Notes:
(1) Hospital Point Light was built to mark Salem Sound’s main shipping channel between Little Misery Island and Baker’s Island as the second course* into Salem Harbor.  The Lighthouse became a Front Range Light in 1927.

      In 1635, Beverly Harbor, protected by Salem Neck and Woodbury Point, began as small cod fishing seaport that expanded to coastal and foreign trading by 1750.  Codfish was traded for fine cloth and liquors from Spain and other fish were used in the Triangular Trade.  During the Revolutionary War, a seven gun battery fort was built on Woodbury Point to protect the privateering port.  Nearby Hospital Point, 1,600-feet east of Woodbury Point, was named for a smallpox hospital built in 1801 and later used as a barracks during the War of 1812.

      Interestingly, Hospital Point became important to navigation 59-years later during the decline of Salem and Beverly as international trading seaports.  In 1871, a temporary wooden Tower and a Queen Anne Revival Keeper’s house was built at Hospital Point.  The temporary Light guided navigation in the Salem Channel and was replaced by the present 45-feet high White Brick Square Pyramidal Lighthouse in 1872.

      Hospital Point Light exhibited a Fixed White light illuminated by Three and one-half order Fresnel Lens with a unique condensing panel mounted in front of the lens.  The condensing panel reduces the intensity of the Light when a mariner deviates from the Salem Channel in the Sound.  A ingenious method of marking the safe shipping channel and eliminate the expense of building a Rear Range Light.

      In 1927, a Rear Range Light was installed in the spire of the First Baptist Church located 2,050 yards, 276.3 deg from the Front Range Light.  The Rear Range Light was First Lit on May 1, 1927 exhibiting a Fixed White light illuminated by optics scrapped from a Lightship.  Hospital Point Light was officially renamed the Hospital Point Range Front Light.  By aligning the Front Range Light to the Rear Range Light, ships would be on course safely in mid-channel.  The Range Lights provided additional guidance to the condensing panel aid.

      The Rear Range Light is an active aid to navigation, Aid No. 10005/J0290.1, with two 300mm reflector lenses 127-feet high in the steeple and a Fixed White Characteristic visible 2 degrees on each side of Rangeline with a focal plane Height of 183 feet.

      In 1947, Hospital Point Front Range Light became automated and the Keeper’s House has been home to the Commander of the First Coast Guard District since then.  The Lighthouse is one of the exceptional Lights to retain its original Fresnel Lens.

*Prior to 1871, Mariners unfamiliar with the unmarked hazards of Salem Sound were endangered by numerous rocks, ledges, and shoals. After 1871, navigation entering Salem Sound and Salem Harbor was safely guided by two sets of Range Lights and Hospital Point Light:

First Passage: Aligning the Bakers Island Range Lights marked the Approach to Salem Sound.

Second Passage: Hospital Point Light marked Salem’s main shipping channel through Salem Sound between the dangerous ledges and shoals.  Salem Channel is a safe deep-water shipping channel in Salem Sound leading to Beverly, Salem, and Marblehead harbors.  In 1927, the steeple of Beverly’s First Baptist Church became the Hospital Point Rear Range Light to further aid navigation in the Salem Channel by aligning the Hospital Point Range Lights.

Third Passage: Mariners near Curtis Point would sight Fort Picking Light and align with Derby Wharf Light to navigate the safe shipping channel into Salem Harbor.

      In 1871, the two sets of Range Lights and Hospital Point Light “completed the shipping channel system for the Harbor of Salem” to aid coastal commerce and cod and mackerel fishing.

(2) Directions from MA-1A in Beverly:
      Take MA-62 East to MA-127 North, turn Right onto E. Corning Street to the intersection with Neptune Street and Ober Street.  Drive straight through the intersection onto Bayview Avenue and continue to the cul-de-sac.

      At the cul-de-sac, the Front Range Lighthouse can be viewed noting that no parking signs are posted.  In order to see a front view of the Lighthouse, drive back to the intersection Neptune Street, Ober Street and East Corning Street.  Turn Left onto Ober Street and drive to Lynch Park.  During low tide, walk along the beach from Lynch Park to the Lighthouse.  A distant view of Hospital Point (Front Range) Light can be seen from Salem Willows Park in Salem.


      Although the Rear Range Light may be difficult to see, the spire of the First Baptist Church is the only active Church Lighthouse in America.  Charleston, South Carolina was the only one other Harbor Light (decommissioned in 1865) established in a church steeple.  The First Baptist Church is located off MA-62.
Directions from Route 128 North or South: take Exit 22, MA-62 East towards Beverly, bear Left at the Mobile Station and drive to the T-intersection (Town Paint & Supply).  Turn Right onto Cabot Street, drive towards downtown and the church is on the left.

Rear Range Light

Lighthouse Data Established: May 1, 1927 Light List: Aid No. 10005/J0290.1 Position: N 42° 32' 54", W 70° 52' 42" Nautical Chart First Baptist Church, Beverly, MA Characteristic: F W [Fixed White] Present optic: two 300mm reflector lenses Elevation: 183-feet high Range: 14 nautical miles Structure: (Daymark) 127-feet high in the Church steeple Fog signal: none Current Use: Active aid to navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

      As with many New England Lighthouses, a private boat or a Lighthouse cruise offers picturesque scenic views of the Hospital Point Front Range Light, Salem Sound, and Salem harbor: