09/09/2026
200 years ago this week - a request for proposal to build a lighthouse in Dunkirk was published in the Sept. 6, 1826 issue of the Fredonia Censor.
More details on the current (and former) Lighthouse can be found here:
https://nyfalls.com/lakes/erie/dunkirk-lighthouse/
Below is the full article. We also provide a picture of what the original lighthouse looked like upon completion. It stood until 1876, when a new (and current) Lighthouse was built.
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[From the Fredonia Censor, Sep. 6, 1826]
DUNKIRK LIGHT HOUSE.
COLLECTOR'S OFFICE,
Buffalo, Aug. 28, 1826.
PROPOSALS will be received at this office until the 11th September next, for building a Light House and Dwelling House at Dunkirk, Chautauque County, of the following materials, dimensions and description:
The Light House to be built of rough split stone or brick, tower round
— the foundation to be laid as deep as may be necessary to make the whole fabric secure. The height of the tower to be forty feet from the surface of the ground
— the diameter of the base twenty-two feet, and that of the top ten and one half feet
— the walls to be three feet six inches at the bottom, graduated to two at the top, laid in good lime mortar, well pointed and whitewashed twice over. The exterior of the wall to be laid with Roman cement, or water lime, of a quality that may be approved by the Superintendent.
The floor of the Light House to be paved with stone or brick
— circular stairs connected with a center post carried up from the floor to within six feet of the deck of the lantern
— stairs to be made from two inch plank, eight inch rise
— to be three windows and a door in the tower
— the door to be six feet high and three and a half feet wide, made of inch boards, double and cross nailed, with strong hinges, lock and latch
— the windows to have strong frames, and sashes to contain each 12 lights 8 by 10 glass
— an arch to be turned at the top of the tower, on which is to be laid a stone deck twelve feet diameter, four inches thick, the joints to be filled with lead
— a scuttle in the deck to pass into the lantern, 18 inches by 21
— the scuttle and rabbets to be covered with copper — an iron ladder to reach from the top of the stairs to the entrance of the scuttle, with steps two inches wide
— on the top of the tower to be an iron lantern of an octagon form to be sufficient diameter to admit an iron sash in each octagon to contain 21 lights, 12 by 11, to be glassed with the first quality of glass of double thickness, from Boston manufactory, except in the lower tier which is to be filled with copper
— a sliding ventilator to be in one of the copper panes of each octagon
— the rabbet of the sashes to be not less than five eights of an inch deep
— the octagon posts to be two inches square and to run four feet into the walls of the tower and secured with anchors
— on the top of the dome to be a traversing ventilator twelves inches in diameter and fifteen inches high, on which to be a vane secured two and a half feet long and fifteen inches wide, the ventilator and vane covered with copper
— in one of the octagons to be an iron framed door four feet high and two feet wide, covered with copper, to shut tight into the rabbets, secured by two turn buttons
— around the lamp to be an iron balustrade with two railings, the posts to be 1 1/4 inch square, the railing 3/4 inch square
— the lantern and all the wood work in the tower to be painted twice over
— an electrical rod to be fitted on the tower to run two feet above the vane of the lantern and two feet into the ground.
The Dwelling House to be of brick, thirty-four feet by twenty-one story & eight feet high, divided into two rooms with an entry between
— the stairs to be in the entry to go into the chambers, which are to be lathed and plastered
— a chimney in the middle of the house with a fire place in each room, iron mantle pieces
— cellar under the whole house with sufficient walls of stone laid in lime mortar, twenty inches thick, six feet deep, the walls of the house to be twelve inches thick, laid in lime mortar
— the roof to be rectangular, covered with good merchantable boards, and well shingled
— three windows in each room, of 10 lights, 8 by 10 each, and one of the same dimensions in each chamber. The doors all to be four paneled, with good hinges and thumb latches to each, and a good lock on the outside door
— a closet in each room back of the chimney
— all the floors to be double and well nailed
— the inside walls and ceilings to be lathed and plastered, and all the inside work to be finished in a plain decent style with good seasoned stuff. All the wood work inside and out to be painted with two good coats of paint.
The whole to be completed in a workmanlike manner, by the 15th of November next.
Proposals will also be received, for the er****on of the above mentioned buildings, to be completed by the 1st of June, 1827.
The whole to be approved by the Collector of Buffalo Creek. Payment to be made when the work shall be completed and approved.
MYNDERT M. DOX, Collector.
