The lights of Finns Point Rear Range in New Jersey and Fort Penn Range in Delaware were constructed in 1877 by order of Congress for the sum of $55,000 to guide ships moving from the Delaware Bay into the Delaware River.
The illuminating apparatus was a fourth-order range lens manufactured by Barbier & Fenestre in Paris, which focused the light from a fourth-order Funk Heap lamp with one wick. A weight, suspended from the lantern room, powered an eclipser that raised and lowered a cylindrical shade around the light to produce two seconds of light followed by one second of darkness. The keeper was required to wind the weight every six and a half hours to keep the eclipser functioning.
Finns Point was darkened in 1933, but was re-established the following season ,at the request of rover pilots, although automated beacons were installed so no new keepers were hired.
The Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Delaware River channel serviced by the Finns Point Range to a width of 180 feet and a depth of 40 feet in 1950. The range lights were deemed unnecessary as the Reedy Island Range to the south could now cover this wider section of the channel. Finns Point Range Lights were deactivated for good on March 22, 1950.
This lighthouse is located on Federal land. Thankfully it is now open to climb and adventure in. Bring the family, lunch and especially your camera for lots of picture taking. This area of NJ has so much to offer for a family day trip. Located at 197 Lighthouse Road, Pennsville, NJ.
The illuminating apparatus was a fourth-order range lens manufactured by Barbier & Fenestre in Paris, which focused the light from a fourth-order Funk Heap lamp with one wick. A weight, suspended from the lantern room, powered an eclipser that raised and lowered a cylindrical shade around the light to produce two seconds of light followed by one second of darkness. The keeper was required to wind the weight every six and a half hours to keep the eclipser functioning.
Finns Point was darkened in 1933, but was re-established the following season ,at the request of rover pilots, although automated beacons were installed so no new keepers were hired.
The Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Delaware River channel serviced by the Finns Point Range to a width of 180 feet and a depth of 40 feet in 1950. The range lights were deemed unnecessary as the Reedy Island Range to the south could now cover this wider section of the channel. Finns Point Range Lights were deactivated for good on March 22, 1950.
This lighthouse is located on Federal land. Thankfully it is now open to climb and adventure in. Bring the family, lunch and especially your camera for lots of picture taking. This area of NJ has so much to offer for a family day trip. Located at 197 Lighthouse Road, Pennsville, NJ.
