August 14, 2008

Bass River Light

Bass River Light was established in 1850 and completed in 1855 at the mouth of the Bass River, which separates the southern end of Dennis and Yarmouth. It consisted of a lamp on the roof of the keeper's house, and was equipped with a fifth-order Fresnel lens. Until this time, local captains were paying 25 cents a month for William Crowell, a local, to keep a lantern lit in his attic as an aid to mariners. When the light was completed, Crowell was made the first keeper - a post he held until 1880, interrupted only by service in the Union army during the Civil War.

The light was deemed unnecessary after the completion of Stage Harbor Light, and discontinued in 1880. Complaints led to the re-lighting of the light in 1881. With the establishment of an automated beacon, and the completion of the Cape Cod Canal, the Fresnel lens was removed and the lighthouse sold to private ownership in 1914.

State Senator Everett Stone purchased the site in 1938 - his descendants still own the property, and have converted it into the Lighthouse Inn. The original lighthouse site is in the center of what is now the inn's central building. A modern 300 mm optic was installed in the beacon and relit on August 7, 1989, the 200th anniversary of the Lighthouse Service. In 2003, owners Bob and Mary Stone were awarded the honor of “Masters of New England Innkeeping” for their efforts at the Lighthouse Inn. If you are thinking of making the Cape your home, call Scott Cash 508-534-5702. Scott is a 13th generation Cape Codder. You can view all of Cape Cod’s wonderful homes at http://www.cashoncapecod.com.

Posted By: Scott Cash