The Beauty Around Us

1000 Islands Vacation Day 3: Tippetts Point Lighthouse

By Linda G. on August 8, 2016

On Day 3 (Tuesday, June 21) of our 1000 Island Vacation we visited places south of our home port of Alexandria Bay, NY. So far I have shared blog posts about Rock Island Lighthouse, Wellesley Island State Park, and Clayton, NY.  Today’s blog post, which completes our Day 3 activities, is about our visit to the Tippetts Point Lighthouse.

When we departed Clayton, we made a return trip to the Tibbetts Point Lighthouse. I wanted a few sunny day pictures to accompany the picture that I took the previous evening.

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse
July 20, 2016

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse is located in Cape Vincent, New York.

The lighthouse marks the point where Lake Ontario meets the St. Lawrence River.

The current lighthouse was built in 1854.

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse was first put into operation in 1827.  In 1852 Tibbets Point Lighthouse was determined to be inefficient and long neglected.  Funds were requested to rebuild the lighthouse.  According to information provided on the Lighthouse Friends website, Congress provided $5,000 on March 3, 1853.  The work was completed on July 15, 1854. The following description of the lighthouse was printed in papers:

“The second Fresnel light on the great northern lakes has recently been erected at Tibbett’s Point, Lake Ontario. The shaft is of brick work, 47 feet high, and 12 ½ feet in diameter at the base. The lantern is an octagon, 6 ½ feet in diameter, and 15 feet high, comprising seven lights of French plate glass, 40 by 30, and 3/8ths of an inch in thickness, clear as crystal—the eighth, or remaining side of the octagon, being an iron door.”

Tibbetts Point Lighthouse, Keeper’s Dwelling and Fog Signal Building

In 1877, according to the Lighthouse Friends website, it was noted that the “buildings at this station are old, much decayed, and too small to afford proper accommodations for the keepers. This light is at the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River from Lake Ontario. It must always be an important aid to navigation and should be rebuilt. It is recommended that an appropriation of $10,000 be made for rebuilding this station.  A new two-story, frame dwelling was built for the station in 1880, replacing the old one…, and in 1882, the brick-work of the tower was rebuilt above the parapet-wall and the tower was provided with a new lantern having a wooden deck covered with copper.  The lighthouse now stood fifty-nine feet tall and tapered from a diameter of twelve feet at its base to eleven feet at the lantern room.”

The fog signal building was built in 1897.  The fog signal building is thirty-six feet long, twenty-two feet wide, thirteen feet tall, and is crowned by a hipped roof.

A second keeper’s dwelling was built in 1907.

The establishment of the fog signal necessitated the requirement for two keepers, along with their families, to staff Tibbetts Point Lighthouse.  A new dwelling for the assistant keeper was built in 1907.  Tibbetts Lighthouse no longer requires lighthouse keepers, as the light is now automated.  The visitor center was closed during both of our visits; therefore, I am not certain of the following information.  I believe one keeper’s dwelling is now a hostel, and the other keeper’s dwelling is a museum.

This blog post concludes Day 3 activities.  Please check back often, as I have much more to share about our 1000 Islands Vacation.