Notes:
(1) West Chop Light was built to mark Middle Ground Shoal 1/2-mile offshore and the entrance to Vineyard Haven Harbor.

      Since 1646, Vineyard Haven Harbor, originally called “Homes Hole,” has been a important harbor of refuge.  The word “Hole” was common to the Sounds of Cape Cod for describing a small inlet of water providing shelter to vessels.  In 1871, the harbor was renamed Vineyard Haven in recognition of the port as a safe haven of the Vineyard.

      During the Revolutionary War, the harbor was a refuge for British men-of-war and the “Sea Coast Defence,” stationed at West Chop (originally called Homes Hole neck), captured two British supply vessels in 1777.  After the War of 1812, the Herring Fishery and Saltworks, for curing fish shipped to foreign markets, recovered at Holmes Hole.*  By the early 1820s, Vineyard Sound became a busy seaway again due to coastal trading, fishing, and whaling.

      On March 3, 1817, Congress appropriated $5,000 to build a Lighthouse on the bluff of West Chop.  The word “Chop” describes the land on the side of river’s mouth, channel, or harbor.  Four acres of land was sold to the government on July 15, 1817 and a 25-feet high rubblestone Tower was built.  West Chop Lighthouse was First Lit on October 5, 1817 and exhibited a Fixed White light illuminated by Lewis Patent Lamps.  James S. West, a former pilot from Tisbury, was appointed as the first Lightkeeper.

      West Chop Light is a important aid for navigation through Vineyard sound marking the dangerous Middle Ground Shoal.  In 1838, Lieutenant Edward W. Carpender, U.S. Navy, noted the erosion of the bluff threatened the Tower and the Light Station was in excellent order, “justifying the high reputation it enjoys along the coast.”

      In 1843, I.W.P. Lewis, Civil Engineer to the U.S. Light-house Survey, emphasized the importance of the Lighthouse to coasters in Vineyard Sound as a “excellent mark for clearing various shoals, and indicates the position of Holmes Hole anchorage.  The present keeper deserves praise for the great neatness of the establishment.”  Lightkeeper James West informed the Lighthouse Inspector that all structures leaked and the Tower was within 37-feet from the edge of the bluff due to erosion.

      In 1846, a new Keeper’s house and Lighthouse was built 1,000-feet southeast of the original location.  The conical Tower and Bird-cage style Lantern Room was First Lit in 1847.  The optics were refitted with Fourth-order Fresnel Lens and one oil lamp in 1857.


      On March 3, 1851, Congress appropriated $3,500 for the establishment of Harbor Range Lights at the headland of West Chop yet the State of Massachusetts ceded jurisdiction two years later.  In 1854, a two-story Keeper’s house and three Range Lights were built to guide navigation into the harbor.  Matthew P. Butler was appointed the first Lightkeeper.  Later, the Range Lights were replaced by a small lantern cupola on the Keeper’s house in 1856.  The Harbor Light was abandoned around 1875 and a red lantern was raised nightly from the flag pole of the U. S. Marine Hospital in 1879 as a range light for entering the harbor.

      By 1869, both West Chop Light and East Chop Light marked the entrance to the primary harbor of Martha’s Vineyard during the period when the Sounds of Cape Cod were busy shipping lanes for commerce and both Lighthouses were important aids to the developing summer resort at East Chop presently called Oak Bluffs.

      In 1881, an assistant Keeper’s house was built and a wooden Fog Signal building was constructed for a steam-driven Fog Horn.  After the collapse of the whaling industry in 1871, the island developed as a summer resort.  By 1891, West Chop Light was obscured by large summer “cottages” and a lantern was raised on a 17-feet high mast on top of the Tower until the present Lighthouse was built.


      In 1976, the Lighthouse was automated and is one of the few Lights to retain its original Fourth-order Fresnel lens.  Today, West Chop Light is a important active aid to busy ferry traffic entering Vineyard Haven Harbor with a red sector to warn mariners of Squash Meadow and Norton Shoals.

*Homes Hole refers to “old man’s hole” for the old chief living there when the first settlers arrived in 1642.  Later, the place name was changed to Holmes Hole after John Holmes purchased the land in 1765.

(2) The Optic was refitted with Fourth-order Fresnel Lens in 1857.

(3) Directions:
      There are at seven Ferries to Martha’s Vineyard: from Woods Hole, from Falmouth to Edgartown, from Falmouth to Oak Bluffs and from Hyannis on Cape Cod, Massachusetts; from Nantucket and New Bedford, Massachusetts; and a Ferry leaves from Montauk, NY.

            Since there are several ferry landings on the island, further driving directions are from the ferry terminal in Vineyard Haven:  Turn Right onto Beach Road and Turn Right onto Main Street.  Main Street becomes West Chop Road leading to the Lighthouse.


      Since the Lighthouse is private property of the Vineyard Environmental Research Institute and not open to the public, a good view is possible from the road.  West Chop Light is the first Lighthouse seen from ferries entering Vineyard Haven Harbor.

      A Sailing Cruise departs from historic Edgartown Harbor exploring the harbors and coastline around Martha’s Vineyard.  Depending upon the course, all five island Lighthouses may be seen from the water.

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      In season, several companies provide 2-1/2 hour Sightseeing Bus tours of the island that may pass by four of the island’s Lighthouses.