Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse - Maryland Lighthouses

Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse
(Eastern Chesapeake Bay, Off of Kent Island, Maryland)

The Bloody Point Bar Lighthouse is located off the tip of Kent Island in the eastern Chesapeake Bay. Although where it is located the water is only eight feet deep, it sits beside one of the deepest channels in the bay where water depths reach 174 feet.

A recommendation for a lighthouse was submitted in 1868 but was not approved by Congress until 1881 when an appropriation of $25,000 was granted. Construction began in June 1882 and was completed and commissioned on October 1, 1882.

The lighthouse is a caisson design. The caisson is 30 feet in diameter and 30 feet high. On top of the caisson base is a 40-foot cylindrical iron tower. The light has a focal plane of 54 feet and contained a 4th-order Fresnel lens. The light characteristic is flashing white at six-second intervals with two red sectors at 003 to 022 degrees and 183 to 202 degrees.

Problems with the light began in 1883 when the caisson and tower started to tilt to on side. It was determined that severe weather had resulted in the scouring the sand from one side causing it to lean. Stone was placed on that side but was not effective in correcting the problem and soon disappeared. The following year additional steps were taken to fill the evacuation and although the tower was not made totally vertical it was brought about half way back towards vertical. Heavy brush mattresses were placed around the lighthouse extending out about 30 feet, filled with small stone, and then 760 tons of large stone was placed around the lighthouse.

The light was manned until 1960 when a fire and explosion severe internal damage. At the time of the fire two U. S. Coast Guard men, Engineman Mark Mighall (age 19) and Seaman Haywood Savage (age 20) fought the fire as best that they could. The fire beginning in the equipment room continued to spread to the living quarters and storage room. When it was determined that the fire was headed for the 500 gallon gas tank and the men would not be able to stop it, they abandoned the lighthouse tower in the boat. Their escape was just in time as the tanks exploded.

Additional Coast Guard boast fought the fire for several hours, but the fire had consumed the wooden frame interior. After the fire the remaining interior, including the floors, were removed leaving only a vertical steel ladder to the lantern room. A 300 MM, solar powered light was installed and the lighthouse became automated.

Directions: Being out in the Chesapeake Bay, the Baltimore Light is best viewed by boat. A lighthouse cruise that departs from Tilghman Island goes by the light. A view from land might be possible from Kent Point on Kent Island.

Copyright (c) 2000 Rick Totton.