CockspurIslandLighthouse
(Erosional Feature Earthcache)
Situated on an
islet off the southeastern tip of Cockspur Island marking the South
Channel of the Savannah River, the Cockspur Lighthouse is stands
twelve miles east of the port of Savannah. The islet, often covered
by high tide, is comprised of oyster shells, and marsh
grass.
Documented
references suggest the first brick tower, used as a
daymark, was built on
Cockspur Island between ____________and_________. In 1848,
John Norris, a New York architect, was contracted to
supervise construction of an illuminated station. The
noted architect designed many of Savannah's grand structures
including the U.S. Custom House in downtown Savannah, the
Mercer-Wilder House, and the Green-Meldrim House, where General Sherman stayed
during the Civil War.
Norris's
duties were to "repair, alter, and put up lanterns and lights on
Cockspur Island...and to erect a suitable keeper's house." This
first tower had a focal plane 25' above sea level. The beacon
housed a fixed white light emanating from five lamps with 14"
reflectors visible for nine miles.
Tragedy struck
again in 1854 when the structure was destroyed by a hurricane. The
tower was rebuilt and enlarged on the same foundation the next
year. At the start of the American Civil War, the light was
temporarily extinguished. On April 10, 1862, Union forces in eleven
batteries stretching along the beach at Tybee Island, started a long
range bombardment of Fort Pulaski. Thirty-six guns participated in
a thirty-hour siege of the fort with the Cockspur Lighthouse in
direct line of fire.
Following the
surrender of Fort Pulaski on April 11, 1862, the little beacon
miraculously only suffered minor damage. Theories abound as to why
the tower escaped destruction. One theory suggests to effectively
hit the Fort walls approximately 1,500
yards distant, Union artillerists had to fire shots at a high
angle, thus passing over the tower. This strategy, coupled with the
short duration of battle could explain why the tower was spared.
Soon after war's end, April 25, 1866, the beacon was relit and
painted white for use as a daymark.
Throughout
it's life, hurricanes plagued the
Cockspur Light. August 27, 1881, a massive storm struck Cockspur
Island causing water to rise 23' above sea level. The storm surge
filled the lighthouse interior and destroyed the Keeper's
residence.
Jeremiah
Keane, the Assistant Keeper Charles Sisson, and two Fort Pulaski
caretakers took refuge inside the Northwest stair tower of the
brick fort when the great hurricane of 1893 struck. Afterwards, a
two story house was built atop Fort Pulaski for the
lightkeeper.
Man, not
nature, extinguished forever the little light. No longer would this
light guide vessels up the shallow South Channel of the Savannah
River. To accommodate large freighters, the increasingly busy
Savannah port routed vessels to the deep, more navigable North
Channel. Effective June 1, 1909, the beacon light was
snuffed.
As the threat
to the beacon by salvage crews and other private interests grew,
the National Park Service looked into the acquisition of the light.
On August 14, 1958, by presidential proclamation, the Cockspur
Lighthouse was transferred from the United States Coast Guard to
the National Park Service.
The National
Park Service is dedicated to the preservation of this
historic marker. The lighthouse remains open to the public,
though access is limited by the terrain of Cockspur Island.
However, an overlook trail offers visitors the best chance to
get a closer look at the lighthouse today.
SHORELINE CHANGE AT FORT PULASKI, GEORGIA: A REMOTE SENSING
APPROACH
HOWELL,
Susan Meredith, Geography and Geology, Georgia Southern
University, PO Box 8149, Statesboro, GA 30460, shgsu@hotmail.com
and ALEXANDER, Clark R., Skidaway
Institute of Oceanography, 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, GA
31411
Fort Pulaski National Monument is located on Cockspur Island,
Georgia, a low- lying salt marsh that was built with dredge spoil
prior to construction of the Civil War era fort. Shoreline erosion
and migration of an oyster-shell bank are altering the island’s
edge along the north channel of the Savannah River, destroying
habitat for indigenous species and threatening historical
structures, including the North Pier and Battery Hambright. Dredge spoil accretion, ships’ wake and
tidal action have caused changes in the shoreline through time.
These processes are occurring rapidly, creating an immediate need
for accurate information upon which to base management decisions.
Aerial imagery from 1982, 1989, 1994, 1997, 1999 and 2000 were
scanned, digitized, and georeferenced.
Using remote sensing and geographic information systems, these data
permitted for: 1) comparison of geographic feature locations from
1982 to 2000, 2) calculation of erosion and migration rates, and 3)
determine if seasonal trends exist in these rates. These studies
identified the main factors influencing oyster-shell bank migration
and shoreline erosion, thereby assisting Fort Pulaski National Park
in establishing strategies to prevent further destruction of
historical and natural resources
Now for the
Earthcache and why you where brought to this area.
-
Erosion has
taken its toll on the lighthouse and grounds around
it.
-
You will need to
take a photo of the lighthouse and Lighthouse erosion
evidence and post it in your log. You will need at least a 15x
optical zoom camera and stand to get photo.
-
Take a picture
of you or your group with GPS in hand with the Fort and
battle damage in the background at the listed
coordinates.
- Answer the following
questions or fill in the blank. ( Please
email me the answers troyperry@charter.net
1.
Documented
references suggest the first brick tower, used as a
daymark, was built on
Cockspur Island between ____________and_________.
2. Give a brief description of
the area around the lighthouse and what may indicate significant
erosion.
3 total pictures on the log or it
will be deleted
What makes the rating high is the
fact that you have to have special equipment and the long walk to
the coordinates. Please
be Careful!! ALLIGATORS
so roam freely around this
area.