Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2014, All Rights Reserved USGenNet Data Repository Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page: Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ =========================================================================== Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded. =========================================================================== Old Shipping Days in Oswego by J. Leo Finn, 1972 This book furnished with the cooperation of The Oswego County Board of Supervisors -138- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE The first contribution the government made to Oswego harbor was the first lighthouse. The government recognized the increase in commerce at the harbor and on July 13, 1821, the New York State Legislature ceded six acres of land at the mouth of the river, on the north- west section of Fort Ontario for lighthouse purposes and on August 6, 1821, Jonathan M. Canfield, superintendent of lights at Sacketts Harbor, N.Y. in behalf of the United States Government entered into a contract with Daniel Warren and William Cobb of Rochester, N.Y. to build a lighthouse, dwelling and well. Same to be completed by November 1st next and light, fitted up within thirty days thereafter. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -139- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE Under date of November 2, 1821 a letter from Stephan Pleasanton to Jonathan Canfield, Supt. of Lights at Sacketts Harbor, informed Mr. Canfield that the Presi- dent had appointed Oslo Steele, keeper of the light. The final payment on the contract was made on April 10, 1822. The light was put in operation that year and continued in operation until 1838. THE CONTRACT: Articles of agreement made on the 6th day of August 1821 between John M. Canfield, Col- lector of Customs at Sacketts Harbor, and Daniel Warren and William Cobb of Rochester, in the County of Monroe, and State of New York of the other part, Witnesseth, that the said Warren and Cobb on their part covenant and en- gage to build a Lighthouse, Dwelling House, Lantern and Well, as partucularly described in the proposals which are here into annexed, subject to the following variations and additions. Viz: The diameter of the base of the Lighthouse from the bottom of the water table to the top thereof, where the octagonal pyramid is to commence, to be sixteen feet and the diameter to be nine feet three inches at the top or floor of the lantern. The deck to be ten feet nine inches in diameter and the lantern five feet eleven inches in diameter. Each octagon to contain eighteen lights, eleven by nine glass and a proportionable increase of the building and lantern in all respects where in the opinion of the said John M. Can- field, the strength, durability, and convenience or regu- larity of the same may be required (with the exception of the height of the building.) In the chimney of the Dwelling house a convenient oven is to be placed, and the inside walls and ceilings of the house to be lathed and plastered. And the said Warren and Cobb covenant and agree to FIND all the material, workmanship and other object of expense and complete the above described work intended hereby to be performed, in --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -140- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE a good and workmanlike manner, on or before the first day of November next. And the same Warren and Cobb further covenant and agree to fit up the said lighthouse within one month after it shall be built with patent lamps and reflectors, in number and size suitable to the extent of the Lantern, and with tin butts to contain the oil; the number and size of which, as well as the lamps and re- flectors shall be determined by Winslow Lewis. (Appar- ently Mr. Lewis was an authority on equipment for light- houses and held a contract with the government for such supplies and equipment.) And all the necessary apparatus in the same manner as the light houses in the United States have been fitted up by the said Winslow Lewis, Viz: A sufficient number of wooden horses, two spare lamps, one lantern cannister and trivit, two three gallon cannisters, one tin torch, one oil carrier, six wick formers, two tube cleaners, one hand lantern, two files, two buff skins, one tub whiting, two pair scissors, one tube box, one hacking knife, one putty knife, two oil strainers and one oil feeder. The whole to be approved by the Superinten- dent or such other person as may be designated by him. In consideration whereof the said John M. Canfield for and in behalf of the United States as aforesaid, engages to pay the said Warren and Cobb for doing and performing the work and finding the materials, as aforesaid, the sum of two thousand and six hundred dollars - that is to say one thousand three hundred dollars on the execution of the contract, and the remaining one thousand three hundred dollars when the work is completed and approved. It is hereby provided that no member of Congress shall be admitted to any share or part of this contract or agreement, or to any benefit to arise therefrom. Witnessed and signed by John M. Canfield in behalf of the United States. Daniel Warren and William Cobb, contractors. Teste - Elisha Ely. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -141- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE The lighthouse to be of stone, the form octogon, the foundation to be of stone, laid as deep as may be necessary to make the fabric perfectly secure, and to be carried up one foot above the surface of the earth from the bottom of the water table to the top thereof, where the octagonal pyramid is to commence, to be fourteen feet, and the diameter seven and a half feet at the top, or floor of the lantern. The water table to be capped with hewn stone at least six inches wide and sloped to turn off the water, from the surface to the top of the building. The walls to be twenty feet high, and graduated as follows; the first nine feet from the foundation wall to be two feet and a half thick, the next ten feet to be twenty one inches thick. The top of the building to be arched, reserving an entrance on the side of the lantern, and to have a stone cornice, on which to be laid a soap stone or granite stone deck, nine feet diameter, four inches thick, on one side of which to be a scuttle, to enter the lantern, the scuttle door to be framed with iron and covered with copper, the joints of the stone deck to be fitted with lead, the ground floor to be paved with brick or stone, a sufficient number of strong wooden stairs with a hand railing to lead from the top of the stairs to the entrance of the scuttle, with steps two inches wide substantial plank floor, to be fixed to the stairs on the joists of each story. The lighthouse to have three windows, each to have eight panes of glass, seven by nine inches, in strong frames, with shutters and proper fastenings painted with two coats of paint, and a substantial panel door, three feet wide, and five and a half feet high, iron hinges, lock and latch complete on lower floor. A complete iron lan- tern in the octagon form, to rest on the platform of the pyramid, to be four feet six inches in diameter and four feet ten inches high, the eight corner pieces of which to be one and three fourth inches square, above the platform, --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -142- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE and two inches square below it, to run four feet into the stone work, and to be there secured by anchors. The space between the parts of the angles to be occupied by the sashes, which are to be iron, moulded on the inside, struck solid, and of sufficient strength so as not to work with the wind, each sash to be glazed with strong double glass, ten by twelve inches of the first quality Boston manufacture, excepting on one side, where so much of the space as would otherwise be filled with sashes is to be occupied by an iron framed door, covered with copper, twenty inches wide, and four and a half feet high. The top of the lantern is to be a dome two feet four inches high and covered with copper, thirty-two ounces to the square foot, formed by sixteen iron rafters, concentrating in an iron hoop at the top, which forms the funnel for the smoke to pass out of the lantern into the ventilator, in the form of a ball sufficient to contain thirty gallons, and large enough to secure the funnel against rain, the ven- tilator to be turned by vane, so that the hole for venting the smoke may always be to the leeward. The lantern to be surrounded by an iron ballustrade two feet high, each rail or rod to be three quarters of an inch square inserted in the braces between the eight posts. The lantern and ballustrade to be covered with three coats of good paint. The door sashes and window frames to be well painted, and the building whitewashed and furnished with two com- plete electrical conductors or rods with prints. The Dwelling house to be of stone, thirty-four feet by twenty, one story of eight feet high, divided into two rooms, with an entry between; the stairs to be in the entry to go into the chambers, which are to be lathed and plastered; a chimney near the middle of the house with a fire place in each room, iron or stone mantle pieces, cellar under the whole house, with sufficient walls of stone, laid in lime morter, twenty inches thick, six feet --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -143- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE deep; the walls of the house to be twenty inches thick, laid up in lime mortar, with split undressed stone, well painted and to extend two feet above the chamber floors, and white- washed twice over; the roof to be rectangular, the boards of which to be jointed and halved, and well secured and covered with good merchantable shingles; three windows in each room of sixteen lights of eight by ten glass each, and one of the same dimensions in the chambers; the doors to be four panelled, with good hinges, and thumb latches to each, and a good lock on the outside door; closets in each room back of the chimney, all the floors to be double and well nailed; the inside work to be finished in a plain, decent styel with good seasoned timbers. A well to be sunk sufficiently deep to procure good water at a convenient distance from the lighthouse; to be stoned and furnished with a curb, windlass, an iron chain and a strong iron-hooped bucket. Custom House, Sacketts Harbor, May 1, 1822. I certify that this contract has been substantially complied with on the part of the contractor. (Signed) John M. Canfield, Supt. This light was placed in operation late in 1821 and discontinued in 1838. Stephen Pleasanton, the Secretary of the Treasury, recommended in a letter of July 15, 1841, that the lighthouse be put up for auction and that the person buying it must remove it as soon as possible. It is assumed that it was so done in late 1841 or early 1842. A new light which was built on the east end of the west pier in 1836 served until 1868 when it was raised twenty-five feet and a stronger light installed. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -144- THE FIRST LIGHT HOUSE This west inner pier was extended to the north in 1869 and in 1876 an iron light was built on its extreme north end. In 1881 this light was taken apart and erected on a crib at the east end of the new outer west breakwater. It was dismantled, erected and lighted in thirty hours. The light that was built in 1836 was known as the inner light and the one erected on the crib at the east end of the west outer breakwater was known as the beacon light. The inner light was torn down in 1929-1930 and the beacon light was removed in May 1931 during the re- construction of the harbor. At this time a contract was given to the Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company which included removal of the light and the outer breakwater as far west as the D. L. & W. trestle or about 2485 feet. At this point they constructed an arrowhead pier of rubble- mound type running approximately northeast for 2700 feet. An additional contract was awarded to the Great Lakes Co. December 7, 1932 for a west pierhead light. Work was suspended in 1933 for lack of funds. The light- house was finally completed in the fiscal year 1935 with funds from the NIRA. The light began operation November 24, 1934. A small light was also placed on the outer end of the 2200 foot east arrowhead breakwater which was built by A. Phelps and Son of Detroit and which was completed in 1932. Small lights were also placed on each end of the 850' detached breakwater which was constructed to the north of the gap between the east and west arrowhead piers. This pier was constructed in 1958-1960. ===========================================================================