Umpqua River Light House, Winchester Bay Oregon

The mouth of the Umpqua River was among the first four sites selected for lighthouses in the Oregon Territory. Other designated sites, as stated in a letter dated 01 October 1851 from the Secretary of the Treasury to the Secretary of the Interior, were Cape Disappointment, New Dungeness, and Cape Flattery. All three of these sites now fall within the borders of the State of Washington. Construction of the first lighthouse, which was built near the river's entrance, was commenced in 1856, and the light exhibition in the fall of the following year. In 1863, river freshets undermined the foundations of this structure and it collapsed, causing a total loss.
It was not until 1888 that Congress appropriated money for a replacement. A site of higher elevation was purchased and construction commenced in 1891. Completion of the facility was delayed by default of one of the contractors and it was not finished and lighted until near the end of 1894.
The tower and workroom bear a striking resemblance to Heceta Head Light, which was built about thirty miles to the north in 1892-93. Another similar light of the northwest coast is North Head Lighthouse (c. 1898) in the State of Washington near the mouth of the Columbia River.
Jim Gibbs, in West Coast Lighthouses, reports a thrilling story of piracy that took place off the Umpqua River Light in 1909. "Two men of unsavory character, suspecting the presence of a large gold shipment, plotted to seize the Alaska Pacific Navigation Co., liner BUCKMAN, run her aground and make off with the treasure. The plans were thwarted, but not before the captain of the ship and the leading thug were dead."
A fog bell on public display in front of the tower bears the following inscription:
J. REGESTER & SONS
BALTIMORE MD.
1889
Site Description
The light structure consists of a brick masonry conical tower, with a rectangular engine room extension connected by a short passageway. The stuccoed tower, 22 feet in diameter at the base, rises 67 feet to a metal framed lantern which has sixteen sides (marked A-P for erection purposes). The lantern is glazed with three tiers of rectangular panes and is capped with a ball finial ventilator.
The base of the tower is distinguished by an elaborate watertable formed of cut stone mouldings. The two windows in the stairway of the tower have fully developed stone enframements. The tower workroom below the lantern has four windows which alternate with recessed panels in the masonry. There is a moulded stone band below the windows and an elaborate modillioned cornice just below the railing.
The lantern is fitted with a first-order lens manufactured by F. BARBIER & CIE in Paris, dated 1890, and is designated BF/91. The lens and carriage are supported on four metal columns connected by open spandrel arches.
The attached engine room, 16.1 ft X 12.1 ft, has a gable roof with masonry parapets. Access is gained through a door on the west side before which is a flight of stone steps. The one inside room has been refinished with resilient flooring, fiberboard ceiling, and new door and window trim. This building is now covered with asphalt shingles rather than the original wood. The parapets have been capped in metal and a modern flush door installed.
Color Scheme:
Grey: Base
Grey Green: Lantern, window sash, frames and reveals
White: Masonry walls
Red: Roof
Light Characteristics: Gr. Fl. W., Alt. R. Fl., 15 Seconds
Light List: 1278 and 90
Source of illumination: Electricity
Height:of focal plane: 165 feet
Range of light: 21 miles white, 20 red
Fog signal: NONE
Radio Beacon: 324 khz 25 ft @ 270 degrees from light
Light Signal: 0.1 sec white flash, 4.9 eclipse
0.1 sec white flash, 4.9 eclipse
0.1 sec red flash, 4.9 eclipse
Light Specs: 210,000 candlepower electric

(1977)
