light visible all around showing higher intensity on range line for nine miles away some even say 14 12 13 Its original lens was a sixth order Fresnel lens 14 Employment EditA keeper managed the light and occupied the building s two rooms As the islands of Culebra and Vieques became both military posts and tourists destinations the lighthouse played a role in safeguarding the increasing number of trips across the passage Traveler s accounts refer to its beauty and powerful light over the waters 12 15 In 1937 as part of the changes that Gustaf Dalen affected in the gas and lighthouse technologies 16 the authorities installed an automated acetylene torch Six years later the building was closed and boarded In 1965 the light was replaced with a range light called Vieques Southwest Channel Range Front Light 17 The original structure was destroyed in 1966 Setting EditCabras Island is located in the former Roosevelt Roads Naval Station The small island separates the entrance of Puerca Bay a small open mouth bay and the Ensenada Honda harbor The island is connected to the mainland by a causeway Gallery Edit Faro Isla Cabras Puerto Rico Encenada Honda Ceiba Missing the black lantern room January 16 1946 Faro Isla Cabras 1916 Faro Isla Cabras 1937 Ensenada Honda Soundings in FeetSee also EditList of lighthouses in Puerto RicoReferences Edit Ubeda y Delgado Manuel 1878 Isla de Puerto Rico estudio historico geografico y estadistico de la misma San Juan Puerto Rico Academia Puertorriquena de la Historia a b Coleccion legislativa de Espana Volume 102 Madrid Imprenta del Ministerio de gracia y justicia 1869 pp 135 36 Hailey Adrian Byron S Wilson amp Julia Horrocks 2011 Conservation of Caribbean Island herpetofauna Leiden Brill p 343 ISBN 978 9004194083 Villafana Frank 2012 Expansionism its effects on Cuba s independence New Brunswick N J Transaction pp 89 129 ISBN 9781412846561 Alvarez Lopez Luis 2009 The Dominican Republic and the Beginning of a Revolutionary Cycle in the Spanish Caribbean 1861 1898 University Press of America pp 28 75 ISBN 978 0761847144 a b c Out of the past Cabras Island Puerto Rico Lighthouse Digest April 2005 Retrieved 2013 01 03 Casado Matt A 2014 La guerra hispano estadounidense de 1898 Palibrio pp 115 118 ISBN 978 1463383701 Negroni Hector Andres 1992 Historia militar de Puerto Rico San Juan P R Comision Puertorriquena para la Celebracion del Quinto Centenario del Descubrimiento de America y Puerto Rico Sociedad Estatal Quinto Centenario ISBN 9788478441389 Acerca de los Faros in Spanish Enciclopedia de Puerto Rico Archived from the original on 2010 06 21 Retrieved 2009 05 12 Historic Light Station Information and Photography Puerto Rico United States Coast Guard Historian s Office Archived from the original on 2017 05 01 Retrieved 2009 05 12 Defense Mapping Agency Hydrographic Topographic Center 2007 List of lights radio aids and fog signals Greenland the east coasts of North and South America Bethesda MD The Center and ProStar Publications p 165 ISBN 9781577858065 a b Pappas Douglas 1940 Puerto Rico a guide to the island of Boriquen compiled and United States American guide series New York The University Society p 371 Buoy List Porto Rico and other islands Department of Commerce Lighthouse service 1926 p 9 United States coast pilot West Indies Porto Rico and Virgin Islands Department of Commerce U S Coast and Geodetic Survey GPO 1949 pp 114 121 190 197 Colorado Antonio J 1972 Puerto Rico la tierra y otros ensayos San Juan Puerto Rico Editorial Cordillera p 83 Almqvist Ebbe 2014 History of Industrial Gases Springer Science amp Business Media p 62 ISBN 9781461501978 Retrieved January 18 2016 Puerto Rico Chapter 13 Coast Guard Pilot 5 PDF Nautical Charts NOAA Retrieved 2009 05 12 External links EditHistoric Light Station Information amp Photography US Coast Guard Puerto Rico Out of the past Cabras Island The Lighthouse People Slideshow of Faro Isla de Cabras Ceiba PR YouTube Portals Puerto Rico Engineering Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cabras Island Light amp oldid 1140375004, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
