1890 |
Original appropriation request made to Congress by the Lighthouse Board. |
Aug 18, 1894 |
Congress approves the appropriation for $60,000. |
1895 |
Test borings into the bottom reveal 55ft of soft mud before reaching sand. |
1896 |
The direction of the entrance to the Craighill Channel was shifted. And a new locations was selected for the Baltimore Harbor Light |
1898 |
Test were conducted to evaluate an alternate construction method. |
1902 |
An additional appropriation of $60,000 was approved and construction began. |
Spring 1902 |
Contractor William H Flaherty, with materials assembled, begins construction on the wooden caisson at the Lazaretto Depot. |
Late June 1902 |
With 12 courses of the wooden caisson completed, the wooden caisson was ready for launching. |
August 1902 |
The 48ft square caisson was launched, and 8 more courses of timber were added as were 2 courses of iron plates. |
Sept 19, 1902 |
The caisson was towed to the site. As they sunk it to the bottom, workers added iron plates. |
Sept 21, 1902 |
With the caisson now 8 feet into the mud, heavy Seas flooded the caisson and caused it to develop a list |
Oct 7, 1902 |
The contractor added two more courses of iron plates and attempted to level the caisson by adding concrete to the high side. |
Oct 12th 1902 |
A severe storm capsizes caisson and the contractor ceases work, stating he will return in the spring. |
Oct 31, 1902 |
The Baltimore American reports "The erecting of the lighthouse is conceded to be one of the most difficult undertakings that lighthouse builders have undertaken." |
Spring 1903 |
Contractor William H. Flaherty defaults on his contract and his company goes into receivership. |
Fall 1905 |
After much legal wrangling, construction resumes with the construction company now in the hands of the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Co. |
Dec 6 1905 |
By now 62 of the 120 plates have been unbolted and returned to the Lazaretto Point Depot, seven of which had been damaged beyond repair. |
Spring 1906 |
A plan is devised to right the light using counter balances. A "U" shaped pier is constructed at the site, to house the workers and hold the equipment required, including 10 A frames, a hoisting machine, three compressors and a steam engine. |
November 20, 1906 |
At this point, the structure has been righted to within 17degrees of vertical. A few days later work ceased for the season. |
April 1907 |
Work resumes, the third and fourth courses of iron plates are attached. 80 tons of stone are placed on the high side of the caisson, bringing it 5 feet closer to vertical. After the fifth and sixth courses are subsequently completed an additional 100 tons of stone are added. The caisson is now within 6 ft of vertical. |
1907 |
Further work eventually brought the caisson to level. It was then sunk 82ft below sea level, 62ft into the bottom. |
Late June 1908 |
The brick work is nearly completed and the roofing was underway. |
Sept 10, 1908 |
Major, W.E. Craighill, Fifth District Engineer, notified the Lighthouse Board that the U.S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. had completed the Baltimore Harbor Light.. |
Oct 1 1908 |
Baltimore Harbor Light was officially commissioned |
1923 |
The fog bell was replaced with a fog horn & the light was converted to acetylene. |
May 1 1923 |
The light was automated and keeper was transferred to Point No Point. |
May 1964 |
An experimental atomic fuel cell was fitted. |
1965 |
The fuel cell removed, and the concept no longer pursued. |
April 25, 2006 |
The U.S. Coast Guard offers Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse and Sandy Point Shoal lighthouse for sale by public auction. |
June 28, 2006 |
The Baltimore Harbor Lighthouse auction officially closes with a high bid of $260,000. |
June 29, 2006 |
The Sandy Point Shoal lighthouse auction officially closes with a high bid of $250,000. |