Full disclosure: This mystery isn’t in South Carolina. So where is it? (Hint: It’s in the American South.) Send your guess to feedback@statehousereport.com. And don’t forget to include your name and the town in which you live.
Our previous Mystery Photo
Our Jan. 11 mystery, “Beautiful sunset,” was exactly where you thought it was – even if you didn’t guess it. The photo, taken by Charleston-area photographer Josh Corrigan, showed a beautiful silhouette of the lighthouse on Sullivan’s Island. Thanks to Ellis Creek Photography for providing the image.
Congratulations to all who correctly identified the location of Corrigan’s photo: Daniel Prohaska of Moncks Corner; David Lupo of Mount Pleasant; Charles Davis of Aiken; Frank Bouknight of Summerville; Steve Willis of Lancaster; Ronald Pantane of Spartanburg; Donna McGreevy and Jay Altman, both of Columbia; Addison Ingle of Charleston; George Graf of Palmyra, Va.; Harvey Shackelford of Newberry; Larry Cannon of Simpsonville; Wayne Beam of North Myrtle Beach; Philip Cromer of Beaufort; Bill Segars of Hartsville; and Martha Gunter of Sullivan’s island.
Graf provide more of the story about the lighthouse: “According to us-lighthouses.com, construction of this new lighthouse had begun in 1960 on the northern side of the Charleston harbor. As the federal government had established a lifesaving station on the island in 1895, it was decided to use that location for the lighthouse.
“To help the new lighthouse stand strong against hurricane force winds, it was given a unique triangular shape, capable of withstanding 125-mph winds, by its architect, Jack Graham of the U.S. Coast Guard. After the design, Jack Graham left the Coast Guard, and never knew that his design was used in the construction of the lighthouse, until he saw the completed tower in Motor Boating magazine in August of 1962.
“To get to the top of the lighthouse, personnel can take the elevator, a feature Graham persuaded the Coast Guard to include due to the high number of accidents on lighthouse steps. It is the only lighthouse in the U.S. that includes an elevator. Another unique feature of the lighthouse, as it has offices, is air conditioning. And if the lighthouse should lose power, a generator at the base of the structure ensures the lamps stay lit.
“When the Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse was first completed, it was given a unique red/orange and white paint scheme. Many of the locals complained of the combination, which was later changed to its current color scheme of black and white. The Sullivan’s Island Lighthouse was first illuminated on June 15, 1962 and was proclaimed to be “one of the most powerful lighthouses in the Western Hemisphere.” The six lights produced an amazing 28 million candlepower which was said to be visible for 70 miles at sea. Many neighbors complained of the beam, and due to the dangers associated with servicing the lamps, due to its intense heat, the light’s output was cut back to 1.5 million candlepower in 1972. Even with this reduction, the light is still visible for 26 miles on a clear night.”
- Send us a mystery: If you have a photo that you believe will stump readers, send it along (but make sure to tell us what it is because it may stump us too!) Send to: feedback@statehousereport.com and mark it as a photo submission. Thanks.
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