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 Winter 2010 |
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publication of Beavertail Lighthouse Museum Association,
PO Box 83, Jamestown, RI 02835-0083 • Tel: (401)423-3270
E-mail: info@BeavertailLight.org
• Website: WWW.Beavertaillight.org
President Vice President Recording Secretary Membership Secretary Treasurer Shipwreck Historian
Jamestown, RI Conanicut Island 41° 26’ 58” N 71° 24’ 00” W (Bowditch) |
A Message from BLMA President, Richard Sullivan IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO THE Beavertail Light Station in January or February, you have missed a wonderful opportunity to experience the “off season”. Visitors are fewer, but no less enthusiastic then the summer crowd. Joggers, walkers, photographers and birders find pleasure in the seasonal assortment of waterfowl, shipping and ever changing patterns of waves and clouds. |
A IT IS NEVER TOO EARLY TO DREAM OF warmer weather. Beavertail Light- house Museum Association and The Conanicut Island Art Association have part- nered to plan a creative summer event. “Paint Beavertail Through the Artist’s Eye.” will be held June 24 — 27, 2010. |
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Beavertail’s Early Lights: Speculating, Dreaming and . . . Still Looking . . . | |
| We know that architect Peter Harrison (1716- 1775) designed both the first and second light towers at Beavertail. At this time, however, we don’t know nearly as much about these structures as we would like. We know less about the first tower, made of wood in 1749 and accidentally destroyed by fire in 1753, than we do about the second tower, made of brick and stone, and lasting from 1754 until 1856 when it was replaced by the current, granite tower. We think there may be more images available – probably of the second tower, and we are intent on finding any images and information that we can – of and about either tower. Our search begins with questions: What did that first tower look like? Did Harrsion have a specific lighthouse on which he modeled Newport Light? What did the people who saw the tower think of it? Was it beautiful? Did it inspire? We want to know if Harrison designed it with the same assiduous care expressed in his masterpieces, like the Redwood  Library, or Newport’s Market building, or the Touro Synogogue. Or, did he design the tower as simply a functional lantern house? We think that applying what we know about Harrison’s life and work, as well as looking at lighthouses with which he was no doubt fa- miliar, can provide us insights into the design possibilities of the first tower.Wayne Craven, author of American Art and Cu- ture, notes that Harrison was an excellent example of the ‘gentleman-amateur architect’, who, whether born in England or in the colonies prior to the Revolution- ary War, considered himself English. Craven notes that architectural trends in Britain in the early 1700s had turned away from the Wren-Baroque style to the architectural design of Inigo Jones (1573-1652) and Andrea Palladio (1508-80). Harrison’s renowned collection of books included works by and about these designers. This new spirit of design, which emerged during the reign of King George I (reigned 1714-1727), filtered through to the American colonies around 1740, leading to a golden age of Georgian splendor in the 1760s.” (p. 81.) Harrison’s edifices reflect this understated grandeur. This brings up another question: Was this new British style trend - classical with strong influences of Palladianism-displayed in the design of lighthouses? Did Harrison’s tower indi- cate any of these elements? Those familiar with Harrison’s fate know that few, if any, of his drawings can be consulted. All the drawings Harrison brought with him in 1768 to his home and customs office in New Haven, Connecticut were, along with his architectural books, either burned, scattered, or completely destroyed by a mob of patriots two weeks after his death in June of 1775. This terri- ble loss presents a tragedy for anyone researching the life’s work of Harrison, and certainly to BLMA in its study of the early history of Beavertail Lighthouse. Surely, someone, perhaps a person aware of the genius of Harrison’s design of the Redwood Library, completed in 1750, drew a picture of the brand new Newport Light when it was completed in 1749? The hunt for any verifiable image of our lighthouse might start with the stone foundation that remains at Beavertail. The BLMA’s 2008-9 study indicates an octogonal shape to the tower foundation, stimulating speculation that either of the towers might have been octagonal in shape as well. Interestingly, a wooden, octagonal spire is what formed the first Eddystone Lighthouse, made of wood and lit in 1698 on a famously treacherous reef 15 miles southwest of the port of Plymouth, England. The first Eddystone Light was designed by famed engineer Henry Winstanley, and like Beavertail’s first tower, lasted only several years. Even though Eddystone I was lost in 1703, thirteen years before Harrison was born in York, England, Harrison might have studied its design when drawing his plans for Beavertail’s first tower. | Interestingly, the second tower of the Eddystone Light, built by John Rudyard, was conical in shape, its core made of brick and stone, its façade constructed of wooden timbers. Like Harrison’s second tower, Eddystone II lasted much longer than its predecessor. Lit in 1709, it was heavily damaged in a lantern fire in 1755, while Harrison’s brick and stone tower lasted 102 years. There are several depictions of Harrison’s second tower, and those show a conical shape. The picture here is taken from a 1796 engraving used as part of the seal of the Providence Marine Society established in 1798. Shown also on page 11 of Sarah Gleason’s Kindly Lights, this depiction clearly shows a coni- cal tower. We can trust that this tower was, in its hey day, very handsome. Carl Bridenbaugh, in Peter Harrison, First American Architect, reports that Britain’s Reverend Andrew Burnaby, visiting Newport around 1760, noted a few buildings of outstanding design (all Harrison’s designs!), wrote, “At the entrance of the harbour is likewise an exceeding good light- house.” (Bridenbaugh, 110) Millar, who attributes several other Newport buildings to Harrison, including the Malbone house, dispels Bridenbaugh’s naming of Harrison as the colonies’ first archi- tect” in favor of Pennsylvania’s James Porteous (1660-1737). Millar states nevertheless that “Harrison’s only flaw was that he a Tory”. Millar speculates that it was fortunate Harrison died before the Revolution, because “Harrison would have been torn between fighting for his King and for the country where he had poured out so much of himself.”(p. 171) Millar calls the burning of Harrison’s books and drawings “a shameful act by a mob of so-called patriots an act of violence that did not advance the cause of the Revolution. He further surmises that if Thomas Jefferson had known about Harrison’s work and what was in store for it, “he would have taken drastic action to save the books and the drawings.” Jefferson believed himself the first in the new nation to experiment with the classical architectural design infused with Palladianism. This became the national style for a time, because of Jefferson’s great influence. As Millar says, “If Jefferson had only known.” We can dream about Jefferson stepping in to save Harrison’s drawings, especially those of the first two towers at Beavertail Point, but we can’t tarry too long with dreams and speculation. Possible pictures of earlier towers may well exist. They may be held in storage - in private hands, perhaps, possibly in places far beyond Rhode Island, or perhaps very near to us. If you know where any depiction of either or both of Beavertail’s first two towers exist, please notify us. References: Craven, Wayne, American Art: History and Culture, McGraw- Hill, New York, 1994 Millar, John Fitzhugh, The Architects of the American Colonies, or Vitruvius Americanus, 1968, Barre Publishers, Massachusetts. Bridenbaugh, Carl, Peter Harrison, America’s First Architect, 1948 Gleason, Sarah, Kindly Lights, 1991, Beacon Press, Boston, 1991 |
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2010 Restoration and Maintenance Activities Oil Storage Shed |
Fund Raising Activities A very good initial response from the membership In the summer of 2009 BLMA launched a fund raising campaign with a goal of raising $150,000. At years end we achieved close to 50% of our goal. A very good initial response was received from the membership. Benefactor levels of giving included eleven donors who contributed $1,000 to $4,999; six donors who gave between $5000 to $9999, and 2 individuals who gave $10,000 or more. |
| THE SPOTLIGHT SHINES ON ... A position of increasing responsibility within the  BLMA organization is that of Webmaster. The latest additions to our website, www.beavertaillight.org, relating to the fund raising drive and online gift shop, have been only possible due to the “behind the scenes” work of David Auld.The son of long time BLMA members Anna and the late Charlie Auld, David has been on the job since setting up the site some 10 years ago. For many years, David balanced the cerebral tasks of web work while competing nationally and internationally in Street Luge. A serious accident in 2007 led to his retirement from the sport. These days, he enjoys hiking and airboarding. David is employed by Pepsi and is part of a partnership with Starbucks making ready to drink coffee. Thank you, David, for all your efforts. - RES |
“Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow”
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| Lighthouses are rapidly disappearing all around the world, and with them goes an invaluable link to our past. Your membership will help a great deal to keep Beavertail Lighthouse, the third oldest in the United States, from following that sad pathway. Please talk to your friends, neighbors, and family members and urge them to join all of us who are thoroughly convinced that Beavertail Lighthouse is most worthy of our efforts to save it. Thank you in advance for sharing this membership application! |
BMLA is dedicated to the preservation of America’s third oldest light, providing educational experiences reflecting the best current thinking for all learners and engaging in fund raising activities necessary for enhancing visitor experiences. |
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Mark your calendars and save these dates . . . |
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Beavertail State Park will be the site of the 2nd Annual “Great Outdoors Pursuit — No Child Left Indoors” June 13,2010. An exciting family day is being planned by DEM with some fun BLMA activities. |
BLMA & CIAA Collaboration
The exhibits within the building will include source stories and images of early lights, fuels such as lard oil, whale oil, kerosene, pressurized burners, wicks and the series of illuminated lenses, Fresnel, dioptics, beacon and shrouded and rotated optics over the Beavertail’s 260 year operational period.
greatest concern being from the reduction in visibility which, for a mariner at sea in the early years of the 20th century, caused more than one marine disaster. The story of three coastal barges sailing northward with coal on a cold December day in 1917 provides an excellent example.
