Thatchers Island is located one mile off shore from Loblolly Point on the south side of Rockport. The fifty acre "pile of rocks" was a treacherous island for mariners, taking the lives of many a sailor. Also known as the "Cape Ann Lights", or "Twin Lights", the two towers were built in 1790 at 300 yards apart, and later rebuilt in 1860 to a full 124 foot height. The 1st order fresnel lenses have been removed from both towers.
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The island is off limits to the public. We photographed the lights from Loblolly Point, which is accessed by a small dirt road ending at an open field parking lot with a path leading up to the rocky knoll. The small out of the way journey was well worth the trip, as the morning view was breathtaking. The early morning fog was still present, painting a serene purple setting while the waves loudly crashed the shoreline below the cliffs.
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