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Digest>Jan/Feb 2023 |
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Photo Caption:
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Historic vintage image of the second and current St. Simons Island Lighthouse that was built in 1872. Keeper Isaac Peckham was in the watch-room at the top of the tower at 9:50 p.m. on the night of August 31, 1886 when the Great Charleston Earthquake struck. He recalled that there was a loud noise and the tower swayed slightly and one of the flash panels on the lens broke, but the sturdy 104-foot-tall tower held steady. He was lucky. The quake damaged 2,000 buildings in the Southeast United States and caused 60 deaths. The shock waves were felt as far away as Boston. Officials have stated that it is the most powerful earthquake to ever hit the east coast of the United States. The lighthouse was automated in 1953 and its 3rd order Fresnel lens is still in the lantern.
Back to the edition of: Jan/Feb 2023
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Story:
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Four St. Simons Keepers Honored With Markers
Back to the edition of: Jan/Feb 2023
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