First Ward in Buffalo in Erie County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Lighthouse Service

Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

1. The Lighthouse Service Marker

Inscription. Established in 1789, the U.S. Lighthouse Service maintained lighthouses and a district headquarters in Buffalo until it was absorbed by the Coast Guard in 1939.

Tenth District, long under the command of District Lighthouse Superintendent Roscoe House, ran a depot and lens-repair shop in Buffalo, serving Lake Erie and Lake Ontario lighthouses. The District also tested diaphone foghorns at the Buffalo station, and one of the first radiobeacons on the Great Lakes was installed at the Buffalo Breakwater Light Station in 1925 and also at the Dunkirk Lighthouse Station in 1929. Service work was continued by the Coast Guard, and in the 1950s the Buffalo base was the agency's foghorn repair center.

The Lighthouse Service tenders Crocus and Sundew were familiar sights in Buffalo Harbor early in the century, and the district later also maintained a series of Buffalo lightships about 13 miles off Buffalo Harbor until construction of the Point Abino light by Canada in 1917.

Erected by Buffalo Lighthouse Association.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lighthouses series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1789.

Location. 42° 52.655′

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N, 78° 53.149′ W. Marker is in Buffalo, New York, in Erie County. It is in the First Ward. Marker can be reached from Fuhrmann Boulevard, 1.3 miles north of The Skyway (New York State Route 5). Marker is along a gated Coast Guard walkway that is open from 10A to sunset. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Fuhrmann Boulevard, Buffalo NY 14203, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Coast Guard (within shouting distance of this marker); The South Pier (within shouting distance of this marker); The Lifeboat Station (within shouting distance of this marker); Lighthouse Point Park (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Penobscot-Morania Collision (about 500 feet away); International Shipmasters' Association (about 600 feet away); The Industrial Heritage Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); The 1833 Buffalo Lighthouse (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Buffalo.

More about this marker. A nearly identical marker, but for the last paragraph of text, is found at the lighthouse at Dunkirk, NY.

Towards Walkway Access image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

2. Towards Walkway Access

The walkway starts at a gate at the north end of Fuhrmann Boulevard and comes from the center of this view to the marker. The Coast Guard Base is behind the fence at right.

Walkway to LIghthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, June 3, 2015

3. Walkway to LIghthouse

To the Buffalo Lighthouse. Buffalo River and Lake Erie at right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 4, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 349 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 4, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.