The Three Sisters of Nauset are a trio of historic lighthouses off Cable Road in Eastham, Massachusetts. The original three brick towers fell into the sea due to erosion in 1890 and were replaced with wooden towers on brick foundations in 1892. The Sisters were decommissioned in 1911 but one of them, the Beacon, was moved back from the shoreline and attached to the keeper's house. It continued to operate but was replaced by a new steel tower, the Nauset Light, in 1923.[2][3]
The first set of lighthouses were commissioned by Congress in 1837 and built for $10,000, to provide for a light halfway along the eastern coast of Cape Cod. Because there was one light (the Cape Cod Light) in Truro, and two lights (the Twin Lights) in Chatham, it was decided that there should be three lights to distinguish between the other lights. Built 150 feet (46 m) apart in a straight line along the crest of the cliffs, they were brick, 15 feet (4.6 m) tall and wide at the base, and 9 feet (2.7 m) wide at the lantern deck. Each was painted white with black lantern decks, which lent to their looking like three ladies with white dresses and black bonnets – the birth of the name "Three Sisters."
Replacement lighthousesedit
By 1890, however, the three lights were dangerously close to the cliff's edge. Since it was impossible at the time to move the three lights intact, three 22-foot (6.7 m) wooden lighthouses with otherwise identical markings were built in 1892 to replace the former lights, each built 30 feet (9.1 m) west of their original sites and using the lenses from the originals.
The Beaconedit
The Beacon
However, erosion continued, and by 1911, with the northernmost light only eight feet from the cliff, it was decided to move the lights back again. At this time only the center light was lit, with a triple flash in homage of her two decommissioned sisters, and became known as The Beacon. In 1918, with both their lanterns removed, the decommissioned north and south lights were purchased and incorporated into a summer cottage along Cable Road. The Beacon, which was now attached to the oil house, was in disrepair.
After it was decommissioned, the northern of the two towers of Chatham Light was moved north to Eastham in 1923, to a site near the original lights, becoming the Nauset Light.
Renovation for the National Register of Historic Placesedit
Lighthouses in their new position.
The Beacon was incorporated into a summer cottage, where it stayed until 1975, when it was purchased by the National Park Service. It was moved to a field to join its sisters, who had been bought ten years earlier, and, following their listing on the National Register of Historic Places, the three were renovated to their current state, less than 400 yards (370 m) west of their replacement and in their original configuration.[4]
In 1983, the National Park Service moved the Three Sisters 1,800 feet west of Nauset Light, lined up in their original configuration. A restoration was completed in 1989; tours are operated by National Seashore staff.[5][6]
^"The Three Sisters Lighthouses - Cape Cod National Seashore (U.S. National Park Service)".
External linksedit
Media related to Three Sisters of Nauset at Wikimedia Commons
October 28, 2023
three, sisters, nauset, trio, historic, lighthouses, cable, road, eastham, massachusetts, original, three, brick, towers, fell, into, erosion, 1890, were, replaced, with, wooden, towers, brick, foundations, 1892, sisters, were, decommissioned, 1911, them, beac. The Three Sisters of Nauset are a trio of historic lighthouses off Cable Road in Eastham Massachusetts The original three brick towers fell into the sea due to erosion in 1890 and were replaced with wooden towers on brick foundations in 1892 The Sisters were decommissioned in 1911 but one of them the Beacon was moved back from the shoreline and attached to the keeper s house It continued to operate but was replaced by a new steel tower the Nauset Light in 1923 2 3 Three Sisters of Nauset Twin Lights U S National Register of Historic PlacesThis image shows all three lights The Beacon is in the center LocationEastham MassachusettsCoordinates41 51 34 N 69 57 25 W 41 85944 N 69 95694 W 41 85944 69 95694Built1892MPSLighthouses of Massachusetts TRNRHP reference No 87001502 1 Added to NRHPJune 15 1987 Contents 1 Construction 1 1 Replacement lighthouses 1 2 The Beacon 2 Renovation for the National Register of Historic Places 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksConstruction editThe first set of lighthouses were commissioned by Congress in 1837 and built for 10 000 to provide for a light halfway along the eastern coast of Cape Cod Because there was one light the Cape Cod Light in Truro and two lights the Twin Lights in Chatham it was decided that there should be three lights to distinguish between the other lights Built 150 feet 46 m apart in a straight line along the crest of the cliffs they were brick 15 feet 4 6 m tall and wide at the base and 9 feet 2 7 m wide at the lantern deck Each was painted white with black lantern decks which lent to their looking like three ladies with white dresses and black bonnets the birth of the name Three Sisters Replacement lighthouses edit By 1890 however the three lights were dangerously close to the cliff s edge Since it was impossible at the time to move the three lights intact three 22 foot 6 7 m wooden lighthouses with otherwise identical markings were built in 1892 to replace the former lights each built 30 feet 9 1 m west of their original sites and using the lenses from the originals The Beacon edit nbsp The BeaconHowever erosion continued and by 1911 with the northernmost light only eight feet from the cliff it was decided to move the lights back again At this time only the center light was lit with a triple flash in homage of her two decommissioned sisters and became known as The Beacon In 1918 with both their lanterns removed the decommissioned north and south lights were purchased and incorporated into a summer cottage along Cable Road The Beacon which was now attached to the oil house was in disrepair After it was decommissioned the northern of the two towers of Chatham Light was moved north to Eastham in 1923 to a site near the original lights becoming the Nauset Light Renovation for the National Register of Historic Places edit nbsp Lighthouses in their new position The Beacon was incorporated into a summer cottage where it stayed until 1975 when it was purchased by the National Park Service It was moved to a field to join its sisters who had been bought ten years earlier and following their listing on the National Register of Historic Places the three were renovated to their current state less than 400 yards 370 m west of their replacement and in their original configuration 4 In 1983 the National Park Service moved the Three Sisters 1 800 feet west of Nauset Light lined up in their original configuration A restoration was completed in 1989 tours are operated by National Seashore staff 5 6 See also editNational Register of Historic Places listings in Cape Cod National Seashore National Register of Historic Places listings in Barnstable County MassachusettsReferences edit National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service April 15 2008 A Fascinating Story Cape Cod s Three Sisters Lighthouses 1 February 2017 Three Sisters Lighthouse LighthouseFriends Nauset Lighthouse History www lighthouse cc Three Sisters Lighthouse LighthouseFriends The Three Sisters Lighthouses Cape Cod National Seashore U S National Park Service External links edit nbsp Media related to Three Sisters of Nauset at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Three Sisters of Nauset amp oldid 1064395992, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
