|
Warrior Rock Light, OR |
  |
Description:
On October 28, 1792, an advance party from Capt. George Vancouver's Columbia River expedition set foot on a rocky point at the north end of Sauvie Island. Surrounded by twenty-three canoes of war clad Chinooks, Lt. William Broughton quickly made peace and called the place "Warrior Rock."
It was almost one hundred years later that a little lighthouse was built at the spot to help guide river traffic into the Portland area. Warrior Rock Lighthouse, built in 1889, was originally a small two story structure atop a sandstone foundation. The single room first floor served as the keeper's quarters. The second floor was primarily a covered half deck housing the lens lantern and fog bell. Eventually, a house and barn were added to the property. The bell has the distinction of being the oldest fog bell in the Pacific Northwest. Cast in Philadelphia in 1855, the bell was first used at Cape Disappointment at the mouth of the Columbia River. The winds, land contour, and roaring seas made it difficult to hear the bell, so the bell was replaced and moved to the West Point Lighthouse in Puget Sound before eventually ending up at Warrior Rock in 1889. Lightkeeper Frank DeRoy, who served in the 1920s, nicknamed the bell "Black Moria" because the striking mechanism would often break and he would have to ring the bell manually for hours. When the river was high, the sandstone foundation would often be under water. At those times, Mr. DeRoy rode an aerial tram he concocted with a cable to get to the lighthouse. In the 1930s, the little frame lighthouse was replaced with a 28-foot concrete tower, built on the same square sandstone foundation. There it remained until May 27, 1969, when a barge ran into the lighthouse causing considerable damage to the foundation and disabling the light and fog bell. While the Coast Guard debated whether to rebuild the tower, the historic bell was removed. During the move, the bell fell into the river and was severely cracked. The bell was never returned to the lighthouse. It can now be seen on the north side of the Columbia County Historic Courthouse in St. Helens, Oregon. Along the waterfront in St. Helens, you can also see a replica of the original Warrior Rock Lighthouse. The Chinooks are gone from Sauvie Island. Today it is a pastoral paradise with pumpkin patches, marble sized summer blueberries, and miles and miles of scenic roads perfect for biking. And at the north tip, the rebuilt little lighthouse continues to guide river traffic down the mighty Columbia. References
Location: Located on the northern tip of Sauvie Island just south of Saint Helens. Latitude: 45.84858 Longitude: -122.78835 For a larger map of Warrior Rock Light Lighthouse, click the lighthouse in the above map or get a map from: Mapquest. Travel Instructions: The lighthouse can be reached quickly via a 0.2 mile boat ride from the riverfront marina in Saint Helens. Otherwise, you can drive to the northern part of Sauvie Island and hike three miles to the Warrior Rock Lighthouse. The lighthouse is owned by the Coast Guard. Grounds open, tower closed. Find the closest hotels to Warrior Rock Light Lighthouse Notes from a friend: Kraig writes:This lighthouse by itself is not overly impressive. However, if you make sure and see the half-scale replica of the original Warrior Rock Lighthouse, located behind the historic, stone St. Helens County Courthouse, as well as the fog bell which was used in the original tower, located just south of the steps on the west side of the modern court house, the combined experience is worthy of a stop. See our List of Lighthouses in Oregon |
