Name and Location

The Stage Harbor Light is located at M258+3P Isa's Beach, West Chatham, Chatham, MA 02633, USA (plus-code M258+FG). The coordinates are 41.6587059 N, –69.9836957 W. The official nautical chart is NOAA Chart 13214 (Chatham Harbor), and a map link can be found at https://maps.google.com/?q=41.6587059,-69.9836957.

2. Construction and History

The Stage Harbor Light was erected in 1880 and decommissioned in 1933. Initially, it was operated by the U.S. Lighthouse Board (later the U.S. Lighthouse Service) until its automation replaced by a skeleton tower on a concrete pier in 1933. The original structure was sold into private hands after deactivation.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is a wood-frame dwelling clad in weatherboards, with an octagonal lantern room and a Fresnel lens pedestal foundation. The tower height is approximately 30 feet (9 m) above the base to the lantern deck, while the focal height is roughly 40 feet (12 m) above mean high water.

4. Light and Navigation

The lighthouse was originally equipped with a 5th-order Fresnel lens. It displayed a fixed white or fixed red light, with visibility about 10 nautical miles. The original power source was an oil-wick lamp with Fresnel optics.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The grounds and building are privately owned, offering exterior views only. Visitors can access the site from Isa's Beach parking area (Chatham Department of Natural Resources) or walking along the Stage Harbor shoreline. No on-site visitor facilities are available.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

The lighthouse sits amidst low dunes, salt marshes, and sandy beach that lead into the broad waters of Stage Harbor and Nantucket Sound. From Isa's Beach, one can enjoy panoramic views of the harbor entrance, Monomoy Island to the southeast, and the Atlantic beyond.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

Local lore claims that on clear nights, one can still hear the tolling of the old fog bell (no longer extant). There are unverified stories of friendly ghostly figures—perhaps past keepers—gathering on the porch.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse was never automated; it was deactivated in 1933. The keeper's quarters were integrated into the lighthouse structure, housing a single keeper. The original power source was an oil-wick lamp with Fresnel optics.

9. Further Information

For further information on the Stage Harbor Light, consult the U.S. Coast Guard Light List Vol. I (Atlantic Coast), NOAA Chart 13214 "Chatham Harbor," Massachusetts GIS Office, and Wikipedia.