Barcelona, NY
Harbour Lights #398

The increasing traffic of the Erie Canal made it necessary for the United States Congress, on May 28, 1828, to appropriate $5,000, to construct a Lighthouse at Portland Harbor, NY. When the Town of Westfield was incorporated, in 1823, the harbor area became known as Barcelona.

On July 10,1828, a parcel of land, on a bluff, overlooking the harbor was purchased for the purpose of building a lighthouse and Keeper's dwelling.

In August 1828, Judge Thomas Campbell was awarded a $2700 contract to build the lighthouse and keeper's dwelling. Campbell constructed a 40' conical beach stone tower with 2' thick walls. The keepers' dwelling and outhouse of the same rough split stone were also constructed. The entire project was completed at a cost of $3,506. The light was emitted by eleven lamps with 14 inch reflectors.

The Barcelona Light was the first public building, in the United States, the first lighthouse, in the world to be lit by natural gas. The natural gas, transported by wooden pipes was drawn from a well 3' in depth with an approximate diameter of 40' about 1 mile from the light station. On January 1, 1831, Campbell signed a contract to supply the tower with natural gas and 'to keep the apparatus and fixtures, in good repair' the annual cost $214.00

In 1838, the supply of natural gas was interrupted due to an excessive drought making it necessary for a short time to return to oil. The use of natural gas, at the Barcelona Light went through 1851. A Treasury Department report said the natural gas was not a reliable source and that oil light has to be used.

In 1855, the Lighthouse board, noted that Barcelona no longer possesed a harbor. This observation was made as a result of the "Great Gale of 1844" which destroyed the warehouse and wharves along the Lake including Barcelona. Despite local efforts to rebuild the port and restore its importance,the efforts were throttled due to the opening of the railroad, in nearby Westfield. Although the Lights were unnecessary a lens apparatus was maintained at the Barcelona Light. In 1859, the Lighthouse Board darkened the Light. In the original property deed, if the Lighthouse was discontinued, the property was to revert to the original owners. There is no record of this occuring and in 1872 the poperty was auctioned.

The original lantern room was removed and an open wooded lantern room was placed atop the tower.

In 1962, the Iroquis Gas Company ran new pipes into the Light and once again, natural gas lit the Barcelona Lighthouse. The Barcelona Light is not an active aid to navigation.

In 1972, the Barcelona Lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

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