Straitsmouth Island Lighthouse

A lighthouse
for
the
birds
The area around Cape Ann is a treacherous place indeed and a whole lot of ships have been lost over the centuries. So it is natural that a whole bunch of lighthouse would be built here.
The very first light on the small 2 acre Straithmouth Island was back in 1835 but was a poorly constructed pile of junk. It was rebuilt in 1851 but the fierce storms and wild winters soon took a toil on that one too.
So in 1896 the present 37 foot light was built and a small 6^th order Fresnel lens added. Over the decades all lighthouses were automated and many, like this one, declared redundant and were closed.
The little island ended up as private property until 1967 when the island and lighthouse was donated to the Audubon Society. It is now a bird and wildlife sanctuary and is off limits to humans.
The light and the few remaining buildings got hammered and damaged in the Oct. 1991 «perfect storm» but the little lighthouse preserved and survived. It can now be seen closely by kayak or from certain points in Rockport and the twin lights of Thatcher island can be seen from certainly angles.
Not a tall light and not an exceptionally old light. But it is a tough little guy that managed to survive everything that natural and man could throw at it.