Gay head

Later colonists officially divided the town of Aquinnah from Chilmark and incorporated it in as Gay Head, Massachusetts. Gay Head was a descriptive name referring to the brilliant colors of the cliffs [7] and was frequently noted on lists of unusual place names. The Gay Head Cliffs are a national landmark. The beautiful, colorful layers of clay make up the cliffs. It has been said that fossil bones of whales, camels and wild horses have been found in the cliff layers.

The Gay Head Lighthouse is perched atop the cliffs. It is the only working lighthouse on Martha’s Vineyard. We found the Gay Head Cliffs to be one of the more beautiful natural areas of Martha's Vineyard. Not only are the cliffs themselves beautiful but the lighthouse is also quite interesting. The Gay Head Cliffs are a national landmark. The beautiful, colorful layers of clay make up the cliffs. The Lighthouse is open for the season!

The Gay Head Lighthouse is OPEN to the public June 21st thru Labor Day weekend 7 days a week, ampm* *Thurs. till sunset Admission:$6 – ages 13y/o and older Free entry for 12y/o and younger, Military – Veterans & Active Duty, and Aquinnah residents. Come visit!. Just over 20 years ago this week, the Island’s smallest town voted to rebrand itself.

By a three-vote margin at the annual town meeting, Gay Head became Aquinnah, the area’s original Native American name. Croix River Light history St. Croix River Light bibliography St. Croix River Light postcards. Click here for a gallery of Gay Head Light photos on Smugmug prints and gift items available. Do not reproduce any part of this website without permission of the author.

gay head lighthouse history

The Englishman Bartholomew Gosnold, the first European to explore the area, called the headland "Dover Cliff" in , after the famous formation on the English Channel. The Gay Head name was in common usage by the s. The passage between the Gay Head cliffs and the Elizabeth Islands was treacherous because of the long underwater obstruction called Devil's Bridge that extends out from Gay Head.

Right: The clay in the cliffs below the lighthouse is known for its varied colors. Early engraving of the first Gay Head Lighthouse. A foot 57 feet to the top of the lantern , octagonal wooden lighthouse was erected on a stone base, along with a wood-frame keeper's house, barn, and oil vault. The light went into service on November 18, The initial keeper, Ebenezer Skiff, was the first white man to live in the town of Gay Head, which was populated by Wampanoag Indians.

There was a fresh water spring near the lighthouse, but since it didn't provide enough water, Skiff had to make a mile's journey with a horse and wagon to retrieve water for his family. Skiff complained that the cellar of the keeper's house was flooded much of the time, and that clay collecting on the glass made it difficult to keep the lighthouse's lantern clear. Also, to help tend the light while he was on various errands, the keeper sometimes had to hire local Indians for a dollar a day.

Engraving of the second Gay Head Lighthouse. In , a New Bedford blacksmith rebuilt the lantern and deck, and the tower was lowered by three feet. Earlier, the tower had been cut down by 14 feet to lessen the problem of the light's being obscured by fog. Also during , Lt. Edward W. Carpender examined the station.

He reported that the revolving light, which took four minutes to complete an entire revolution, could be seen for more than 20 miles, and that the premises were in good order.

The engineer I. Lewis visited the station during his landmark survey in the fall of He described the tower as "decayed in several places," and said the keeper's house was "shaken like a reed" in by storms. Both the tower and house required rebuilding, said Lewis. Included in Lewis's report was a statement ascribed to Ellis Skiff: "The old clock stopped frequently, and in cold weather would not go, so that I was obliged to let the light stand still, and appear as a fixed light.

The reflectors are all worn out. The chambers of my house are not lathed, plastered, or ceiled; and the house is not only cold and uncomfortable, but, from its elevated situation, likely to be blown down, as it shakes fearfully with every gale of wind. Circa s. Contractor John Mayhew, a contractor from of Edgartown, completed this task.

Ellis Skiff remained keeper until he was removed for political reasons in , ending close to a half century of the Skiffs at Gay Head.