Printable Version

Rondout Creek and Its Lighthouses

The second event was the completion of the Delaware & Hudson Canal in 1828. The steamboat revolutionized river transportation by dramatically decreasing the length of time required for both passengers and cargo to reach New York City markets. The completion of the D&H Canal by the Wurts brothers led to a sizable growth in commercial activity at the river port community known as Rondout.

The canal enabled the Wurts brothers to transport coal from the mines of Honesdale, Pennsylvania to the Hudson. At Rondout the coal was transferred to river vessels for the trip to expanding New York City markets. Later ice, farm products, bluestone, bricks and cement would be transported by sloops, schooners and barges to the great city of New York. Shipbuilding activities developed to accommodate the demand for vessels. By the mid-19th century regular steamboat excursions departed from the Rondout taking both passengers and cargo to New York City and smaller destinations along the River. Summer travelers journeyed upriver for vacation trips to the Catskills.

The burgeoning maritime activity necessitated the building of a lighthouse at the mouth of the Rondout Creek to warn captains of the dangers of the shore and the shallow tidal fiats. The first Rondout lighthouse was a frame building located on the southern shore of the creek's mouth built ca. 1837. In a 1979 interview Pearl Rightmeyer (then 88 years old), granddaughter of the Murdocks, (early lightkeepers) recalls "Not long after my grandmother (Catherine Murdock) took over (the duties of the lightkeeper) a freshet came up and boats came loose at Eddyville and came down the creek. One of the bowsprits came right through the wall of the dining room when my grandmother was in it. Luckily she wasn't killed. That was when they decided to build a stone lighthouse."

Foundation of the second Rondout Lighthouse beyond the breakwater

A replacement lighthouse was built in 1867 at the same location using bluestone. (The foundation of this Rondout Light is still visible as one travels the creek by boat.) It was described as having on the first floor a parlor, a dining room, hall and supply room. The second floor sported three bedrooms and the watch room with steps leading to the light tower. Each evening at 6:00 p.m. the light was lit and the oil replenished at midnight and again at 6:00 a.m. The government arrived once a year to deliver a supply of oil. Pearl's mother, Emma, was born in the lighthouse and she and her sisters, Cora and Kate, were rowed to Sleightsburgh every day to attend school.

As traffic in and out of Rondout increased, the Army Corps of Engineers extended the dikes at Rondout further into the river and this Rondout Light no longer marked the entrance to the creek. Plans were then made to build a new light on the north side of the creek's entry. The new light, constructed of buff colored brick, was completed in 1915. Most lighthouses were built from stock plans developed by the Lighthouse Service. The L.H. Bannon Plumbing, Heating & Contracting Co. built the new lighthouse for the grand sum of $33,575.81. This new light was in a better position to mark the harbor entrance. The old light, was put up for bid by the government but never sold and was eventually demolished in 1953.

New Rondout Lighthouse

The lightkeeper's primary mission was to NEVER LET THE LIGHT GO OUT. After sundown and during foggy weather or electrical storms the lightkeeper's priority was to see that the wick of the lighthouse lamp (which burned for about six hours) was kept alight. The lamp was lit at 6:00 p.m. and replenished at midnight. The Lighthouse establishment required the keeper to keep an account of all supplies used including each gill of oil and each wick. Logs were to be kept of each sun's rise and setting, weather conditions, visitors, rescues and any unusual events. The keeper received all his furnishings, from washcloths to heating supplies, and was paid a salary. A newspaper clipping dated April 29, 1916, describes two bills passed by the Lighthouse Service. The salary of lighthouse keepers was raised from $600 to $700 per annum. The second bill provided for voluntary retirement at age 65 and compulsory retirement at age 70. Keepers were to be given one fortieth of the pay they received for each year of their service.

By far the most famous keepers of the Rondout lights were the Murdocks. Catherine A. Parsell, a native of Esopus, married George M. Murdock, a native of Stone Ridge, Ulster County. He served briefly as a keeper in the early frame lighthouse. Within a year of his appointment he drowned and Catherine was appointed keeper. Mrs. Murdock remained keeper of the Rondout Light until 1907. Her life must have been very full for in addition to raising three children she had a privileged spot from which to watch the bustling maritime activity that characterized Rondout. It is said she loved to tell stories of steamboat races. One can only guess at how many ships she protected during her long term of service, or how many rescues she and her children took part in.

Catherine's son James was appointed assistant keeper in 1880. He was a quiet person who rescued several small boats and shied away from publicity about his efforts. He married and brought his wife home to live at the lighthouse. He later attained a reputation for amassing a collection of pictures of Hudson River crafts including the great Hendrick Hudson. James was also known to collect individually patterned table glasses from the dayline passenger steamers. For a time Catherine's daughter Emma also lived at the lighthouse with her husband and two daughters.

By far one of the most interesting stories unearthed about lightkeepers' adventures was one about an ascension balloonist who came to Kingston each year on Memorial Day to perform his stunning feat. Rising over Kingston Point in a balloon named "City of Kingston" as he had for several years previously, suddenly a north breeze took him off his track and he floated down river toward the lighthouse. To the surprise of the onlookers in boats and along the shore, this Mr. Hicks was carried out over the river further than he had expected to go and he decided to cut his parachute loose. Descending rapidly he struck the water with a terrible blow. James Murdock in his ready boat was the first to reach the fateful spot. Sadly, the aviator was never seen again. Not all the Lightkeepers' rescue attempts ended so tragically.

James Murdock resigned his post as keeper in 1923. Ernest Bloom continued the lightkeeper's duties cleaning the lamp and keeping the logs until Robert Howard took over in 1935. On July 1st, 1939, the newly formed Coast Guard replaced the Lighthouse Service as commander of the lighthouse due to America's preparations for World War Il. Though this change had little effect on keepers themselves. Mr. Howard remained light-keeper until he suffered an unfortunate fall on the ice in 1945, injured his head and died. His successor, Albert Passel, served very briefly followed by Herman Lange (1946-1954).

The installation of electricity in the late 1940s did away with the need for a permanent lightkeeper at the lighthouse. In 1954 the remaining furnishings were removed and Rondout Light was boarded up by the Coast Guard. New technologies available for automated lights meant lightkeepers' services were no longer needed. From 1954 through the 1980s Warren Spinneweber of Port Ewen, monitored the light and electronically lit the light and sounded the fog horn.

In November, 2000, President Clinton signed into law a bill affecting the ownership of about 500 lighthouses across the nation, including the Rondout Lighthouse. This law set up a detailed process for transferring ownership of the lighthouses from the U.S. Coast Guard to new owners. On June 19, 2002, the ownership of the Rondout Lighthouse was transferred to the City of Kingston. Under City of Kingston ownership, daily operation of the lighthouse continues to be done by the Hudson River Maritime Museum under a contract with the City.

Although the lighthouse is now uninhabited, it remains an important navigation aid and stands as a sentinel at the mouth of the Rondout Creek; inviting us to imagine days when paddle wheel boats were transporting thousands of passengers per week between New York City and Rondout to all points beyond.

Return to Top