Misplaced Pages

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77-620: In 1853, a report was filed by Lieutenant A. M. Pennock working for the United States Lighthouse Board . His survey mentioned that "a small light should be placed on Drum Point, inside of the Patuxent River." During storms, vessels would shelter there and several vessels had "brought up on the spit." On August 3, 1854, following that report, $ 5,000 funds were appropriated by Congress to build "a light-house on Drum Point, entrance of Patuxent River.". However, it

154-712: A pit latrine ("long drop"). However, in British English "outhouse" means any outbuilding, such as a shed or barn. In Australia and parts of Canada an outdoor toilet is known as a "dunny". "Privy", an archaic variant of "private", is used in North America, Scotland, and northern England. "Bog" is common throughout Britain (used to coin the neologism " tree bog ") and is also used informally in Britain, as well as Canada and Australia to refer to any toilet. The name "little house" (as tŷ bach ) continues as

231-415: A "pack it in, pack it out" rule. Many reports document the use of containers for the removal of excrement, which must be packed in and packed out on Mount Everest . Also known as "expedition barrels" or "bog barrels", the cans are weighed to make sure that groups do not dump them along the way. "Toilet tents" are erected. There has been an increasing awareness that the mountain needs to be kept clean, for

308-733: A euphemism for any toilet in both the Welsh language and the Welsh English dialect . Other terms include "back house", "house of ease", and "house of office". The last was common in 17th-century England and appeared in Samuel Pepys 's Diary on numerous occasions. A regional name for an outhouse in North America used especially in Virginia is "johnnyhouse" or "johnny house". In the Scouting Movement in North America,

385-548: A hole drilled through it to allow easy hanging on a nail, was popular. Paper was often kept in a can or other container to protect it from mice, etc. The catalogs served a dual purpose, also giving one something to read. Outdoor toilets are referred to by many terms throughout the English-speaking world. The term "outhouse" is used in North American English for the structure over a toilet, usually

462-531: A hole in it, above a small pit. Others, often in more rural, older areas in European countries, simply have a hole with two indents on either side for the user's feet. In Eastern societies, there is a hole in the floor, over which the user crouches. A roll of toilet paper is usually available. Old corn cob , leaves, or other types of paper may instead be used. The decoration on the outhouse door has no standard. The well-known crescent moon on American outhouses

539-917: A junior officer of the Navy to act as Secretary to said board, whose duty it shall be under instructions from the Treasury Department to inquire into the condition of the Lighthouse Establishment of the United States, and make a general detailed report and programme to guide legislation in extending and improving our present system of construction, illumination, inspection, and superintendence. The Lighthouse Board resulted from this mandate, and its original members consisted of William B. Shubrick , and Samuel F. Du Pont , U.S. Navy; James Kearney, U.S. Topographical Engineers; civilian academics Alexander Dallas Bache , Superintendent of

616-551: A keeper at Drum Point was lonely and monotonous. It involved painting, cleaning and general upkeep. A keeper admitted he used the lower gallery walkway to run around as a way to break the monotony while another one, William Yeatman, who lived with his wife and daughter would salute all passing boats with three rings of the bell. Fortunately, the Drum Point Lighthouse was located only two nautical miles from Solomons for supplies. Some keepers planted vegetable gardens on

693-498: A thousand year old Viking outhouse were discovered in 2017. This is the oldest known outhouse in the country, even though evidence cannot establish it to be "the first". This discovery was considered to be culturally significant. Outhouses are typically built on one level, but two-story models are to be found in unusual circumstances. One double-decker was built to serve a two-story building in Cedar Lake, Michigan . The outhouse

770-546: A toilet tent (e.g. in humanitarian relief operations), or even be installed inside a house that is beyond the reach of sewers. The Swedish Pacto toilet uses a continuous roll of plastic to collect and dispose of waste. Incinerating toilets are installed in several thousand cabins in Norway . These toilets incinerate waste into ashes, using only propane and 12 volt battery electricity. Outhouse design, placement, and maintenance has long been recognized as being important to

847-399: A toilet, particularly an outhouse. For other uses of the word, see Dunny (disambiguation) . In suburban areas not connected to the sewerage, outhouses were not always built over pits. Instead, these areas utilized a pail closet , where waste was collected into large cans positioned under the toilet seat, to be collected by contractors (or night soil collectors) hired by property owners or

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924-459: A trove of common objects from the past—a veritable inadvertent time capsule—which yields historical insight into the lives of the bygone occupants. This is also called privy digging . It is especially common to find old bottles, which seemingly were secretly stashed or trashed, so their content could be privately imbibed. Fossilised feces ( coprolites ) yield much information about diet and health. "Dunny" or "dunny can" are Australian words for

1001-400: A visual screen and some protection from the elements. The outhouse also has the secondary role of protecting the toilet hole from sudden influxes of rainwater, which would flood the hole and flush untreated wastes into the underlying soils before they can decompose. Outhouses are commonly humble and utilitarian, made of lumber or plywood . This is especially so they can easily be moved when

1078-403: A wide variety of shapes and placements employed. The shelter may cover very different sorts of toilets. An outhouse often provides the shelter for a pit latrine , which collects human feces in a hole in the ground. When properly built and maintained they can decrease the spread of disease by reducing the amount of human feces in the environment from open defecation . When the pit fills to

1155-423: A widespread term for outhouse is "kybo". This appears to have originated from camps which used Kybo brand coffee cans to hold lye or lime which was sprinkled down the hole to reduce odor. "Keep Your Bowels Open" may be a backronym . Temporary encampments may use a tent or tarpaulin over a shallow pit; one name for this is a " hudo ", acronym of "Houd uw darmen open" (Dutch for "Keep Your Bowels Open"). In Poland

1232-679: Is a small structure, separate from a main building, which covers a toilet . This is typically either a pit latrine or a bucket toilet , but other forms of dry (non-flushing) toilets may be encountered. The term may also be used to denote the toilet itself, not just the structure. Outhouses were in use in cities of developed countries (e.g. Australia) well into the second half of the twentieth century. They are still common in rural areas and also in cities of developing countries . Outhouses that are covering pit latrines in densely populated areas can cause groundwater pollution . Outhouses vary in design and construction. They are by definition outside

1309-509: Is said that a woman could uncover the future by going to the outhouse to ask Tsi-Ku. See toilet god . Construction and maintenance of outhouses in the US is subject to state and local governmental restriction, regulation and prohibition. It is potentially both a public health issue, which has been addressed both by law and by education of the public as to good methods and practices ( e.g. , separation from drinking water sources). This also becomes

1386-633: Is stands today. The restoration was aided by funds from the National Park Service and the Maryland Historical Trust for the exterior and the structure. The interior was completely restored using period furniture under the advisory of Anna Weems Ewalt born in 1906 in the cottage. Along with a team of friends and volunteers, she went throughout the region looking for authentic furniture, often donated by Calvert County residents. She donated her grandmother's China set that

1463-404: Is the bucket toilet , consisting of a seat and a portable receptacle (bucket or pail). These may be emptied by their owners into composting piles in the garden (a low-tech composting toilet ), or collected by contractors for larger-scale disposal. Historically, this was known as the pail closet ; the municipality employed workers, often known as "nightmen" (from night soil ), to empty and replace

1540-613: The U.S. federal government , under the Department of Treasury , responsible for the construction and maintenance of all lighthouses and navigation aids in the United States , between 1852 and 1910. The new agency was created following complaints of the shipping industry of the previous administration of lighthouses under the Treasury's Lighthouse Establishment , which had had jurisdiction since 1791, and since 1820, been under

1617-439: The simile " built like a brick shithouse ." That phrase's meaning and application is subject to some debate; but (depending upon the country) it has been applied to men, women, or inanimate objects. With regards to anal cleansing , old newspapers and mail order catalogs, such as those from Montgomery Ward or Sears Roebuck , were common before toilet paper was widely available. The Old Farmer's Almanac , manufactured with

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1694-534: The "smallness of the appropriation" decided to build a lighthouse as originally planned in 1854. A 5-acre (2.0 ha) offshore lot was obtained. A screw-pile lighthouse design was selected by the Board. Work started on July 17, 1883. The ten-inch-diameter, wrought-iron piles were made by the Allentown Rolling Mills out of Philadelphia and fitted with three foot wide auger flanges. Once on-site,

1771-492: The 1970s. After 79 years of service, the light was decommissioned on September 6, 1962. It was replaced first by a lighted buoy, and latter by a fixed offshore light. Unlike other such conversions, however, the house was not torn down but simply abandoned. The Station was turned over to the State of Maryland . It was left abandoned for the elements and vandals to damage it further. The State had plans to restore it and open access to

1848-647: The American coasts. During that time, congressional appointee, Lt. Jenkins of the United States Coast Survey conducted interviews with pilots and mariners, engaged in domestic and foreign research, and was involved in a number of hearings into existing navigational aids administration. On March 3, 1851, the United States Congress passed "An Act Making Appropriations for Light House, Light Boats, Buoys, &c." Section 8 of

1925-599: The Lighthouse Service was merged into the United States Coast Guard in 1939. By 1847, the United States Congress became serious about reforming the Lighthouse Establishment which had been in existence since 1791 and in response to a number of complaints, the U.S. Congress removed the responsibility for the construction of six new light stations from the U.S. Treasury Department's Fifth Auditor ( Stephen Pleasonton ), and transferred it to

2002-697: The State and Federal bureaucracy. It was added to the National Register of Historical Places on April 11, 1973, in order to protect it. In 1974, the Society was informed that it could have the Drum Point Lighthouse but the land underneath it. With the help of the Calvert County Government, the property was transferred on December 10, 1974. By than, extensive damage had been done. It had been set on fire, an attempt had been made to steal

2079-536: The U.S. Coast Survey, and Joseph Henry , Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution ; and Lt. Thornton Jenkins, U.S. Navy, who acted as secretary. These men attracted others of similar quality to lighthouse duty, both on the board and in district offices. The country was organized into 12 lighthouse districts, each having an inspector (a naval officer) who was charged with building the lighthouses and seeing that they remained in good condition and that

2156-470: The U.S. Lighthouse Service only replaced the bristles on paint brushes and handles had to be reused while old rags and the brass bases of light bulbs had to be exchanged in order to receive replacements. A telephone was requested in 1919 by the keeper. After much correspondence and the keeper even offering to pay for it out of his own money, the Service allowed a telephone to be installed in 1923. However, it

2233-453: The act stated: The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and required to cause a board to be convened at as early a day as may be practical after the passage of that act to be comprised of two officers of the Navy of high rank, two officers of Engineers of the Army, and such civil officers of scientific attainments as may be under the orders or at the disposition of the Treasury Department, and

2310-519: The back fence, so that the pan could be collected from the dunny lane through a trap-door". The person who appeared weekly to empty the buckets beneath the seats was known as the "dunnyman", see gong farmer . The "dunny lanes" provided access to collectors. These access lanes can now be worth considerable sums see Ransom strip . The Great Australian Dunny Race has become an icon during the Weerama Festival at Werribee . The remains of

2387-470: The bell, the brass lens stand had been stolen and doors had been ripped from their hinges. With a $ 25,000 grant from the State of Maryland, a contract was signed to move the lighthouse in one piece 2 nautical miles upriver to a new waterfront location accessible to the public at the Calvert Marine Museum which had opened in 1970. The B.F. Diamond Construction Company from Savannah, Georgia

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2464-522: The buckets. This system was associated in particular with the English town of Rochdale , to the extent that it was described as the "Rochdale System" of sanitation . 20th century books report that similar systems were in operation in parts of France and elsewhere in continental Europe. The system of municipal collection was widespread in Australia; "dunny cans" persisted well into the second half of

2541-668: The construction of the first lighthouses on the west coast. By the time of the Civil War, all lighthouses had Fresnel lenses. Previously, under the Establishment, the local collectors of customs were in charge of the lighthouses and other aids to navigation. In time, all duties regarding aids to navigation were taken from them. The Board demanded that only those who could read were to be appointed as keepers in order that they be able to read their written instructions. These instructions were detailed and covered everything possible about

2618-506: The control of Stephen Pleasonton . The quasi-military board first met on April 28, 1851, and with its establishment, the administration of lighthouses and other aids to navigation would take their largest leap toward modernization since the inception of federal government control. In 1910, the Lighthouse Board was disestablished in favor of a more civilian Lighthouse Service , under the Department of Commerce and Labor ; later

2695-511: The cottage. If this was insufficient, more water could be had by walking to the Barreda House on a hill, one mile inland using buckets. Clothes were washed in saltwater. The risk of fire was extremely high due to the structure being made primarily of wood and the presence of a large quantity of oil used for the lighting of the lamps, cooking and heating. In 1932, the oil lamp was changed to an Incandescent Oil Vapor (I.O.V.) lamp to increase

2772-417: The dwelling, and are not connected to plumbing , sewer , or septic system . The World Health Organization recommends they be built a reasonable distance from the house balancing issues of easy access versus that of smell. The superstructure exists to shelter the user, and also to protect the toilet itself. The primary purpose of the building is for privacy and human comfort, and the walls and roof provide

2849-465: The earthen pit fills up. Depending on the size of the pit and the amount of use, this can be fairly frequent, sometimes yearly. As pundit "Jackpine" Bob Cary wrote: "Anyone can build an outhouse, but not everyone can build a good outhouse." Floor plans typically are rectangular or square, but hexagonal outhouses have been built. The arrangements inside the outhouse vary by culture. In Western societies, many, though not all, have at least one seat with

2926-533: The health of the climbers at least. Worm hold privies, another variant of the composting toilet, are being used by Vermont's Green Mountain Club . These simple outhouses are stocked with red worms (a staple used by home composters). Composting toilets are also subject to regulations. The " Clivus Multrum " is another type of composting toilet which can be inside of an outhouse. There are other types of toilet that may be covered by an outhouse superstructure, or

3003-453: The increased volume of people engaged in activities such as mountaineering and kayaking. The growing popularity of paddling , hiking , and climbing has created special waste disposal issues throughout the world. It is a dominant topic for outdoor organizations and their members. For example, in some places the human waste is collected in drums which need to be helicoptered in and out at considerable expense. Alternatively, some parks mandate

3080-406: The lens was in operation. After a few years the inspectors became overloaded with work and an engineer (an army officer) was appointed to each district to tend to the construction and maintenance of lighthouses. The Lighthouse Board moved quickly in applying new technology, particularly in purchasing and installing new Fresnel lenses and constructing screw-pile lighthouses . The Board also oversaw

3157-441: The light and sometimes crashed in the glass storm panels. This was even more a problem during spring and fall migrations and extra panes of glass were stored in the lighthouse to replace damaged panes. The light was converted to electricity in 1944. This made life easier for the keeper but also would lead to the disappearance of the keeper as it did not need supervision overnight to make sure it stayed on. The U.S. Lighthouse Service

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3234-424: The light for the first time. Lightkeepers were provided with a copy of Instructions to Light-Keepers as well as other publications. The Instructions provided detailed instructions on how to operate the lighthouse as well as what was allowed to be had in the lighthouse. It declared that"articles known as luxurious are forbidden to be provided." According to John Hanson, Drum Point lightkeeper between 1942 and 1960,

3311-437: The local council. The used cans were replaced with empty, cleaned cans. Brisbane relied on "dunny carts" until the 1950s; because the population was so dispersed, it was difficult to install sewerage. Tar, creosote, and disinfectant kept the smell down. Academic George Seddon claimed that "the typical Australian back yard in the cities and country towns" had, throughout the first half of the twentieth century, "a dunny against

3388-404: The main floor, it was divided in four rooms of roughly the same size: For ventilation and light, two doors and six windows opened outward on a gallery surrounding the structure from which two iron ladders went down to the water's edge. A central spiral staircase near the sitting room allowed access to the second floor where were located: A flight of stairs led to the lantern room where the lens

3465-467: The nation's waterways. Iron buoys were introduced to replace the more expensive copper-clad wooden buoys. The Lighthouse Board also began printing changes made in aids to navigation as a Notice to Mariners . Several advances in the technology of fog signals were made during the 1850s. In 1851, an experimental air fog whistle and reed horn was installed at Beavertail Lighthouse at the entrance to Narragansett Bay , Rhode Island . At first this sound signal

3542-508: The nearby point and at least one keeper kept chickens for eggs. Keepers sometimes had families. Wives and children lived in the station. Wives acted as assistant keeper and were not paid by the Service, saving on cost according to the report of a District Inspector. Two children were born at the lighthouse. Anna Weems Ewalt in July 1906 and Everett Yeatman around 1918. Two children died at the lighthouse and their caskets were lowered into boats from

3619-467: The next five decades several advances in lighthouse construction technology took place including the development of the exposed screwpile lighthouses, exoskeleton lighthouses, waveswept interlocking stone lighthouses, iron caisson lighthouses, and breakwater lighthouses. In the 1850s the Board prescribed color schemes for the buoys, as well as range lights and day markers; and the buoy system was standardized. Classification systems were also developed to mark

3696-585: The operation of lighthouses, leaving little discretion to the keeper. The Board struggled to eliminate politics from its activities, and slowly the organization became a professional career agency, helped greatly by the Civil Service Reform Acts of 1871 and 1883. Keepers became civil service employees in 1896. Most important, the Board was constantly mindful of advancing technology and took advantage of new types of lighthouses, buoys, or fog signals, as well as improvement in lighthouse optics. Over

3773-574: The outhouse (usually after but sometimes both) a scoop or two of lime is sprinkled into the lid holes to cover the waste as to suppress the odor which also can help with the insect issues. This method of using powdered lime is also used (and for the same reasons) in common/mass graves. One of the purposes of outhouses is to avoid spreading parasites such as intestinal worms , notably hookworms , which might otherwise be spread via open defecation . Old outhouse pits are seen as excellent places for archeological and anthropological excavations , offering up

3850-409: The piles started using torches. It was discovered that the piles were made of solid steel and not hollow as previously thought. This further delayed the move as it took two days to cut through the metal forcing the barge and tug boat to go back to Solomons for the night. They returned the next day. With the use of a barge with a steam-operated crane, a square structure made of I-beams spreading cables

3927-430: The power and range. It was later converted to electricity. Storms were also another source of danger. Unlike many such lights, Drum Point escaped ice damage. However, it was reported on August 23, 1933, that the seas were "at least 15 feet high", flooding all the rooms on the lower deck, leading to significant damage and sinking the lighthouse's small boat. Birds were an issue as at other lighthouses. They were attracted to

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4004-618: The public health. See posters created by the Works Progress Administration during the 1930s and early 1940s. Some types of flying insects such as the housefly are attracted to the odor of decaying material, and will use it for food for their offspring, laying eggs in the decaying material. Other insects such as mosquitoes seek out standing water that may be present in the pit for the breeding of their offspring. Both of these are undesirable pests to humans, but can be easily controlled without chemicals by enclosing

4081-585: The public. However, while the structure was the property of the State, the land needed to access it was still owed the General Services Administration (GSA) who administered it on behalf of the Federal Government. In addition, the access property was blocked by several miles of private property. The Calvert County Historical Society attempted to acquire the light as early as 1966 as a special project but had to navigate

4158-431: The seven piles were hand-bored into the bottom of the river. This part of the operations was completed by July 24, 1883. The house or "cottage" itself was then assembled. It had six sides, stood one and a half story. Made of wood it had mortised and tenoned joints. To protect it from the elements, it was sheathed with weatherboards. The exterior walls were painted white while the metal roof and pilings were painted red. On

4235-412: The station and taken to Solomons wharf. At the turn of the 20th century, a small bridge was constructed from the light to the shore (as visible in the pictures below), allowing the keeper's family to live with him in the light. [REDACTED] Media related to Drum Point Light at Wikimedia Commons United States Lighthouse Board The United States Lighthouse Board was the second agency of

4312-520: The statue, under the Lighthouse Board's care from 1886 to 1902, marks the beginning of the "modern age" in lighthouse illumination. In 1900, the Lighthouse Board began converting lighthouses to electric service; however, because of the lack of direct access to power lines, the conversion came about slowly. This article contains information created by the US Federal Government and is in the public domain . Outhouse An outhouse

4389-548: The supervision of the United States Army 's, long-time construction agency, the Corps of Engineers . When it became clear that this would not alleviate the underlying problems in the Lighthouse Establishment, Congress then felt compelled to deal the final blow to Pleasonton's administration. The ensuing congressional investigation took more than four years to effect a change in the administration of navigation aids along

4466-551: The time and the place. For example, an opulent 19th century antebellum example (a three-holer) is at the plantation area at the state park in Stone Mountain, Georgia . The outhouses of Colonial Williamsburg varied widely, from simple expendable temporary wood structures to high-style brick. Thomas Jefferson designed and had built two brick octagons at his vacation home. Such outhouses are sometimes considered to be overbuilt, impractical and ostentatious, giving rise to

4543-509: The top of the pit with tight-fitting boards or concrete , using a sufficiently sealed toilet hole cover that is closed after every use, and by using fine-grid insect screen to cover the inlet and outlet vent holes. This prevents flying insect entry by all potential routes. It is common (at least in the United States) for outhouses to have a bucket or a bag of powdered lime with a scoop of some kind in it. Either before or after using

4620-433: The top, it should be either emptied or a new pit constructed and the shelter moved or re-built at the new location. The management of the fecal sludge removed from the pit is complicated. There are both environment and health risks if not done properly. As of 2013 pit latrines are used by an estimated 1.77 billion people. This is mostly in the developing world as well as in rural and wilderness areas. Another system

4697-570: The twentieth century, see below . In Scandinavia and some other countries, outhouses are built over removable containers that enable easy removal of the waste and enable much more rapid composting in separate piles. A similar system operates in India, where hundreds of thousands of workers engage in manual scavenging , i.e. emptying pit latrines and bucket toilets without any personal protective equipment . A variety of systems are used in some national parks and popular wilderness areas, to cope with

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4774-484: The wooden outdoor toilets are commonly called "Sławojka", a name that refers to the former Prime Minister Felicjan Sławoj Składkowski who used to monitor scrupulously the implementation of the provisions imposed by the construction law of 1928 , making it mandatory for outdoor toilet pits to be surrounded by walls. Tsi-Ku, also known as Tsi Ku Niang, is described as the Chinese goddess of the outhouse and divination. It

4851-399: Was 47 feet above the water. On a clear night, it could be seen 13 nautical miles (24 km; 15 mi) from the deck of a vessel 15 feet above the sea. The light was originally a red light produced with a red chimney placed over the lamp. Due to its location on land, it only needed to be 270 degrees of width as the remaining 90 degrees were of land. At some point after 1909, the red chimney

4928-488: Was an ordinary locomotive whistle, enlarged and modified and blown by steam from a high-pressure tubular boiler. The second was a reed-trumpet, and in 1866 the third variation, a siren-trumpet. Although the fog bell signal was still used for warning vessels over short distances, other fog signals started to supersede the smaller bell signal. Bells were also used on buoys; later whistling buoys were invented by J. M. Courtenay and were first in use in 1876. The first gas-lighted buoy

5005-511: Was connected by walkways . It still stands (but not the building). The waste from "upstairs" is directed down a chute separate from the "downstairs" facility in these instances, so contrary to various jokes about two-story outhouses, the user of the lower level has nothing to fear if the upper level is in use at the same time. The Boston Exchange Coffee House (1809–1818) was equipped with a four-story outhouse with windows on each floor. Some outhouses were built surprisingly ornately, considering

5082-539: Was constructing a bridge over the Patuxent River near Solomons at the time and a contract was signed to move the structure. A new foundation was prepared with work starting in February 1975. Due to the weather, construction was delayed by a month. Finally in March 1975, the move could begin. The area had to be "backwashed" with the tugboat in order to create a channel to access the now landlocked lighthouse. The cutting of

5159-401: Was housed. The prefabrication and the 10-foot depth of water allowed for the lighthouse to be built for only $ 5,000 as per the appropriation of 1853 and in only 33 days. The lens used were a Fresnel lens made by Henry Le Paute of Paris at a cost of $ 1,200. It used a fourth-order Fresnel lens with prisms covering the 270 degrees needed to cover the area of water. The focal plane of the beam

5236-458: Was installed in 1882. The gong buoy was invented in 1923. In 1876, under the management of Chief Clerk Arnold B. Johnson , the Lighthouse Board began to circulate and maintain traveling lighthouse libraries . These libraries would continue to be in service until the 1930s. In 1886, a new technology was tested in the illumination of the Statue of Liberty —electricity. The electrical lighting of

5313-426: Was lowered on the lighthouse with only inches to spare from the roof. The cables were attached to the metal structure under the cottage and the final piles cut. The structure was raised under the eyes of people present including John Hansen, a former keeper.Two tug boats were used to pull the barge holding the 41 ton structure suspended. The trip took only 30 minutes as the lighthouse was moved to its new location where

5390-427: Was not used to build the project for 18 years. In spite of subsequent requests by steamship operators, it was not until August 1882 that further funding would come. On August 7, 1882, Congress appropriated $ 25,000 for the "establishment of two range lights at the mouth of the Patuxent River." The funds were not adequate for such a project and it was never seriously considered for execution. The Lighthouse Service, due to

5467-421: Was popularized by cartoonists and had a questionable basis in fact. There are authors who claim the practice began during the colonial period as an early "mens"/"ladies" designation for an illiterate populace (the sun and moon being popular symbols for the sexes during those times). Others dismiss the claim as an urban legend . What is certain is that the purpose of the hole is for venting and light and there were

5544-458: Was powered by a horse-operated treadmill and later by an internal combustion steam engine. Around 1851, mechanically rung fog bells were introduced. The striking mechanism was governed by a weight attached to a flywheel, and later internally run by clockworks. The strokes of the fog signals were timed deliberately to afford each signal a unique sound characteristic. The bell signal was gradually replaced by three variations of that instrument. The first

5621-458: Was replaced by a white one with 3 sheets of ruby red glass attached to the lantern room storm panes (windows). With the three red sectors, a vessel approaching the light could navigate the entrance of Patuxent River by staying in the white sectors of light. The light did not rotate or blink and was a steady beam. The bell weighed 1,400 lbs. It was embossed with its maker: "McShane Bell Foundary, Henry McShane and Co. Baltimore , Maryland, 1880." It

5698-456: Was sounded with "2 blows at intervals of 15 seconds during thick and foggy weather." The responsibility of ringing the bell fell on the assistant light keeper who happened to have the room closest to the bell. According to an eye-witness, foxes would come to the beach to bark at the bell on foggy nights. The light was commissioned on August 20, 1883, when the first lightkeeper, Benjamin Gray light

5775-433: Was to be listed under Drum Point Lighthouse and not be used by the keeper for his "convenience". A privy on the edge of the gallery walkway was the only sanitary facilities on premise for some time. Later on, a bathroom was added to the main floor and sanitary facilities were installed probably in the 1950s. Fresh water was collected from rainwater with pipes on the roof. It was then collected in four 200 gallon cisterns in

5852-412: Was transferred to the United States Coast Guard in 1939 and the lighthouse was one of the first to be automated in 1960 as part of a formal program of automating lighthouses. The light originally stood in 10 feet of water. The light was needed in the first place because of the considerable shoaling around the point. This gradually shifted the shoreline to the point where the light was entirely on land by

5929-399: Was used at the time in the lighthouse along with Mr Hansen original chair. The original lens is on display at the museum. The Drum Point Lighthouse was rededicated as an exhibit on June 24, 1978, with Governor Blair Lee III in attendance. Fortuitously, the complete logbooks from 1883 to 1943 survive as well, providing an excellent glimpse into the life of a lighthouse keeper. The life of

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