Highlands in Monmouth County, New Jersey — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Powerhouse
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
1. Powerhouse Marker
The building in front of you is the powerhouse. Inside the large double doors to your right were the engines and dynamos used to produce electrical power to light the lamp for the 1898 south tower Fresnel lens. This brick building, built in 1909, replaced a temporary wooden structure.
The noise from the engines housed inside was incredibly loud. Local residents complained about this and also about the intensity of light coming from the south tower. Blackout panels were installed on the landward side of the south tower, but nothing could be done about the noise.
In 1917, the machinery needed costly repairs. The Light House Board decided not to repair it, but instead replaced the electric lamp with an incandescent oil vapor lamp that was used until 1924 when commercial electrical power became available. The original machinery was removed in 1921, broken up and discarded because it was no longer needed.
Today the powerhouse is used as an exhibit building to display Twin Lights famous south tower Fresnel lens.
Erected by NJ Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Parks & Forestry.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels
this page online
Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 40° 23.761′ N, 73° 59.139′ W. Marker was in Highlands, New Jersey, in Monmouth County. It could be reached from Lighthouse Road. Marker is located at the Twin Lights Historic Site, at the south end of the parking lot. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Highlands NJ 07732, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker was in New Jersey’s Central Jersey, specifically on the Jersey Shore, and in the New York City Metropolitan Area. It was also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: Twin Lights Mystery Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Electric Power Station (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Powerhouse (within shouting distance of this marker); The Navesink Light Station (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Navesink Light Station (within shouting distance of this marker); From the Navesink Highlands (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); a different marker also named Telegraph and Radar at Twin Lights (about 300 feet away); Spermaceti Cove Life Saving Station (about 300 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Highlands.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Navesink Highlands Light Station
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
2. Powerhouse Marker
More about this marker. The bottom left of the marker contains The Hornsby Akroyd Company Advertisement. Hornsby Akroyd engines ran on kerosene and were used to turn electric dynamos that powered the south tower beacon. There were two of these engines in this powerhouse. Courtesy of Ray Hooley Next to this is a copy of a Letter of Complaint about the South Tower Beacon, July 26, 1898. Courtesy of the National Archives. The right of the marker features a photograph of Lighthouse Keeper Murphy Rockett examining the South Tower Fresnel Lens, 1937. At 25,000,000-candle power, this was one
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
3. Marker on the Side of the Powerhouse
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced by the linked marker.
Also see . . . Twin Lights Historical Society. Society website homepage (Submitted on April 10, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
4. Twin Lights Powerhouse
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
5. Back of the Powerhouse
The second marker can be seen to the right of the side door of the powerhouse.
Photographed by Bill Coughlin, September 20, 2009
6. Fresnel Lens
The Powerhouse now houses exhibits, such as this Fresnel Lens originally located in the South Tower.
Credits. This page was last revised on October 19, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 23, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey. This page has been viewed 1,006 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on September 23, 2009, by Bill Coughlin of Woodland Park, New Jersey.
