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The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse is a lighthouse located in North Wildwood, New Jersey, situated on the southwestern shore of Hereford Inlet. The 50-foot (15 m) tower and its beacon are visible for up to 13 nautical miles (24 km). The inlet had sunk many ships before, so the United States Lifesaving Service built a small station there in 1849, which was destroyed in favor of this 1874 lighthouse. John Marche served as the first lighthouse keeper forless than three monnths before drowning off the coast. Not much else is known about him, and some people say he haunts the lighthouse. The next keeper, Freeling "Captain" Hewitt, an American Civil War veteran, served that position for the longest time -- 45 years. It closed in 1913 due to a storm but was reopened in 1914, after it had been moved 150 feet (50 m) west. The light was decommissioned in 1964 after a more modern navigational aid was installed nearby. Now owned by the town of North Wildwood, it has reopened to public tours of the light and its extensive gardens.
[edit] Chronology from Coast Guard site
- 1872, 10 June: Congress acted to finance a fourth order light along the New Jersey shoreline.
- 1873, 7 July: Humphrey S. Cresse sold the 1.5 acre site to the US government for $150.
- 1874, 16 April: The US Army Corps of Engineers completed construction of the lighthouse.
- 1874, 11 May: A "Notice to Mariners" announced the operation of the light on the North end of Five Mile Beach.
- 1913, August: A severe storm damaged the foundation of the lighthouse. The lighthouse was moved 150 feet westward where it stands today.
- 1938, May: A fire caused extensive damage to the lighthouse.
- 1963: The lighthouse property was transferred to the New Jersey Marine Police.
- 1964: An automatic light tower was built to replace the lighthouse.
- 1977, 20 September: The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historical Places after restoration by the city.
- 1982: A 20 year no-cost lease to the City of North Wildwood from the Department of Environmental Protection was established.
- 1983, 1 July: A portion of the restored lighthouse was used as a tourist information center.
- 1986, April: The US Coast Guard relit the lighthouse using the beacon from the automatic light tower.
- 2002: The lighthouse is open during the summer for tours.
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