Dunkirk in Chautauqua County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

The Lighthouse Service

Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 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 Mace, Crocus, Sundew and the Cherry were familiar sights in Dunkirk Harbor early in the century.

Erected by Sheridan Memorial V.F.W. Post 6390.

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

Location. 42° 29.623′ N, 79° 21.225′ W. Marker is in Dunkirk, New York, in Chautauqua County. Marker can be reached from Point Drive North, 0.6 miles north of Lake Shore Drive West

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(New York State Route 5). Marker is on the grounds of the Dunkirk Lighthouse and Veterans Park Museum at Point Gratiot. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Point Drive North, Dunkirk NY 14048, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dunkirk Lighthouse (a few steps from this marker); Large Anchor (a few steps from this marker); Sarah Sinfield (within shouting distance of this marker); On September 26, 1812 (within shouting distance of this marker); Dedicated to Corporal Cyrus W. James (within shouting distance of this marker); "Ong-Gwe-Ohn-Weh" (approx. ¾ mile away); B.P.O. Elks (approx. 0.9 miles away); To All Who Served (approx. 0.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dunkirk.

Also see . . .
1. Dunkirk Lighthouse & Veterans Park Museum. (Submitted on June 12, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)
2. Point Gratiot Lighthouse Complex. National Register of Historic Places form, National Archives. (Submitted on September 19, 2023, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.)

The Lighthouse Service Marker & Dunkirk LIghthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Anton Schwarzmueller, May 23, 2015

2. The Lighthouse Service Marker & Dunkirk LIghthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on September 19, 2023. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York. This page has been viewed 303 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2015, by Anton Schwarzmueller of Wilson, New York.