Cape Cod Light
Cape Cod's oldest lighthouse known locally as the Highland
Light, is officially named the Cape Cod Light on maritime charts. It does
sit on the Highland, 120 feet above the ocean, with its beam elevation 183 feet
above the sea. Ships can identify it from 30 miles away. When it's not visible
because of weather or fog, it can be heard by ship as it sends out a radio
beacon every 6 minutes.
This building was erected in 1857 on a 10 acre plot of
land. Today less than four acres remain, The sea is a relentless neighbor.
The first light was established in 1797, rebuilt in 1853, and replaced 1857 by
the current structure.
It has never been moved. However, because of the
eroding cliff, some efforts to move the structure are now being considered. If
not, it will shortly fall in the ocean. An Army Corps of Engineers Erosion
Study, made for the Coast Guard in 1988, indicated the light to be 143 feet
from the cliff, whereas in 1985 it was 160 feet, and in 1961 it was 232 feet.
That's over 3 feet per year. At times, large pieces of cliff have fallen. In a
1978 blizzard 18 feet were lost. More recently, just north of the light, 10
feet were lost in the spring of 1987, and then in January of 1990 another 40
feet were lost in that same location. A mid-1990 measurement from the base of
the light to the cliff edge showed 128 feet.
A Committee to Save the Cape Cod Light formed in early
1990 to "effect the move of the Cape Cod (Highland) Lighthouse from its present
endangered site to a place of safety." This involves working with at least
two government agencies (The Coast Guard owns the light and the land where it
is now sited, and the Cape Cod National Seashore owns the surrounding land
where the light would be moved.), neither of whom have money for the
undertaking. The feasibility has been determined for the Committee by a
professional engineer, well-skilled in moving even much larger buildings. It
now needs approvals of the affected parties, and the money to do the job.
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