Frank's Island Louisiana
Harbour Lights #374

The Louisiana Purchase prompted President Thomas Jefferson, to engage renowned architect and engineer, Benjamin Latrobe, architect of the US Capitol Building, to design a “monumental lighthouse welcoming foreign trade” serving as a navigational aid at the entrance of the Mississippi. Latrobe designed a light to be built of marble, brick and other stone and was in a word “magnificent.” Latrobe’s plans were submitted to Congress, in 1807, however, the war of 1812 intervened and the plans were either lost or destroyed.

After the war, a three-man committee was appointed to select a site for the lighthouse and one member was Henry Latrobe, Benjamin’s son. Frank’s Island, a small island, north of the Northeast pass of the Mississippi was chosen as the site. While engineers were in agreement that site was adequate for the massive project, there was not a contractor willing to undertake the project.

Construction finally began in 1818, under the supervision of Henry Latrobe. In 1817, Latrobe died of Yellow fever and Barthelemy Lafton was named to head the building project. In 1819, Benjamin Latrobe was called in; construction crews were reporting cracks in the tower. Latrobe ordered more pilings be driven into the sides of the island to prevent erosion with metal hoops installed around the tower.

Ten days, after the tower was first lit, in March 1820 the foundation began to settle and the tower began to moan and groan and finally fell over. The cost of the tower and Keeper’s Quarters $85,500.

A great debate began on what to do? Unfortunately, like his son before him, Benjamin Latrobe died of Yellow Fever.

In 1821, Winslow Lewis, a designer of American lighthouse reflector systems was hired to rebuild the tower on a new foundation, using existing materials. Lewis, had told the committee, appointed, after the war of 1812, that the site (Frank’s Island) was not adequate to support the Latrobe design.

Lewis agreed to rebuild the tower (North-East Pass Light) and guarantee its foundation for $10,000. An offer Congress could not refuse. It should be noted: Lewis’ tower design, while similar to Benjamin Latrobe’s, did not include the elaborate colonnade or Keeper’s Dwelling envisioned by President Thomas Jefferson.