Concord Point Lighthouse

Concord Point Lighthouse blimpcaptain (Atlas Obscura User)

Built in 1827, Concord Point Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse in the state of Maryland. It sits at the point where the Susquehanna River and the Chesapeake Bay converge, and played a critical role in keeping ships safe during the 148 years between its appearance and its closure in 1975.

The lighthouse was built by contractor John Donahoo, who was responsible for the Thomas Point and Pooles Island lights, among a total of 12 lighthouses he built. He used local granite from Port Deposit, Maryland to build Concord Point and the accompanying light keeper’s house.

The lighthouse stands 36 feet tall with a focal point of 32 feet. 27 steps lead to an 8-rung ship’s ladder that leads to the trap door through which the lantern is reached. A Harford County resident, Donahoo was town commissioner of Havre de Grace for 16 years.

The first keeper of the Concord Point Lighthouse was John O’Neill, a hero of the war of 1812. He was the first of four generations of O’Neills to to serve as lighthouse keepers Thomas Courtney and John Blaney alternated as keepers of the light until John O’Neill Jr. was appointed in 1861. Two years later, his widow Esther O’Neill took over until her retirement in 1881. Harry O’ Neill was appointed in 1881 to replace Esther, and he served as keeper until his death in 1919. His son, Henry F. O’Neill took over as custodian until the keeper’s property was sold the following year.

Initially illuminated with 9 whale oil lamps with 16 inch reflectors, the lantern was upgraded to a 6th order Fresnel lens in 1861 and again to a 5th order lens in 1898. Two years before it’s closure, it was upgraded to fully automatic, rendering the keeper’s primary duty obsolete.

The keeper’s house served as a rooming house, restaurant, and bar over the years while the lighthouse fell under the jurisdiction of U.S. Coast Guard until it was decommissioned in 1975.

The lighthouse and keeper’s house are now maintained by Friends of Concord Point Lighthouse. The keeper’s house is now a museum complete with a gift shop.