San Luis Obispo County CA Archives Photo Place.....Port San Luis Light House, Port San Luis ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 26, 2006, 8:18 pm Source: Unavailable Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanluisobispo/photos/portsanl99gph.jpg Image file size: 72.0 Kb PORT SAN LUIS LIGHT HOUSE History and Description: One of the most interesting and well-preserved light houses in this area was built in the late 1800's by the United States Light House Service. It is located near Port San Luis which was originally, in the early 1900's, Port Harford, named after John Harford. He constructed the pier and an access tunnel leading to Avila Beach, around the mid-1870's. The thirty acres on which the Light House is built was purchased from the Marre family as part of an old Mexican land grant. Work was completed on the Light House in 1890. This unusual structure incorporates the light tower with a house for the light keeper and his family. For interest, a guest book was established and kept, with the first guest signing in on March 22, 1893. The United States Light House Service had the light made in Paris, France, in 1878 by Sautter Lenonnier CH. The prisms were hand-made and are still in use. In 1894, the light was powered with whale oil lamps, later they switched to diesel power and presently, electricity powers the bulbs. There are two 1000-watt bulbs that light the giant prisms, with one bulb as a reserve. The light has an automatic timer which turns it on at dusk. On hazy nights the light can be seen seventeen miles to sea and on clear nights it can be seen twenty-two miles. In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took over the operations of the Light House as a result of the fading out of the Light House Service. In 1948, two adjoining houses were built by the Coast Guard to house the families of the men that operate the Light House, At this time the Coast Guard also constructed another building to shelter the fog horns and its equipment. In doing so, they phased out the two-story house that adjoins the Light Tower to make three stories. The second story has three bedrooms, with small closets. Between the first and second floors, a bathroom has been added. The first floor has a spacious kitchen with a large fireplace for cooking. There are also two rooms on the first floor that could serve as bedrooms or a living room. Both rooms have a floor-length window that opens up to a porch. Common to many older structures and because of necessity, there is a fireplace in each room that collects into one chimney. In 1960, the Coast Guard built two more adjoining houses, increasing the Light House crew to four men and their families. While building these houses, the Coast Guard had power lines brought in to supply electricity for its structures but never wired the Light House. Prior to 1960, the only way to reach the Light House and pier was by boat. By 1960, a narrow one-lane road was constructed from Port San Luis to the Light House. The road winds on the side of a hill yielding a magnificent view of Avila, Port San Luis, the southern coast and the sea. At one time the Light House was offered to the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society to preserve and use as a museum. In order for the Historical Society to preserve and use the Light House, they would have had to move it to Avila Beach as proposed ! by some, or provide a caretaker, so the building could be watched 24 hours a day. "It was with deep regret that the San Luis Obispo County Historical Society turned down the offer", due to the difficulties in maintenance and the lack of finances. Although the house is no longer used and its future is uncertain, the Coast Guard keeps it in very good condition. Sources: United States Coast Guard Light House Register Louisiana Dart, Curator, San Luis Obispo County Historical Museum Additional Comments: Extracted from Discovering San Luis Obispo County by Carleton M. Winslow File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ca/sanluisobispo/photos/portsanl99gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/cafiles/ File size: 4.4 Kb