Thomas Point Shoal Annual Reports

1855 Thomas’ Point. – This light station was fitted with a fifth order Fresnel lens on the 15th May, 1855, in place of the old reflecting apparatus consisting of 13 lamps and 13 reflectors, 16 inches in diameter. 
1858 to 1870 “Fitted with 4th-order lens in 1857.” (From “List of Light-houses, &c., 1858 to 1870.”)
1868 225. Thomas’s Point. – Window frames and sashes in tower repaired; wood-work and lantern painted inside and out, two coats; doors, sashes and window-shutters in dwelling, also locks and hinges, repaired; plastering in all rooms repaired; fire-hearths relaid, and dwelling painted inside two coats; cistern house rebuilt and new pump supplied; gutters and conductors to roof repaired; small smoke-house eight feet square built; new glass set where required; fences repaired, and, as well as the tower and dwelling, whitewashed two coats.
1869 225. Thomas’s Point. – New fencing is needed, and the interior of keeper’s dwelling requires repairs.
1872 265. Thomas’s Point, north side of mouth of South River, Maryland. – It will be observed by reference to the Coast Survey chart of the Chesapeake Bay that the light-house at Thomas’s point, on the north side of South River, from four miles south of entrance to Annapolis Harbor, Maryland, can serve but poorly its purpose as a warning of the dangerous shoal that makes out from it a distance of one and one-quarter miles into the bay. This light-house was built in 1825, before the introduction of the system of light-houses in the water on iron piles. Its present location is such that little use can be made of it at night, and in times of foggy or thick weather it is utterly useless. Under no circumstances can vessels drawing more than 8 feet water pass within one and a quarter miles of it, as the shoal is continuous, and has on it only that depth at the outer extremity, and less between this point and the shore. The outer extremity of the shoal is only marked by a buoy, and it is a matter of frequent occurrence to see vessels ashore here. The ineligibility of its present location is frequently a source of complaint by mariners. This is particularly the case when coming up the bay, as the course is changed twice after passing Sharp’s Island, and approaching Thomas’s Point.

A light-house on the point of the shoal, in 8 feet of water, which will be distant from the shore about one and a quarter miles, is recommended for this place. The new light-house should be provided with a fog-bell, the want of which is another defect at the old station, as the distance from the track of vessels going up or down the bay is so great that it would be useless if put there, as it could not be heard. This station is also in a bad state of repair. The rain, in windy weather, beats through the old masonry of the tower, flooding the inside of the structure, and frequently damaging the material in charge of the keeper.

If a light-house were built at the place referred to, viz, near the outer extremity of the shoal, and provided with a fog-bell, it would supply a defect long felt by the commerce of Chesapeake Bay, and render the maintenance of an almost useless light unnecessary. It is recommended, therefore, that an appropriation be made to build a light-house on Thomas’s Point Shoal, supplied with a fog-bell, to take the place of a light-house on Thomas’s Point. The estimated coast is $20,000.
1873 275. Thomas Point Shoal, north side of the mouth of South River, Maryland. – An appropriation of $20,000 was made during the last session of Congress for a screw-pile light-house to be built on the shoal that makes off from Thomas Point, Md., to take the place of the old light-house on land, which is in need of extensive repairs, and which, on account of its distance from the track of vessels navigating the bay, is of comparatively little use at any time, and perfectly useless in foggy and thick weather, as the light cannot be seen, and the distance is too great for a fog-bell to be heard. The location on the extreme point of the shoal is one of great exposure. In view of this fact, and with the experience of Love Point light-house during the winter of 1872-73 before us, it was deemed expedient to change the plan of this light-house, and instead of building it on screw-piles, as was at first intended, to build it on a more solid structure, that could be depended on at all times to safely withstand the heavy ice-floes that form above it in the bay. A cast-iron tube filled with concrete was therefore decided on, similar to the one now being built for the front light of the Craighill Channel range, at the mouth of the Patapsco River. Plans for the light-house have been prepared and a careful examination of the locality made by the district engineer, with a view to determine the proper method of sinking the tube in position. The light-house will stand in 8 feet water, on the extreme easterly point of the shoal, which position is close to the main channel of the bay. Borings were made at the site selected, and the shoal, below about 1 foot of soft mud and shell, was found to consist of hard blue sand and shell, with a slight trace of mud to a depth of 20 feet. It is believed that a secure foundation can be had at a depth of 12 feet or less. The bearing capacity of the material on which the structure will rest has not yet been tested, but will be before the exact depth of the foundation is definitely fixed. The tube will be of the form of a frustum of a cone to a height of 12 feet from the bottom; above this, it will be cylindrical, the diameter of the base being 30 feet, that of the cylinder 24 feet. The shell will be built up in sections, bolted together through stout flanges and sunk in position by filling it with concrete. It will be protected on the outside from the scour of the tide by a riprap of loose stone. The keeper’s dwelling will rest on this solid structure. It is supposed that the tube may be sunk in position by merely excavating the material from the inside, though it is possible that one or both of the pneumatic processes may have to be resorted to. This light-house will cost considerably more than one on screw-piles, and an additional appropriation of $25,000 is therefore required.
1874 Thomas Point Shoal, north side, mouth of South River, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – An appropriation of $20,000 was made March 3, 1873, for a screw-pile light-house, to be built on the shoal that makes off from Thomas Point, Maryland, to take the place of the old light-house on land, which is in need of extensive repairs, and which, on account of its distance from the track of vessels navigating the bay, is of comparatively little use at any time, and perfectly useless in foggy and thick weather, as the light cannot be seen and the distance is too great for a fog bell to be heard. The location on the extreme point of the shoal is one of great exposure, and will require a costly structure, and perhaps necessitate a change in the plans. In consequence of the action of the House of Representatives at the last session of Congress, in calling upon the Executive Departments to revise their estimates, work on this structure was suspended and no additional appropriation made. To enable the board to resume operations and complete the structure, an additional appropriation is asked of $15,000.
1875 288. Thomas’s Point Shoal, mouth of South River, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – An additional appropriation of $15,000 having been made by act approved March 3, 1875, for this light-house, the location of which is one of great exposure, the plans were prepared, and proposals for furnishing the iron-work were invited by public advertisement. This work is now progressing well, and it is expected that the structure will b finished during the present season. It is to be an iron-pile light-house, the foundation piles of which are to be of wrought iron, ten inches in diameter. The superstructure will be of wood, and serve as a keeper’s dwelling. It will be surmounted by a lantern of the fourth order. When this light-house is finished, the light on Thomas’s Point will be discontinued.
1876 301. Thomas’s Point Shoal, north side of mouth of South River, Maryland. – This light-house was completed and the light exhibited on the 20th of November, 1875. The old light on the shore was then discontinued. The new structure rests on 10-inch wrought-iron piles. It is situated on a shoal about a mile from Thomas’s Point. The light is of the 3 1/2 order, showing a red flash every 20 seconds. 
1877 302. Thomas’s Point Shoal, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – The iron foundation of this light-house was somewhat damaged by heavy masses of running ice, during the past winter. The piles were pushed out of perpendicular about one inch to the foot, and the lower spur-pile was broken from the horizontal braces. The oscillatory motion imparted to the superstructure by the impact of the ice overturned the lens, and damaged it to such an extent as to make its replacement by another necessary. While this change was being made, a temporary light was displayed from the old structure on Thomas’s Point. The superstructure of the light-house was not damaged, and the foundation has since been repaired. To provide against further damage by ice, a detached ice-breaker has been placed in the axis of the current, and about 90 feet to the north of the house. This ice-breaker consists of three wrought-iron screw-piles, connected together by double channel-iron beams, surmounted by heavy cast-iron caps, securely bolted together. Some riprap will be placed about the piles as an additional protection.
1883 328. Thomas’s Point Shoal, off Thomas’s Point, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – The cast-iron socket on the northeast corner pile, which was at some time damaged by the ice, and discovered to be defective in July, was in November strengthened by heavy wrought-iron bands securely bolted to the old iron. In February, the iron steps leading to the water were repaired. The station is at present in good condition.
1886 352. Thomas’ Point Shoal, off Thomas’ Point, Maryland. – Some 1,400 cubic yards of riprap stone were placed around the light-house, to strengthen the structure and protect it against the ice. About 200 yards additional are needed and will be placed at an early date.
1887 358. Thomas’s Point Shoal, off Thomas’s Point, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – In September 200 cubic yards of riprap stone were deposited at the north and west sides of the structure, to replace that which was carried away by the action of the ice and current. The main gallery deck was repaired and provided with a new trap-door.
1896 541. Thomas Point Shoal, off Thomas Point, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – A new lightning rod was set up. Four new water tanks were supplied to replace the old ones. Minor repairs were made.
1899 592. Thomas Point Shoal, off Thomas Point, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – New model fourth-order lamps were supplied.
1899 641. Thomas Point Shoal, off Thomas Point, Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. – Soundings were made around the light-house. Various repairs were made.