The Volusia Bar Lighthouse
Much has been written about this iconic structure which once graced the southern end of Lake George. This page attempts to display lesser known information and also to highlight the excellent work done by other writers and researchers.
While some duplication has been necessary to accurately portray the story of the lighthouse, every effort has been made to keep it to a minimum.
While some duplication has been necessary to accurately portray the story of the lighthouse, every effort has been made to keep it to a minimum.
Location Map
Before the Lighthouse was there
Chart of Volusia Bar
"showing location of work of improvement now in progress. Accompanying annual report of July 15th 1881."
Credit: Murray Hudson Antiquarian Maps, Prints & Globes |
Construction completed - March 1886
Annual Report of the Light-House Board of the United States to the Secretary of the Treasury - for the Fiscal year ended June 30th, 1886:
"520. Volusia Bar, on Volusia Bar, south end of Lake George, Florida. — In
December, 1885, the iron foundation and frame dwelling previously prepared were
shipped from Baltimore and Charleston to Jacksonville, Fla., and thence
transported with the working party to the site. The work was finished early in
March. The structure consists of a frame dwelling, resting on a combined iron
and wooden foundation and surmounted by a fourth-order illuminating apparatus,
located in the water near the south end of Lake George, Saint John's River,
Florida. It is placed so as to guide vessels on the lake to the jetties which
bound the entrance to Volusia Bar. Two stake-lights are placed so as to form a
range to guide vessels through the interval between the heads of the jetties. A
fog-bell apparatus is placed on the keeper's dwelling."
Credit: Google Books
December, 1885, the iron foundation and frame dwelling previously prepared were
shipped from Baltimore and Charleston to Jacksonville, Fla., and thence
transported with the working party to the site. The work was finished early in
March. The structure consists of a frame dwelling, resting on a combined iron
and wooden foundation and surmounted by a fourth-order illuminating apparatus,
located in the water near the south end of Lake George, Saint John's River,
Florida. It is placed so as to guide vessels on the lake to the jetties which
bound the entrance to Volusia Bar. Two stake-lights are placed so as to form a
range to guide vessels through the interval between the heads of the jetties. A
fog-bell apparatus is placed on the keeper's dwelling."
Credit: Google Books
The Lighthouse through the Years
Lighthouse - 1915
U.S. Coast Guard photo from 1915. The fog bell is just barely visible under the eves of the roof on the second floor.
The wooden structure on the back porch may have been an over water privy. Photo appears to have been taken from the northwest |
Lighthouse - unknown date
Note the small boat on the lower dock. Photo appears to have been taken from an easterly direction
|
Lighthouse - Circa 1930
Credit: State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory,
http://floridamemory.com/items/show/33720 |
Lighthouse Ruins - 2006
Credit: Jeffrey F. White
|
From the Air......
Explore how time has changed Volusia Bar & the Lighthouse - view old aerial photographs and Google Earth historical imagery in this interesting slideshow
Credits: George A Smathers Libraries - University of Florida Digital Collections (1941 - 1980)
Google Earth (1995 - 2013)
Google Earth (1995 - 2013)
