East Charity Shoal Light

East Charity Shoal Lighthouse

East Charity Shoal Lighthouse
Location In Lake Ontario, approximately 6 mi (9.7 km) SW of entrance to Saint Lawrence River off Tibbetts Point Light
Coordinates 44°2′12″N 76°28′54″W / 44.03667°N 76.48167°WCoordinates: 44°2′12″N 76°28′54″W / 44.03667°N 76.48167°W
Year first constructed 1877
Year first lit 1877
Foundation Concrete
Construction Cast iron
Tower shape Frustum of an octagon
Markings / pattern White with black lantern
Height 16 feet (4.9 m)
Focal height 52 feet (16 m)
Original lens Fifth-order fresnel lens
ARLHS number USA-970 [1]
USCG number 7-1760 [2]

East Charity Shoals Light is a lighthouse located in Lake Ontario, due South of the City of Kingston, Ontario near the entrance to the Saint Lawrence River[3][4] on the South East rim of a 3,300 feet (1,000 m) equicircular depression reputed to be the remnants of a meteorite impact, (similar in size and shape to the famous Barringer Crater in Arizona), called the "Charity Shoal Crater".[5][6] The tower originally served Vermilion Light Station in Ohio (1877–1929) but was removed after it was damaged in an ice storm. East Charity Shoals Light is not open to the public, but it is visible from Tibbetts Point Light on a clear day. The tower was formed from recast obsolescent cannon after the Battle of Fort Sumter in the American Civil War.[7]

On July 23, 2008, the Secretary of the Interior identified East Charity Shoal Light as surplus under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The property was described as "Established in 1935. 56 feet tall; property includes a rectangular, reinforced concrete pier built on a wooden crib foundation with protective riprap; and a single-story octagonal concrete deckhouse with a three-story cast iron white tower topped with a lantern and lantern gallery (painted black). Deckhouse stands 11.5 feet tall and is approx. 20 feet in diameter. The concrete pier measures 50 feet long on each side and rises to approx. 18 feet above level of Lake Ontario. Interior of light includes a basement and five stories."

Property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and must be maintained according to the Secretary of Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation. Historic covenants will be incorporated into the deed.

The easement states:

"1) An easement for the purpose of preserving an Arc of Visibility within the radial arc of 360 degrees with the stipulation that nothing will be constructed maintained or permitted of a height sufficient to interfere with or obstruct the Arc of Visibility of said light.
2) An easement for an unrestricted right of access for ingress and egress, to and across the Property to maintain, operate, service, repair, and replace equipment as necessary to support its ATON mission; and
3) The unrestricted right to relocate or add any aids to navigation or communications towers and equipment (along with necessary right of egress/ingress), or make any changes on any portion of the property as may be necessary for navigation/public safety purposes."[8]

In 2009, East Charity Shoal Light was put up for auction by the U.S. General Services Administration and was purchased for U.S. $25,501.00 by 'nylight' (Cyrena Nolan of Dallas, Texas) on August 27, 2009.[9][10]

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