Point of Shoals Light

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Point of Shoals Light
File:Point of shoals light.PNG
Undated photograph of Point of Shoals Light (USCG)
Point of Shoals Light is located in Virginia
Point of Shoals Light
Location In Burwell Bay on the James River
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Year first constructed 1855
Year first lit 1871 (latest structure)
Automated 1932
Deactivated 1933
Foundation screw-pile
Construction cast-iron/wood
Tower shape hexagonal house
Original lens sixth-order Fresnel lens
Characteristic Fixed white [1]

The Point of Shoals Light was a lighthouse located in the James River in Virginia.

History

The first request for a light to mark the shoal at this bend in the river came in 1835, but a light was not constructed here until 1855. It was the target of a Confederate raid in the Civil War, and by 1869 concerns were raised about its safety. These concerns were realized two years later when damage from ice flows brought about the rebuilding of the structure.

This light was automated fairly early, in 1932. Its unmanned life was brief, as continued shoaling in old channel led to the dredging of a new channel on the opposite side of the river the following year, at which point the light was deactivated. The house was removed in the 1960s, but the iron foundation remains, unlit.

Notes

  1. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

References