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In 1871, Dexter Stetson, the Construction Supervisor of North Carolina’s Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, was given a plaque to install on the newly completed tallest lighthouse in America.
The plaque boldly stated the names of those serving on the Light-House Board and those directly involved with the lighthouse, the tallest and proudest symbol of America’s lighthouse heritage.
__________________________________________
The plaque reads . . .
1871
LIGHT-HOUSE BOARD OF THE UNITED STATES
George S. Boutwell, Secretary of the Treasury
Rear Admiral W. B. Shurbrick, U.S. Navy, Chairman
Professor Joseph Henry, Secretary Smithsonian Institution
Brevet Major General A.A. Humphreys, Chief of Engineers, U.S. Army
Brevet Major General J.C. Barnard, Colonel of Engineers, U.S. Army
Rear Admiral C.K. Stribling, U.S. NavyProfessor N. Pierce,
Superintendent, Coast Survey Rear Admiral Thornton A. Jenkins,
U.S. Navy Secretary
Major George H. Elliott, Corps of Engineers U.S. Army Eng’r Secretary
DISTRICT OFFICERS
Major Peter C. Haines, Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army
Eng’r 5th LHDist. & Constructer
Commodore Fabius Stanley, U.S. Navy, Inspector 5th LHDist
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However, it seems that lighthouse protocol at that time evidently would not allow specific names to be attached to the building of the tallest lighthouse ever built, and its removal was ordered. Perhaps Dexter Stetson himself, whose name was not included on the plaque, brought the matter to the attention of Board Chairman Shubrick.
Does the plaque still exist?
Was the plaque destroyed or was it packed away somewhere?
Could it be in some storage container in the archives of some
government agency?
If so, could it be in the same container that contains the lost photographs of the first Cape Hatteras Lighthouse?
The mysteries of Cape Hatteras, America’s tallest lighthouse continue to intrigue historians and treasure hunters alike.
We would like to thank Cheryl Shelton Roberts of the
Outer Banks Lighthouse Society for being the first to
report the facts behind this history mystery.
This story appeared in the September 2006 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
All contents copyright © 1995 - 2006 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.
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