CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHT HOUSE

CAPE HENLOPEN LIGHTHOUSE

FACTS

The burning of the staircase

&

Cows caused the erosion that toppled the light

This was during the American Revolution, the keeper at the time of these incidents was

Mr. Hedgecock. The British had war ships at the mouth of the Delaware Bay and Mr.

Hedgecock was grazing his cows on the grassy dune near the light house and were noticed

by the British who sent an officer ashore to ask about procurement of some cows as their

provisions were low. Hedgecovk gave the British officer the old heave ho who returned

to his ship, sumoned reinforcements, returned, but the landing party found no cows to take.

Hedgecock had driven them all into the nearby woods and underbrush. The British, fearing

American bushwackers in the woods decided not to search for the cows.

However, they turned in anger against the light house where they set fire to the wooden

staircase which flames gutted the tower and destroyed the lantern and reflectors.

Set aside the fact that the 1760's light was sitting atop a grassy sand dune that was eroding

perhaps30 feet a year. There was some local consideration that the keepers cows grazing

the grassy sand dune, destroyed thegrass that was holding the dune in place, thereby allowing

the erosion of the lighthouse foundations.

Abstract: Michael Morgan's Delaware Diary Delaware Coast Press, 25 August 2010.

www.delmarhistory.blogspot.com 07/01/18 by Harrison H.