National Register of Historic Places

Ned Point Light

Mattpoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Listed
June 14, 1987
Type
Structure
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
87001488

About this property

Ned Point Light is a historic lighthouse on Ned's Point Road in Mattapoisett, Massachusetts. The lighthouse was built in 1838 at a cost of approximately $5,000, and named after Ned Dexter, a local farmer. Under the supervision of a local builder, Leonard Hammond, the lighthouse was constructed with a birdcage-style lantern similar to Bird Island Light found in Marion, Massachusetts. The stone used for the lighthouse was all locally sourced, with most of it originating from nearby beaches. Inside, there are 32 granite steps that are cantilevered to the outside wall without the use of mortar. The original lantern used 11 whale oil lamps, each with its own parabolic reflector. The lamps and reflectors were replaced by a fifth order Fresnel lens in 1857, along with a change to an octagonal lantern. The Great Blizzard of 1888 significantly damaged the keeper's stone house, resulting in it being demolished and the building of a wooden replacement. Following the lighthouse's automation in 1923, the keeper's house became unnecessary. The original stone keeper's house was loaded on a barge and taken to Wing's Neck Light in Bourne, Massachusetts. The lighthouse was deactivated from 1952, but remained under control of the US Coast Guard. Following modernization in 1961, the lighthouse was reactivated in 1961 with its current 6-second isophase. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, and approved in 1988.

Location

Mattpoisett, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
41.64813, -70.77069

Categories

ENGINEERINGTRANSPORTATIONARCHITECTUREMARITIME HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Third Meetinghouse
Industrial
2.7 mi
Bird Island Light
Industrial
3.1 mi
Reed, H.R., House
Industrial
3.4 mi
Cleveland Ledge Light Station
Industrial
3.9 mi
Wing's Neck Light
Industrial
6.2 mi

Nearby Battles

British Raid on New Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
8.5 mi
British Raid on Bedford and Fairhaven
1778Revolutionary War
9.3 mi

Questions about this property

When was Ned Point Light listed on the National Register?

Ned Point Light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 14, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Ned Point Light?

Ned Point Light is classified as a structure in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Ned Point Light?

The period of significance for Ned Point Light is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Ned Point Light?

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