Oil House

Oil House. . , This structure was built in 1893 to house the kerosene used to power the light., Lighthouses were generally powered by Sperm Whale oil until its price rose dramatically in the 1850s. In the mid-1870s, kerosene, which was less expensive than lard, became readily available and was adopted by the federal Lighthouse Board as the official power source for its lighthouses., Until that time, the Cape May Lighthouse's oil was stored in the side rooms of the tower vestibule, an arrangement common to many lighthouses. Kerosene was much more volatile than whale oil or lard and the Lighthouse Board, concerned for the safety of its keepers, made a recommendation to Congress in 1885 that a separate oil storage building be erected for each lighthouse. Storing the oil outside of the lighthouse reduced the risk of fire in the tower., The oil house was engineered to meet the special needs of kerosene storage. The unusual, pagoda-shaped roof is capped with a vent so that the kerosene fumes would be drawn out of the building, preventing possible explosion. Originally, the oil house probably had interior shelves that held five gallon cans of kerosene. Later, a large tank was installed to receive oil delivered by tank truck. The tank was removed after the lighthouse was electrified in 1933, and the building was used for storage until being converted to an orientation exhibit and museum shop in 1990.