Chesapeake Lighthouses

The docent who talked to us about Chesapeake lighthouses says there are 4 left like the elevated octagons in the pictures.  The 2nd photo is of one that is still a working lighthouse located at Thomas Point near Annapolis.  The top photo is the Drum Point light that is now a museum in Solomons, MD.  The 3rd is the Hooper Strait light that is now a museum in St. Michaels, MD.  No photo yet, but we have visited it. I haven't found the 4th one, but the chase is on.  The top level of the house is for the light.  It only contains enough room for the light and a small walkway around it for service.  The 2nd level down contains a large bell and the apparatus used to operate it.  A manual hand lever gets the bell going if there is fog.  A counter weight like a grandfather clock's is used to keep the bell's clapper going for up to two hours.  There is a bedroom on this floor.  The 3rd floor from the top is the living quarters for the lighthouse keeper and his family.  The living area is roughly a 40' circle.  Some families were as large as 11 people.  The lower 4th level is open to the air and was used to store supplies and to house small farm animals - chickens, goats and a cow.  The lighthouse keeper and family remained on duty for a month at a time before given a short relief.

We are now near Galesville, MD hiding out waiting for a strong cold front to pass tonight.  We are expecting gale force winds so the name of the town is appropriate.  We are safely tucked into a cove up next to an island with tall trees to our west which should protect us from the strongest winds which will be from the west and northwest.

More later, the batteries need a charge.