1709
The need for a Navigation Light
Newport and Bristol had become major ports for ship owners in the Colonies and were harassed by the Point Judith shoals and Brenton reefs at the entrance of Narragansett Bay .
60 to 90 percent of the ships owned were slave ships generating enormous profits depositing human cargo along the tlantic coast. A nighttime navigation aid location on Beavertail Point was ideal for safe guidance. Its form was a wood fire.
1712
The first official request for a permanent navigational aid (a lighthouse) was recorded in the documents of the Newport Town Meeting.
Jamestown Proprietor Records Watch House Fire Beacon
Town Council of Jamestown on the 9th day of June 1712 ordered Gershom Remington to set and build at Beavertaile and have Indians watch the light.
Benedick Arnold was warranted to look after the watch and to see it faithfully kept.
May 12, 1740
Build a ‘Beken att Bever Tail’
LThe Jamestown Town Council voted and ordered that Abel Franklin
build a beken att Bever Tail Point and paid out of the town Treasurer.
1749
The First Lighthouse
In February, the following appeared in the Newport Town Record: “A committee was appointed to build a Lighthouse at Beavertail on the Island of Jamestown, alias Conanicut, as there appears a great necessity for a lighthouse as several misfortunes have happened lately for want of a light.” Construction of the first lighthouse, the third in the colonies, began in May and ended in September. Peter Harrison was the architect. The lighthouse was constructed of wood. The tower was 58 feet high to cornice with an 11-foot lantern on top. Abel Franklin was appointed the first keeper.
construction of the first Beavertail Tow
1753
Lighthouse Destroyed by Fire
The wooden lighthouse was rebuilt after a fire destroyed the original. Stones from Goat Island were used as building materials. The foundation is visible today 100 feet in front of the present light tower. Abel Franklin manned his post during construction, warning ships with a hand held lantern.
1778
British Burn Beavertail
British soldiers retreating from Newport burned the tower and removed the lighting equipment, leaving the beacon darkened for the rest of the Revolution.
Above is Pierre Ozanne’s drawing of French fleet off Newport in 1778 showing second Beavertail Lighthouse. John Bowers was the Keeper at this time. This sketch was found in Paris’s Louvre art museum
1783
Lighthouse Repaired
Repair of the lighthouse was completed. United States Congress established its authority over the nation’s twelve lighthouses. Not until 1793 did the Rhode Island General Assembly agree to transfer Beavertail Light to the Federal Government.
1817
The beacon was lit with manufactured gas for one year in an experiment conducted by Newport inventor David Melville. Despite the cleaner, brighter flame produced by gas, the backers of whale oil persuaded the Federal Government to end its support for this competing form of fuel.
1829
First Fog Bell in US
Beavertail was the first Lighthouse in America using a bell for a fog signal. Constructed in 1829 the 600 lb bell on top of a 12′ tower was located nearby the existing 1749 lighthouse foundation.
The remains of the 1829 fog bell foundation are still visible next to the present fog signal within the chain-link wire fence.
Complete with a wind-up drum mechanism inside the tower, a hammer struck the bell 10 times per minute when activated.
This model was built by Varoujan Karentz following specifications written in 1829 by Christ, Ellery ‘Collector, Superintendent of Light-Houses’
1851
Horse Driven Fog Signal
Model of horse-driven fog signal used Beavertail in 1851.
It was designed by David Daboll of New London CT. to operate his famous fog trumpet. The horse, walking the endless treadmill, compressed air into a tank, which in turn modulated the trumpet.
This model was made by Varoujan Karentz from Daboll sketches.
1890
Beavertail circa 1890
The 1856 Tower is show in this 1890’s photograph taken before the Assistant Keeper’s house was built. The Beavertail Fog Signal Building with it’s dual steam whistles is seen in the background.
1898
A dwelling was added to house an assistant keeper, who helped with fog signal duties. This house now serves as the Beavertail Lighthouse Museum.