Back to Lynnfield

We saw this yesterday - two lighthouses on the 50 acre Thacker Island off the east coast of Rockport. This was the 11th and last lighthouse  originally built (45') under British rule in 1771. These 124' granite replacements were built in 1861. This is the first lighthouse to mark a "dangerous spot", all previous lights were built to mark harbor entrances. The original 1st order Fresnal lens from the south tower is now on display at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Groton, CT. The two towers, north and south, were constructed and placed so that when


a ship sights on both towers they point to true north allowing sailors to check and adjust their compasses

Today we're leaving the Cape Ann area and heading back to Lynnfield to find out what's happening to our home on wheels. Neither one of us was particularly interested in visiting Salem (maybe because of the witches) but we were both up for Marblehead. This has always been a major yachting and sailing spot.  There are plenty of mooring balls in the water but the boats are still shrink wrapped and stored on the hard.

This is Marblehead light built on the spit overlooking the harbor. The original light was built in 1835 for $4,500 which was obtained from the government through the then newly enacted US Lighthouse and Navigational Aid System. The light was 23" high and 57' above mean high water. Some cottages were built close by that obscured the light so an adjacent 100' mast was erected with a lantern hoisted every night. This was still ineffective so the second  (existing) light tower was built in 1855, 105' tall and 139'above MHW. It was office with an 6th order Fresnel lens and find white light. In 1910 the light was changed to fixed red and again changed in 1938 to fixed green. The light was extinguished during WWII and in 1960 the light was automated.

Below is the harbor and mooring balls waiting for the season to start.

This is one of the crusty Yacht Clubs in Marblehead. It was chartered in 1885. Guess I really should have taken pictures of the yacht club buildings.

An interesting item is that Marblehead is considered to be the "Birthplace of the American Navy".

Thank goodness for the GPS. Apparently we took the shortcut back to Saugus which immediately adjoins Lynnfield. I had no idea where we were. At the MB dealership we were told that only one error turned up on the diagnostic and it had to do with the exhaust. After some additional work by the mechanic they felt like the main problem was with the starter. The have both a starter and the part for the exhaust in stock so we should be able to be back on the road around mid day.