About 4 miles north of camp was situated the Pt. Sur light house, its unique location made it a very interesting place to visit.
The approach to the light was over a low stretch of sand so low that at extreme high tide the light house and keepers dwellings were cut off from the main land, leaving them on an island. This island consisted of an immense rock, probably covering 20 acres about 300 ft. high and very steep, in fact you had to mount to the light by means of a flight of stairs, 336 steps without a landing making it an impossible climb for a great many visitors. All supplies used by the lighthouse attendants were hoisted up from the sand below by a cable run by a large hoisting engine located at the top. The light was placed at the opposite side of the rock from the keepers dwellings, a distance of some 250 yds. A trail lead from the dwellings to the light, well guarded by hand railings and fence.
Approaching the light house from along this trail only the top of the tower could be seen and then only when you was [were] with a few hundred feet of it.
The trail ended in a foot bridge which lead [led] directly into the light chamber, the highest point in a light house tower, this curious arrangement was caused by the height of the rock on which the tower was built. This side of the rock was about 300 ft. from the water and almost perpendicular. The foundation for the tower was cut down and leveled out of solid rock, bringing the tip of the tower almost on a level with the bank above; there was no necessity of erecting the customary funnel shaped high tower as the rock gave sufficient height, if not too high as was proven many times while I was there for I have heard the fog-signal sounding for hours while we were near the waters levels enjoying a beautiful clear day, but at the light house they were developed [enveloped] in a blanket of fog which only hovered around the top of the rock causing the officers in charge there to believe a fog hung over the sea from many miles around. The bridge connecting the end of the trail with the light chambers was about 18 ft. long and heavily guarded by iron hand rails about about 5 feet high. Done for the purpose we were told protecting the men while changing shifts at night in stormy weather as the wind at this point on the coast blows harder than any point between British Columbia and Mexico. The men have been known to crawl on their hands and knees in __ order to save themselves from being blown off while crossing into the Watch Tower.
The dwellings were built of beautiful brown sandstone and securely anchored being, built so strong and perfect that in the most hurricane southeasterly storm once in side the storm blew unnoticed or felt. I never had or have been within a building that was cleaner or most neat and sanitary than all of these buildings were including engine and oil rooms.
Cleanliness was stamped everywhere.
Big Sur…NEXT