Chesapeake Lighthouse for Sale

[Steadman Uhlich]

Have you ever thought of living in a lighthouse?

Lighthouses have always fascinated and appealed to me. And, as a subject for me to paint (I am an artist), I have looked at many over many years. I like them.

Occasionally they become available for purchase, and can be converted to a private residence.

Here is one that is now for sale. Only $15k.

Location: Chesapeake area, near Baltimore.

https://patch.com/maryland/baltimore...ight-house-15k

EXCERPT:

Craighill Channel Lower Range Front Light Station is located in the Chesapeake Bay approximately two miles offshore from North Point State Park at longitude 39.188614, latitude -76.394399. The historic caisson type light station was first lit in 1873. The cast iron caisson rests upon driven wood piles below the 1.5 story cylindrical keeper quarters with perimeter gallery deck. The cast iron lantern room tops the structure approximately 25 feet above the surface of the water. Only the structure will be conveyed in the sale. No land will be conveyed. The underlying land will remain in government ownership. The buyer will be obligated to acquire and maintain a right of occupancy accordingly.

The website Lighthousefriends.com says Craighill Channel forms the first leg of the maintained channel from Chesapeake Bay to the Patapsco River and leads from the mouth of the Magothy River to Seven Foot Knoll and the Brewerton Channel. The importance of Baltimore as a port persuaded Congress to set aside $50,000 in 1870 to improve the channel. Work began in 1873 on the lighthouse and took several appropriations from Congress to complete the structure, which was a technical challenge to create a solid footing for it.

Initially, the interior consisted of a kitchen, sitting room and two bedrooms, while a privy was supported from the gallery around the dwelling, says the website. Two 750-gallon iron tanks were used to store rainwater collected from the roof of the lighthouse. A wooden, circular stairway leads from the dwelling space to the smaller cylindrical watchroom, which is surmounted by the 10-sided lantern room.

Since the lighthouse was automated in May 1964 and keepers were no longer needed on site, the exterior of the lighthouse has received regular attention and is in fair condition, says the lighthouse website. But, the interior was open to the elements and became a residence for nesting birds.

Plans for two non-profit groups to take control of the structure and restore it so it could be open to the public failed to materialize, so federal officials put it up for sale."

[NCGunDude]

The Frying Pan Shoals Lighthouse located 32 miles (51 km) from Bald Head Island, North Carolina. sold in 2009 for $515,000.

It has 5,000 sf of living space and is open for "eco-tourism"

FRYING PAN TOWER - The Frying Pan Tower Coast Guard Light Station