Captain McGee and the East Point Lighthouse

Built in 1849, and originally known as the Maurice River Lighthouse, it was renamed East Point Lighthouse in 1913. Although numerous lighthouses once stood along the edge of the Delaware Bay, East Point is the last one remaining on the Jersey side. In fact, it is the second oldest lighthouse standing in New Jersey, the Sandy Hook Lighthouse of 1764 being the oldest. The US Coast Guard operated the East Point Light from 1939 until 1941 when the light was extinguished due to the beginning of the war and the blackout conditions. In 1956 the property was deeded to the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game, and Wildlife. It has survived vandalism, and bad weather. In early 1971 a group of concerned local citizens formed the Maurice River Historical Society with the goal of saving the historic building from destruction. In July of that year, an incident occurred which nearly doomed the lighthouse; a trespasser in the building caused a fire which destroyed the roof and the lantern room. Through the mid 1970’s, funded only by local fundraising and donations, determined members of the Maurice River Historical Society succeeded in rebuilding the roof and lantern room. Then on July 2, 1980 at public request, the US Coast Guard reinstalled a beacon in the structure and put the East Point Lighthouse back on the list of active navigational aids. Web sites to visit: http: //marinas.com/view/lighthouse/215_East_Point_Lighthouse_Cape_May_NJ http: //www.new-jersey-leisure-guide.com/east-point-lighthouse.html