Gert wrote:Can you tell me more about the cow ??,
LOL.....its actually a pretty good story Gert.
The time setting was back in the early 1900's.....a man and his wife lived on the light house and maintained the light. His wife gave birth and was unable to breastfeed their newborn child. So with no electricity and or refrigeration they chose to bring a cow on the light house as a source of milk for their new child. The local story goes that they also had chickens for fresh eggs.
Now for more history on the Eastern Shore (of Mobile Bay).........less than a hundred years ago (before building the "Causeway") the most popular way to access the Eastern Shore from Mobile Alabama was via Paddle wheel Steamboats. The more wealthy families owned "Summer Homes" in Fairhope and Daphne Alabama. When school was out it was common for these families to move to the Eastern Shore for the Summer. When they came over they all brought their Cows, Chickens, Goats, Ducks and other favorite animals as food sources. The all came over on the Paddle wheelers. The "Man of the house" usually remained in Mobile during his workweek and came over on the ferry on Friday and back to Mobile on Sunday.
As far as the Lighthouse family.....the story is that every couple of weeks the Light Tender came ashore for supplies.
The pilings and platform seen on the northeast side of Middle Bay Light has only been there for a couple of years now.....not part of the original structure. I am assuming that metal structure on North and South side of the light house were used as davits for launching the tenders boat. I am guessing that there was a ladder that provided access to boat.
As kids we made trips to Middle Bay Light to swim and jump from the LIght House railing......it was cool to have braggin rights that you jumped from the Light House.
Its interesting to hear that this same design was popular in Chesapeake Bay area. Until recently I never knew that the piling were "Screw Pilings". I am guessing they are solid bar. I'm not aware of them every being replaced and they are still in pretty good shape. The "X" braces are new and look like Stainless Steel.
hb