Gifts of New England - Nobska Light and Information

Since 1828, Nobska Light has provided a familiar beacon for "all who go down to the sea in ships." At 87 feet above sea level, Nobska's flash, every six seconds, is visible 17 miles out to sea. This 28,000 candlepower light used a1000 watt lamp magnified by a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The red section, visible on the east side of the lantern house, warns ships away from Hedge Fence and L'Hommedieu Shoals south of Cape Cod. The present tower is 42 feet high and was constructed in 1876. It was built to replace the original "Nobsque" light, a stone cottage with a light tower on top that had stood since 1828. The present tower is made of a cast iron shell lined with brick. It was built in Chelsea, Massachusetts and transported to Cape Cod in four sections. The front half of the current "keeper's house" was also built in 1876. Originally painted dark maroon-brown, it had a covered walkway to the tower attached in 1889 and a second "assistant keepers house" added in 1907. Over the years, windows, doors, porches and walkways have come and gone and the color has been changed to the classic Coast Guard white with red roof. Nobsca Light became part of the Coast Guard in 1939, when the U.S. Light House Service merged with the Coast Guard. Despite this change, the keepers of the light remained civilians until Mr. Hindley retired in 1973, when active duty Coast Guard keepers took up the duty. In 1985, Nobsca Light was automated. The two keepers houses were joined and became the quarters for Commander Coast Guard Group Woods Hole and his family. The Woods Hole Group serves the mainland and islands from Plymouth, Massachusetts to the Rhode Island / Connecticut state line.

The Gifts of New England Lighthouse
What better icon exists for New England than one of her lighthouses? Well, actually there are a lot of great things about New England, any number of which could be our site icon. Most people like lighthouses and New England has her share. When you next see a lighthouse we hope it will remind you of us and the wonderful craftspeople who live here. We hope our pages of products will provide you with some of the finest examples of New England crafts, foods, or potpourri. From the rugged coast or the beautiful hills, and forests. We love this part of the country and we love the uniqueness of it. Our products are from the very best New England companies. Our way of providing a little bit of the best New England has to offer.
Nobska Lighthouse
Woods Hole, Cape Cod, Massachusetts - Latitude 41 30' 54" N Longitude 70 39' 20"
Since 1828, Nobska Light has provided a familiar beacon for "all who go down to the sea in ships." At 87 feet above sea level, Nobska's flash, every six seconds, is visible 17 miles out to sea. This 28,000 candlepower light used a1000 watt lamp magnified by a Fourth Order Fresnel lens. The red section, visible on the east side of the lantern house, warns ships away from Hedge Fence and L'Hommedieu Shoals south of Cape Cod. The present tower is 42 feet high and was constructed in 1876. It was built to replace the original "Nobsque" light, a stone cottage with a light tower on top that had stood since 1828. The present tower is made of a cast iron shell lined with brick. It was built in Chelsea, Massachusetts and transported to Cape Cod in four sections. The front half of the current "keeper's house" was also built in 1876. Originally painted dark maroon-brown, it had a covered walkway to the tower attached in 1889 and a second "assistant keepers house" added in 1907. Over the years, windows, doors, porches and walkways have come and gone and the color has been changed to the classic Coast Guard white with red roof. Nobsca Light became part of the Coast Guard in 1939, when the U.S. Light House Service merged with the Coast Guard. Despite this change, the keepers of the light remained civilians until Mr. Hindley retired in 1973, when active duty Coast Guard keepers took up the duty. In 1985, Nobsca Light was automated. The two keepers houses were joined and became the quarters for Commander Coast Guard Group Woods Hole and his family. The Woods Hole Group serves the mainland and islands from Plymouth, Massachusetts to the Rhode Island / Connecticut state line.

The Gifts of New England Lighthouse