Graves MA

On the Northern outer limits of Boston Harbor lies a rocky ledge formation known as The Graves. It might be expected that this outcropping earned its name from its level of danger; however, the ledges were named in honor of Thomas Graves, a Vice Admiral of the Navy for Governor Winthrop in the 1600s.

By Northeastern lighthouse standards, the austere granite tower is a mere “baby” at age 100. More than 60 years earlier, a lighthouse inspector was surprised that this dangerous ledge had no beacon, but it was not until the Broad Sound Channel into Boston Harbor was opened at the turn of the twentieth century that the lighthouse was authorized with an appropriation of $188,000.

Construction began in 1903, and, accordingly, the entryway granite is inscribed with “A.D. 1903.” A unique aspect of the light’s design called for keeper’s quarters to occupy the third through fifth floors of the 113-foot tower. It was September 1, 1905 when the first keeper, Elliot C. Hadley, lighted the most powerful beacon in Massachusetts history: a first order Fresnel lens with 380,000 candlepower that was later upgraded to 3.2 million candlepower.

The massive lens floated on 400 pounds of mercury, and, for many years, it was the most powerful light in New England. Even so, there were numerous shipwrecks in the vicinity of The Graves. The most famous was the 1938 sinking of The Salisbury, with its million dollar cargo of zoo animals, but no loss of human life.

The lighthouse and its desolate ledges was the setting for the 1947 filming of “Portrait of Jennie”, starring Joseph Cotton and Jennifer Jones. The stars and film crew spent ten days in and around the lighthouse, the central focus of the classic film.

The Graves was automated in 1976, and the gigantic first order lens was placed on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC. The lighthouse is also a National Historic Landmark.

On a clear day, the tower can be seen from Boston Light, but it is best viewed by boat. Still an active aid to navigation, The Graves Light is not open to the public and is operated by the U.S. Coast Guard.