1876-1868
Location & historical notes: Delaware, in the Delaware Bay about 16 miles above the entrance. After the Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse was constructed the lightship station was discontinued.
Lightships assigned:
1876-1886: LV-19
YEAR BUILT: 1845
BUILT AT: New York (NY)
BUILDER: Henry Eckford
APPROPRIATION: $20,000
(Approp. Mar 3, 1823 "for 2 lt-vessels for Delaware Bay")
CONTRACT PRICE: ?
SISTER VESSELS: None
DESIGN: Wood - white oak framed and planked; double ended hull with bowsprit; 2 masts, oval daymarks at both mastheads
LENGTH: 85' (lbp), BEAM: 25', DRAFT: 9', TONNAGE: 150 (enlarged twice)
PROPULSION: Sail
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 1 lamp, 12 cylindrical wicks
FOG SIGNAL: 900 lb bell, hand operated
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV
19-
Records are not conclusive on early history of this
vessel. It appears that she may have been first built at 120 tons as
lightship "X" in 1823; rebuilt and enlarged to 130 tons in 1845 which was
very probably a rebuild of lightship "X"; then rebuilt in 1854, and again
rebuilt and enlarged to 150 tons in 1876 at Wilmington DE at a cost of
$11,000-
1848: Second lamp added with 12 cylindrical wicks-
1868: Lamps converted to reflector type-
Extensive repairs 1860,1863, 1868
STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 19
1845-1875: Cross Ledge (Upper Middle) (DE)
1876-1886: Fourteen Foot Hank (DE)
1886-1894: Ram Island Reef (CT)
1894-1900: Relief (CT) - laid up at New London during entire period
(Prior to 1867 when No. 19 was assigned, official
records identify this vessel
as "Upper Middle", "Upper Middle No. 2", and/or "Cross Ledge")
(Cross Ledge station discontinued Dec 8, 1875)
(Four-teen Foot Bank station established Aug 22, 1876)
HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 19-
1875: Dec 9, Withdrawn from Cross Ledge; station discontinued when Cross
Ledge Lighthouse activated-
1875: Oct 29, Mate and 2 crewmembers drowned during passage in liberty
boat from Little Creek Landing (DE) to the lightship-
1875: During service in Delaware Bay, nearly every winter moving ice
caused
LV 19 to be either driven off or withdrawn from station for several months
at a time ã "such absence of light is a great Injury to commerce"-
1876: Aug 22, reassigned and placed on Fourteen Foot Bank (DE)
1886: Dec 1, removed from Fourteen Foot Bank, transferred to 3d District-
1886: Dec "9 stationed on Ram Island Reef (CT)-
1894: Dec 8, "permanently" removed from Ram Island Reef & assigned Relief
status-
1895 "Rotten" and "weak and worn in every part"; "unfit for economic 1
repair-
1896, 97: "occupies needed space" and "only in the way" at New London dock
More notes
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1894 AGE: 49?
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION:-
Turned over to Navy Department Oct 31 1900 for use as target ship
COMMANDING OFFICERS: LV 19
1893-1895: Nicolas Nelson, Mate
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