Lorain Lighthouse

Lorain, Ohio, saw its first navigation light in the form of a lantern hung from a pole during the early 1800s. In 1836, a cylindrical brick tower capped with a lantern room was built. Though unassuming, the beacon shone brightly enough to be noticed by Charles Dickens as he sailed from Sandusky to Cleveland in 1841.

On the evening of August 21, 1888, a scow became unmanageable while entering the harbor and ran its jib boom into the east face of the tower. Unruly ships also caused damage to the elevated walk on numerous occasions.

Work on the Lorain Lighthouse, as seen today, started in 1916. The massive, three-story lighthouse was designed to withstand the tempestuous weather of Lake Erie.

The Coast Guard assumed control of the Lorain Lighthouse in 1939, stationing three men from the local unit at the light. During their spare time in 1959, they painted the lighthouse, a task that took one year to complete, using four-inch brushes and 50 gallons of paint. Later, no longer needed, Lorain Lighthouse lost its last crew and was slated for demolition. After vandals broke into the abandoned lighthouse and stole its two brass foghorns, the Coast Guard welded the entrance shut to keep out unwelcome visitors.

Looking more like a fortress than ever, Lorain Lighthouse silently stood and awaited its sad and certain fate. What came instead was a barrage of protests from the Lorain community and canceling of the demolition contract.

In the fall of 1981, “Operation Lighthouse” was executed to refurbish the lighthouse. This time the structure was painted professionally. Shortly thereafter, control of the lighthouse passed to the Port of Lorain Foundation. The Army Corps of Engineers restored the lighthouse and stabilized its foundation in the 1990s at a cost of $850,000, quite a bit more than the $35,000 spent to build the structure in 1917.

Lorain Lighthouse, the “Jewel of the Port,” faithfully guards the entrance to the inner harbor and stands as a monument to the community that has fought to preserve it. (www.lighthousefriends.com)