Hereford Inlet Lighthouse (TCCEI)
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Hereford Inlet Lighthouse (TCCEI)
Hereford Inlet Lighthouse by Team Perrito Blanco.
In New Jersey, United States
Posted: 8/28/08
Weather Forecast
100  ft 0 ft 0% 0% 0%
0.2 0 0 Virtual Large
CC!        5.48 4 +1 9/02/10 23:25
Precise Coordinates Available to Sponsored Members
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Tropical Storm Warning
Atlantic Coastal Cape May
Effective: 9/03/10 18:27 Expires: 9/04/10 15:00




Historic and picturesque Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, a beacon of safety and assurance to the 19th century mariners, has become a cherished landmark for residents and visitors of this seashore resort community.

The Lighthouse is situated on the south side of the Hereford Inlet, which leads from the Atlantic Ocean to the famed Intra-Coastal Waterway linking Maine to Florida. First used by the 17th century whalers to haul in and butcher their catches, the Inlet’s use as a haven to mariners greatly increased as travel and shipping along the coast became more prevalent.

Strong currents and shifting sandbars near the entrance to the Inlet caused frequent groundings and shipwrecks. Because of this, in 1849, a Life Saving Station was constructed along the south bank of the Hereford Inlet. A second, larger station replaced this in 1871, the time of the creation of the United States Life Saving Service. As the use of the Inlet and coastal shipping continued to increase, so did the number of shipwrecks. It became obvious that a Lighthouse was needed to mark the mouth of the Inlet.

Construction began on the uninhabited barrier island on Nov. 8, 1873 and was completed on March 30, 1874. This wood frame residential style Lighthouse was designed by the Lighthouse Boards Chief Draftsman, Paul J. Pelz. His Victorian era design is referred to as “Swiss Carpenter Gothic” and also “Stick Style”. Hereford is the only Lighthouse like it on the East Coast although it had five “sister“ lights on the West. Pelz designed Point Fermin, East Brother, Mare Island and Point Hueneme in California and Point Adams in Washington State. All of these were almost identical to Hereford and were built about the same time. Only Point Fermin and East Brother still exist. Paul Pelz would later garner world wide fame as the designer of the Library of Congress in Washington D.C.

Hereford stood firm against the onslaught of the winds, rains, and tides for 40 years at its original location. A severe storm in August of 1913 significantly damaged the foundation, requiring it to be moved westward 150 feet to where it sits today. In 1964 this was the fate of Hereford when an automatic rotating modern optic was placed on an iron skeletal tower behind the Lighthouse. In 1986 the modern automated light was removed from the iron tower and placed in the Lighthouse lantern room making it a fully functional aid to navigation once again.

The Hereford Lighthouse is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places. It is also part of the New Jersey Coastal Heritage Trail. It is a working lighthouse as well as a museum and is open to the public for guided and self guided tours. Visitors will learn about the history of Hereford and get a glimpse of the life of a lighthouse keeper in the late 19th and early 20th century.



A park surrounding the Lighthouse is designed with many different garden areas containing over 200 plant varieties. The gardens are planted in the Victorian cottage style and extend right up to the ocean seawall. They have won several awards, including the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society Suburban Greening Award.

TO LOG THIS CACHE, you need to
1. Go to the granite monument titled "IN MEMORY OF ALL THOSE LOST AT SEA". It's coordinates are N 39d 00.407', W074d 47.454'. It is approachable from the seawall if the lighthouse property is closed. The last 6 letters at the bottom of the monument is the CC.
2. Post a picture of yourself AND YOUR GPSr with the lighthouse.

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