Lighthouse Explorer Database ... Cape Poge Light

01/15/04 1:17 AM

1-800-758-1444

Name: Cape Poge Light

Also known as: Cape Pogue Light

Nearest Town or City:
Edgartown, Massachusetts, United States

Location: Chappaquiddick Island, Vineyard Sound.

Click to enlarge: 74Kb   
Photo: Jeremy D'Entremont

Managing Organization:
Trustees of Reservations

Telephone: 508-627-7689

Website: http://www.thetrustees.org/capepogewildliferefuge.cfm
Email:

Notes:
There have been at least four lighthouse towers at Cape Poge, and the current tower has been moved four times. In recent years the Trustees of Reservations have restored the lighthouse, including its wooden stairway.

Tower Height: 35

Height of Focal Plane: 65

Characteristic and Range: Flashing white every six seconds.

Description of Tower: White conical wood shingle tower with black cast iron lantern.

This light is operational

Earlier Towers?
1801: 35-foot wooden tower; 1844: Octagonal wooden tower.

Date Established: 1801

Date Present Tower Built: 1893

Tower Moved?
1907, 1922, 1960, 1987

Date Automated: 1943

Optics: 1857: Fourth order Fresnel lens; now 300 mm, solar powered.

Current Use: Active aid to navigation.

Open To Public? Grounds only, except through special tours.

Directions:
Cape Poge Light can be reached via a 3.5 mile hike from Chappaquiddick's Dike Bridge. To reach Chappaquiddick, take the "On Time" ferry from Edgartown (cars and passengers). The ferry runs continuously; crossing time is five minutes. After arriving at Chappaquiddick, follow Chappaquiddick Road into Dike Road until you reach the bridge. If you have a four wheel drive vehicle, you can drive to the lighthouse; call the Wasque Gatehouse at (508) 627-7260 for information. You can also take a tour to the lighthouse run by the Trustees of Reservations. The 1 1/4 hour tour leaves from the Dike Bridge at 10 am and 1 pm Monday through Friday in summer. Reservations are required; call (508) 627-3599.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places

Keepers: Thomas Mayhew (1801-1834); Lot [Lott?] Norton (1835-1844); Aaron Norton (1844-1850); Edward Worth (1850-1853); Daniel Smith (1853-1859); George Ripley Marchant (1859-1866); Edward Worth (1866-1882); George H. Fisher (1883-1898); George H. Dolby (1898-1902); Wallace Eldredge (1902-1908); J. E. Barrus (1908-1919); Henry L. Thomas (1919-1931); Marcus Pieffer (1931-1938); Joseph H. Dubois (1938-1943).