U.S. Coast Guard Lightships
& Those of the U.S. Lighthouse Service
VESSEL DESIGNATION: LV 21
YEAR BUILT: 1863
BUILT AT: New Bedford (MA)
BUILDER: Stephen Andrews
APPROPRIATION: None
Treasury Dept authorized vessels for Upper & Lower Cedar Point (141))
& Cross Rip
CONTRACT PRICE: $47,500 (for 3 vessels)
SISTER VESSELS: None
DESIGN: Wood - white oak; copper & iron fastened; bowsprit; 2 masts
LENGTH: 78' (lbp), BEAM: 21'6", DRAFT: 10', TONNAGE: 150 gross
PROPULSION: Sail-schooner rig
ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns each with 8 lard oil lamps
FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell and horn
CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS:
1867: Hauled at Norfolk (VA); sheathing repaired; painted red-
1868: Nov-Jan 1869, found leaking and rotten, recaulked, deck planking
replaced-
1875: Examined and "hull is quite rotten"
STATION ASSIGNMENTS:
1864-1867: Upper Cedar Point (MD)
1867-1868: Willoughby Spit (VA)
1869-1871: Relief (VA)
1871-1872: Wreck of Weehawken (SC)
1872-1880: Tybee Island Knoll (GA)
(1869-1871: While in Relief status, performed temporary duty marking Wolf
Trap, Jan 8-Feb 24 1869; Windmill Point Shoal, Mar 8-Sep 1869 during
lighthouse construction; York Spit, Sep 1869)
(1880 Tybee Island Knoll station discontinued)
(Prior to 1867 when No. 21 was assigned, official records identify this
vessel as "Upper Cedar Point Light Vessel")
HISTORICAL NOTES:
1864: Sep, placed on Upper Cedar Point (MD)-
1867: Jul 20, withdrawn; station discontinued on activation of Upper Cedar
Point Lighthouse-
1867: Aug 17, placed on Willoughby Spit (VA)-
1867: Dec 6, in collision with steamer, bowsprit broken off-
1868: Jan 21, parted chain due to defective shackle, returned to station Jan
24-
1868: Nov 4, withdrawn and replaced by LV 23; LV 21 assigned Relief duty-
1869: Jan 8ãFeb 24, "temporarily" occupied Wolf Trap (VA)-
1869: Mar 8-Sep 1, "temporarily" occupied Windmill Point (VA)
during lighthouse construction-
1869: Sep, temporarily occupied York Spit (VA)-
1871: Jun, transferred to 6th District, placed on Wreck of Weehawken (SC)-
1872: Jul 15, withdrawn upon completion of range beacons for Charleston
Harbor-
1872: Sep 16, placed on Tybee Island Knoll (GA)-
1879: Vessel is "old, unseaworthy, and not worth repairing"-
1880 : Jan, withdrawn, station discontinued, "other aids being
substituted in her stead''
More notes:
RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1880 AGE: 17
SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION:
1880 Jan 7, sold at public auction $200; net $173.70
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