Erie Land Light

Erie Country Light or Old Presque Isle Light is a 15 m high lighthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is one of three lighthouses in Erie; the other two are Presque Isle Light and the North Pier Light. The building is located in Lighthouse Park on Dunn Avenue.

The lighthouse was originally built in 1818, but in the meantime replaced twice. The current building was built in 1867 and was documented by the Historic American Buildings Survey in 1936. On March 30, 1978, the lighthouse was entered in the National Register of Historic Places.

History

The original Erie Country Light was first built in 1818 by the Federal Government of the United States Lighthouse in the Great Lakes region. The former lighthouse was a six meter high square tower, which had begun in 1851, slowly sinking. He had to be replaced in 1857. The optics have been built by L. Sauter & Fils in Paris, France and then cost $ 7,000.

The second tower at this point was a nearly 18 m high conical brick tower that came from Milwaukee in Wisconsin. Also, the foundation of this second tower had defects and had to be replaced again in 1866. An investigation revealed that there was a thin layer of quicksand under the foundations.

The third tower was built using sandstone from Berea. In order to prevent the tower as its operations would sink, rammed one six meter long oak logs into the ground, on a six-foot thick foundation of crushed limestone and Portland cement was placed. A two-story saltbox for the lighthouse keeper was built at the same time.

The lighthouse was decommissioned in 1880 because he appeared on Presque Isle unnecessary anbetrachts the new Presque Isle Lights. He was sold for $ 1,200. After some turmoil in the public, the government bought back the building and put the beacon in 1885 again. He was then operated to 26 December 1899, when it was decommissioned again. 1902, the optics were removed and sent to Ohio, where it was used further in Marblehead Light. A roof made of tar paper was placed on the tower after the space for the beacon had been removed. The city acquired the Erie Lighthouse 1934.

Today's use and reconstruction

A wooden replica of the lantern room was built in 1990 on the tower and on 26 December 1999, the beacon was again set in motion. The replica was blown away in a strong storm on 5 May 2003.

A new 2850 kg heavy replica of copper was set up on 19 March 2004. The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission presented U.S. $ 400,000 available to restore the lantern room, stairs and brick work. The renovation was completed on 19 June 2004.