Name and Location

The Bass River Light, also known as West Dennis Light, is a privately maintained aid to navigation located at 1 Lighthouse Inn Road, West Dennis, Massachusetts, USA (41°39′6.23″ N, 70��10′8.22″ W). The lighthouse sits on the grounds of the Lighthouse Inn and serves as both a historic reminder and a working private light.

Construction and History

The original Bass River Light station was established in the mid-19th century to guide vessels entering Bass River Harbor. In 1914, federal service discontinued, and the light was extinguished. The tower was removed from the riverbank in the mid-20th century, preserved, and relocated to its current site at Lighthouse Inn property. Today, it is re-established as a private aid, maintained by inn proprietors under U.S. Coast Guard authorization.

Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse's style is 19th-century vernacular wooden tower, constructed with wood-frame, board-and-batten materials. The original height was approximately 25-30 feet above grade at the base, with a focal plane roughly at second-floor roof height.

Light and Navigation

Currently used as a private aid to navigation and inn feature, the lighthouse likely exhibits a fixed or flashing white beacon lit seasonally, with an estimated range under 5 nautical miles. It is fully automated, with no resident keeper since decommissioning in 1914, and does not have radar/AIS installed.

Accessibility and Visiting

The tower stands within private property and is not open to the public for climbing or entry. Exterior viewing from Lighthouse Inn Road is unrestricted, and guests of the inn may stroll the grounds. Nearby facilities include the Lighthouse Inn restaurant and bar, on-site lodging, and seasonal outdoor seating.

Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse overlooks Bass River Harbor and Lighthouse Beach (0.3 mi north) as well as West Dennis Beach (1 mi east). The Cape Cod Rail Trail access is 3 mi north, and the Historic Dennis Village center is 4 mi northwest.

Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore recalls a "Captain Moore" family stewarding the light into the early 20th century. Late-19th-century accounts refer to schooners grounding off Bass River inlet in heavy fogs, prompting calls for improved harbor lighting.

Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse's technical and operational details are not well-documented; however, it is maintained by inn proprietors under U.S. Coast Guard authorization.

Further Information

For further reading, please visit the United States Coast Guard website (Private Aids to Navigation) or the Massachusetts GIS – Historic Lighthouses Dataset.