Did You Know? (Ten Pound Island)

Posted on March 22, 2011 by

Photo by E.J. Lefavour

That Ten Pound Island Light is an historic lighthouse in Gloucester Harbor that was built in 1881 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988?  Common lore says Ten Pound Island got its name from the amount of money the local Indians received from the early settlers for the property. Cape Ann historian, Joseph Garland, believed it was more likely named for the number of sheep pens (also known as pounds) on the island.

The actual light is 30 feet high with a focal plane of 57 feet above Mean High Water.  The island is open to private boaters, but there is no landing facility except a small sandy beach. The lighthouse is not open to the public and is best seen by boat.  It is an active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation, with the grounds managed by the City of Gloucester.

E.J. Lefavour

http://www.khanstudiointernational.com/did%20you%20know%20book.htm

About E.J.

Artist, researcher, spiritual traveler of this fascinating orb we inhabit, lover of life and all it has to offer. Hi everyone out there in GMG land. My name is Ellen “E.J.” Lefavour (a/k/a “Ejay Khan” – the pseudonym I used during my years as a political activist artist). I am a newcomer to Cape Ann, and thrilled to be a new contributor to Good Morning Gloucester. I am a painter and photographer who has lived and worked as an artist for 20 years, since leaving the corporate world in 1990 to pursue my passion. My contributions to GMG will consist of images (either my paintings, photographs, or the occasional video) and a little history about the image, called “Did you Know?” I hope to come up with tidbits of information that people don’t already know, or had forgotten they knew. As I am new here, everything is new and fascinating to me, especially the amazing history, so bear with me if I post something that is common knowledge – I’ll eventually come up with something that’s new to you. Please take a minute to comment on my posts, like them or not, especially if you have corrections or something to add, as that is how I, and all of us, learn. Have a Good Morning Gloucester, and a blessed day.
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4 Responses to Did You Know? (Ten Pound Island)

  1. Anonymous says:
    March 22, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    Thanks as always for the great info…this was especially interesting to me as I sit staring at Ten Pound Island from my window.

    Jenn

    Reply
  2. John McElhenny says:
    March 23, 2011 at 9:16 am

    E.J. – Thank you for your “Did You Know?” posts. They’re interesting and well-written. I always look forward to them. Thanks.

    Reply
  3. Bob Ryan says:
    March 23, 2011 at 10:11 am

    A couple of notes.
    The ramp there was for what is thought to be for the first Sea Plane put in use by the “Revenuers” to patrol the coastal “Rum Line” (Folly Cove) 3 mile limit to chase bootleggers during Prohibition.
    Also, my Grandfather, Thomas Powers, was a commisioner to build the Lobster Hatchery there. I think at least one of these stories is true.

    Reply
  4. E.J. says:
    March 23, 2011 at 6:53 pm

    Thanks Bob – interesting additional bits of information – aren’t you glad prohibition ended, or there would be no Folly Cove Rum, at least not legally.
    Thanks John – I’m glad you are enjoying them.
    Anonymous – lovely view to stare out your window at. It must be nice to look out in every kind of weather and time of day and see the different faces of it.

    Reply

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