Rod's Photo Gallery: Barcelona Lighthouse

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Barcelona Lighthouse

Westfield, New York ~ Lake Erie ~ May 27, 2000

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New York Lights Barcelona (Portland Harbor) Lighthouse, NY May 2000
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Dunkirk Light

Barcelona (Portland Harbor) Light was constructed in 1829 of native fieldstone from the area. In the 1830's, a natural gas well was discovered close by. Wooden pipes were used to transfer the gas to the light, where special lamps created an intense bright flame with this unique source. The natural gas well gradually slowed down until the lighthouse keeper was forced to use oil lamps from 1838 on.
Barcelona is believed to be the only lighthouse in the world to be powered by natural gas! In 1859 the light was decommissioned when an embarrassed government realized that there actually is no true 'Harbor' for the light to guide ships into. The property was then sold off as a private residence. The original lantern room was removed long ago, but the private owners built a wooden one in it's place.

This photograph is available in the following medias:

DIGITAL PUBLISHING IMAGE FILE

LIGHTHOUSE STICKERS

DESKTOP/ SCREENSAVER IMAGE

PAGE CREATED: 10/25/03 PAGE UPDATED: 10/19/04
This photograph Copyright 2000 and may not be used without written permission from Rod Watson

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Back to New York New York Lights		North to next light Dunkirk Light
Barcelona (Portland Harbor) Light was constructed in 1829 of native fieldstone from the area. In the 1830's, a natural gas well was discovered close by. Wooden pipes were used to transfer the gas to the light, where special lamps created an intense bright flame with this unique source. The natural gas well gradually slowed down until the lighthouse keeper was forced to use oil lamps from 1838 on.		Barcelona is believed to be the only lighthouse in the world to be powered by natural gas! In 1859 the light was decommissioned when an embarrassed government realized that there actually is no true 'Harbor' for the light to guide ships into. The property was then sold off as a private residence. The original lantern room was removed long ago, but the private owners built a wooden one in it's place.