Notes:
(1) Cleveland East Ledge Light was built to mark the submerged Cleveland East Ledge aiding the busy navigation using the Cleveland Ledge Channel en route to the Cape Cod Canal.  Cleveland Ledge Light marks the western entrance of the 15-mile long Cape Cod Canal free waterway constructed to reduce travel time and to avoid the hazardous Nantucket Shoals.

      In 1940, the state of Massachusetts began the undertaking of constructing a Lighthouse, named after President Grover Cleveland who frequently fished the spot, to mark the hazardous Cleveland East Ledge and Cleveland Ledge.  The project was transferred to the Federal Government and the Coast Guard in 1941.

      The modern steel and reinforced concrete Lighthouse on a 52-feet diameter cylindrical caisson pier was completed in 1943.  The Lighthouse has integral living and work quarters with a engine room and four 4,800-gallons water tanks below the main deck.

      Cleveland East Ledge Lighthouse was First Lit in 1943 exhibiting a Flashing White light every 10 seconds illuminated by a Fourth-order Fresnel lens and kerosene lamp 74-feet above sea level visible to range of 17 nautical miles in clear weather.

      On September 15, 1944, the Great Atlantic Hurricane pounded the Lighthouse, destroying a skylight that almost flooded the Engine Room. Lieutenant Olie P. Swensons’ crew bailed water until the open skylight was blocked stopping the rising water two inches below the batteries that supplied the Light stations’ power.  The category 2 to 3 hurricane caused heavy damage and 26 casualties including all hands of Vineyard Sound Lightship, LV73 moored three miles west of Cuttyhunk Island to mark the entrance of Buzzards Bay and Vineyard Sound.

      To aid navigation during poor visibility, a radiobeacon was installed to triangulate bearings with Nobska Point Light and Butler Flats Light in New Bedford.  The radiobeacon was later replaced by a radar beacon (RACON) transmitting the Morse character C (-.-.) identifying mark to marine radar displays.

      On Oct 9, 1974, the Bouchard No. 65 barge was grounded on a submerged obstruction near the canal entrance and Cleveland Ledge Light spilling 12,000-gallons of No. 2 Fuel Oil.  Bouchard No. 65 barge was damaged again about half a mile west of Cleveland Ledge Light on Jan 28, 1977 spilling 81,000-gallons of No. 2 Fuel Oil.  A tug managed to break the ice to free and tow the barge 4-miles to Wings Neck.  Even though aids to navigation marked the safe shipping channel, Bouchard 145 fuel barge spilled heating oil near Cleveland Ledge on June 18, 1990.

      In 1978, the Lighthouse was automated using a 190 mm Lens after a underwater power cable was installed.  The Tower was sealed and Coast Guard Keepers reassigned.


(2) Lighted throughout 24 hours. Emergency light of reduced intensity when main light is extinguished.

(3) Distant Views of Cleveland East Ledge Lighthouse can be seen from Nyes Neck to Silver Beach at Wild Harbor, No. Falmouth, Cape Cod using binoculars or telephoto lens.