Submitted by Gerry Clare
Roving Reporter
When the U S Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 070-14-01 hosted the winter meeting of The Florida Lighthouse Association here in Fernandina Beach on January 24th and 25th, there was a record turnout of 145 attendees. The event started at the Fernandina Beach Recreation Center and finished with a trolley ride and tour of the Amelia Island Lighthouse. In attendance was a 91 year old man, who had been to our lighthouse nearly 40 years ago to the day, and climbed the 70 steps with other attendees. Also attending and recognized was Coast Guard Curator Arlyn Danielson.
What you might not know is that our lighthouse actually was built in 1820 on Cumberland Island, was dismantled and reconstructed on a more visible location on Amelia Island in 1839. It is 67 feet high, constructed on a 60 foot high bluff, the farthest inland of all lighthouses in Florida and most of the East Coast. The Lens is a rare Third Order Fresnel lens, operating since 1903. In 1933 the light was electrified and eliminated the lighthouse keeper’s task of carrying buckets of oil up 70 steps to the lantern. In 1939 the US Coast Guard took over the responsibility of the lighthouse. The light was automated in 1970, eliminating the need for lighthouse keepers.
The first lighthouse keepers worked for the US Lighthouse Service with Amos Latham being the first for our lighthouse in 1838. Thomas Patrick O’Hagan and Thomas John O’Hagan were keepers from 1905 to 1954 the last civilian keepers under the old US Lighthouse Service. Otho Brown (USCG) was the last to serve in the post.
The Coast Guard transferred the lighthouse to the city of Fernandina Beach in 2001 and maintains the beacon assisted by our Coast Guard Auxiliary members (Tom Pippin, Chris and Sharon Belcher, Helen O’Hagan Sintes, Sam Boyd, Ron Kosciulek, and Richard and Marie Billings are also members of the Florida Lighthouse Association). Jerry Neal, also with the Auxiliary, gave a talk to the group and highlighted some of the above facts. He is also heads up one of four teams that check regularly and keep the lens clean as needed. The Auxiliary is currently headed up by Commander Scott Pyatte and is very active in our community conducting boat safety courses and education.
For further information or a tour contact the City of Fernandina Beach Parks and Recreation Department at 904-277-7350. For more information about the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14-01, contact Scott Pyatte at 678-523-3374 or any Flotilla member.
Editor’s Note: Gerry began free lance writing for fun and is the author of a published book (available on Amazon and at Books Plus) about funny real estate experiences. Gerry is a longtime member of our local American Business Women’s Chapter, a volunteer cancer driver and church deacon who loves to read, travel and meet interesting people.
February 5, 2014 7:22 a.m.
I wonder if the attendees noticed the beacon is not turning as it is supposed to, or that the grass has not been cut in over a month. The lighthouse property is the least cared for “park” in the city…and probably visited more than most other parks.
I am aware that the devoted members of the Lighthouse Auxiliary have spent many hours trying to solve what appears to be a complicated problem. As someone who lives on the road to the lighthouse, I would disagree with your statement that the property is the least cared for. Judging from the cars that pass my way with Auxiliary members, I beg to differ. It is one of the most cared for parks in the City.