Uncovering the Lighthouse's Past, Envisioning It's Future

At MLA's Fall Membership Meeting, lighthouse historian Neil Hurley invited us to take a closer look at the St. Johns River Lighthouse. Drawing on decades of research and experience with lighthouse restoration projects across the State of Florida, Neil shared how historic photographs, architectural plans, and his own visit to the Lighthouse in 2004 are helping us better understand the historic structure, and perhaps shed light on how its restoration will take shape.

Neil has already helped us revisit an important part of our history. As we shared in an earlier blog post, his research helped establish August 1, 1859, as the day the St. Johns River Lighthouse was first lit. His latest presentation offered another reminder that even after more than 167 years, there is still much to learn about the Lighthouse. As new evidence becomes available, our understanding of the Lighthouse continues to grow.

Historic maps reveal just how much the landscape around the Lighthouse has changed. A 1918 nautical chart shows marshland where the naval airfield now stands, with the road into Mayport Village passing directly by the Lighthouse. Later maps document the keeper’s quarters and other buildings that supported its operation. Together, these records help us picture the Lighthouse as part of a working waterfront community, surrounded by a landscape quite different from the one we know today.

Some of Neil’s most interesting discoveries concern the daily work of the keepers. For more than 20 years, he had wondered about an unusual feature near the top of the tower. During his visit in 2004, he photographed what appeared to be shelves in the wall at the level just below where the lens pedestal would have stood. While reviewing historic plans for this presentation, he recognized them as steep stairs leading to a hatch that opened to the exterior gallery deck. That discovery helped explain how keepers reached the outside of the Lighthouse to clean the lantern room windows.

Another detail connects the building’s design to the responsibilities of its keepers. Neil explained that the window in the watch room level faced the entrance to the St. Johns River, allowing keepers to watch for vessels in distress while tending the light. Features that might, at first glance, seem like small architectural details can tell us a great deal about how people lived and worked here.

Neil also explored the history of the Lighthouse’s oil storage rooms, explaining that the separate oil house was a later addition to the site. Built in 1890, it stood just west of the tower and measured approximately nine by eleven feet. Earlier plans show that the entrance building attached to the Lighthouse was used to store oil, reflecting how the light’s fuel source and accompanying facilities changed over time. The separate oil house stored kerosene and was designed to resist fire, with ventilation to prevent fumes from accumulating. Fuel arrived in five-gallon cans, typically packed in wooden boxes, offering another glimpse into the practical work of keeping the Lighthouse operating. Understanding when and why this building was added helps MLA consider how any future reconstruction could accurately represent the different chapters of the Lighthouse’s history.

Neil also demonstrated why preservation research requires comparing several kinds of sources. Original plans do not always show a building exactly as it was constructed. Drawings of the top of the tower depict a flatter roof than the one that was built, and plans for attached entry building depict elaborate framing around the door that Neil believes was never realized. Michael Blake, our lead architect for the relocation project, had previously arrived at the same conclusion as early photographs show a simpler doorway. Comparing original architectural drawings with historical photographs helps us make more informed decisions about restoration.

As we work toward relocation, unearthing the base of the tower could offer opportunities to retrieve some of the original bricks from the formerly attached entrance building, and learn about its architectural features including the floor material and placement of the windows. As MLA was already hoping to rebuild this part of the lighthouse, gaining access to some of the original materials could significantly improve the historical accuracy of the reconstruction.

Neil’s research shows why it is worth continuing to look, compare, and ask questions. As Neil said in his presentation, “I encourage you to dream big and think big when you're approaching a project like this.” Each discovery helps us tell a fuller story of the St. Johns River Lighthouse and the people who cared for it. As MLA works to relocate, restore, and return public access to this landmark, we look forward to learning more about its past and dreaming big about its future.

Relationships like the one we’ve built with Neil Hurley are at the heart of our mission. The knowledge, expertise, and curiosity of our community help us better understand the St. Johns River Lighthouse and guide our efforts to preserve and protect it. As we work toward relocation and restoration, we look forward to uncovering more of its history and sharing the stories of Mayport Village’s maritime heritage with current and future generations.

To watch Neil’s full presentation and dig deeper into what he has uncovered, view the video below.

Mayport Lighthouse Association, Inc.
PO Box 7148
Jacksonville, Florida 32238 info@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

501(c)(3) non-profit organization
REGISTRATION NUMBER CH67070
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES WEBSITE [FDACSS.GOV] OR BY CALLING TOLL-FREE [800-435-7352]. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

Dan Hogan, President
president@mayportlighthouseassociation.org
904-420-8839

Elizabeth Boggs, Vice President
membership@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

Beverly Oakes, Treasurer
treasurer@mayportlighthouseassociation.org

Valerie Bennett, Secretary
info@mayportlighthouseassociation.org