CONCORD POINT LIGHTHOUSE
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One of the most
interesting and unique historic structures in Havre de Grace is the Concord
Point Lighthouse. It has served as a
beacon for sailors and boaters in the Upper Chesapeake Bay for over 160 years.
It is the oldest continuously operated lighthouse in the State of
Maryland. In 1826 the Maryland
General Assembly authorized the construction of the tower at the point where the
Susquehanna River meets the tidal flow of the Chesapeake Bay.
Navigation was very hazardous, the area originally known as Point
Conquest. John Donohoo, a local
contractor, was the designated builder and built may other lighthouses around
the bay. The lighthouse is
constructed of Port Deposit granite.
The walls are 3’1” thick at the base and narrow to 18” at the parapet.
Total height is approximately 36 feet. |
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Originally
illuminated by 9 whale oil lamps with tin reflectors, the tower was lit with a
center post light and Fresnel lens (6th Order) in 1854.
This was changed to a 5th order size some years later and
maintains such a lens today, on loan from the St. Michael’s Maritime Museum.
Electrification came in 1920.
Polygonal in shape, the lens is 36” high with a diameter of 14”.
Click image at left to view larger photo. (Opens in new window).
The first lighthouse keeper was an Irish immigrant, John O’Neill (1768-1836), coming to Havre de Grace in 1786. He rose to
prominence
during an attack by British forces at this site.
One of the old artillery pieces can be seen on the water side of the
lighthouse. While firing one of the
three Potato Cannons, he was injured and sentenced to be hung, but through
intervention of his daughter Matilda, Admiral Cockburn later released him.
He served as lighthouse keeper and town commissioner until his death.
While many people
served as keepers, at least one member of each generation of the O’Neill family
kept the light while it was manually illuminated.
Known keepers include:
John O’Neill
1829
Esther O’Neill
1863
John O’Neill Jr
1838
John Bartol
1870
John B. Harvey 1841
Gabriel Evans
1870
Thomas Courtney 1844
John Bartell
1880
John Blaney
1849
Henry O’Neill
1881
Thomas Suter
1853
Henry O’Neill
1919
John O’Neill
1860
The lighthouse
keeper’s home was a separate building, a stone house located directly across the
street. It is in the process of
restoration under the direction of the Maryland Historical Trust.
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Be;ow is text copied from the sign above, right. The house
and property were sold by the U.S. Government to private owners in April
1920 as the light had been automated and a resident keeper was no longer
necessary. The house was a
residential rental property until the mid 1930’s when it was converted
into a restaurant. A long
outbuilding to the south became a bar and dance hall.
The property changed hands nine times between 1920 and 1988 when
it was purchased by the Maryland Historic Trust and deeded to the City
of Havre de Grace. From
1920 to 1988 the property underwent many renovations and additions until
it appears as it does in the photograph at the left.
The Friends of the Concord Point Light House, Inc., began the
restoration of the light keepers’ house and property in 1990.
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The Lighthouse was
decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1975 and given to the City of Havre de
Grace for safe keeping. Soon after,
a group of citizens incorporated as “The Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse,
Inc.” and were specifically charged with the care of keeping of the historic
structure.
Upon completion of
the keeper’s home, stable, oil shed, etc., the Concord Point Lighthouse will
present a unique maritime display of the life and activities of the courageous
lighthouse keepers of the 19th century.
Concord Point
Lighthouse is open free to the public.
Educational school tours are conducted each year by special arrangement.
Contributions are gratefully received to maintain the building and to
tell its story.
Friends of Concord
Point Lighthouse
PO Box 212
Havre de Grace, MD
21078
Return to the Maryland Lighthouse Page
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