Ned’s Point Lighthouse Open For Tours

Have you ever wondered what a 19^th century lighthouse looks like inside and up close?  Now is your chance.  Ned’s Point Lighthouse in Mattapoisett will be open this summer for tours of the historic beacon.

Built in 1837 and first illuminated in 1838, the light house has served both as a warning light for inbound vessels and as the unofficial trademark of the town of Mattapoisett.  The light was even decommissioned from 1952 until 1961, though an old newspaper article from 1957 indicates that the United States Coast Guard continued operation from April 15 to October 15.

“I remember reading that at the time.  I was summering here,” said Burt Theriault, member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 67, the group that adopted the lighthouse in 1993. “Ours was the first unit in the country to adopt a lighthouse.”

Theriault has been the civilian manager of Ned’s Point since 2000, and is responsible for basic maintenance of the building, such as painting, cleaning, and performing small repairs.

“It’s named for one of the old owners, Edwin “Ned” Dexter,” said Theriault.

While the tour hours are limited, the lighthouse draws interest from far and wide.  Jean Deliz lives in Virginia Beach most of the year, but spends a lot of her time in Mattapoisett with her mother.

“I walk around here every day. I happened to be on my morning walk and said, ‘That’s right!’ they’re doing tours,” she said.

Deliz said the then texted her friends and family in the area to come by and take a look.  Though she hasn’t been inside in a few years, the memory is still fresh in her mind.

“Oh it’s just awesome,” she said.

At the top of the lighthouse, Beth Sharp looked out over the softly rolling water of the harbor.

“I love lighthouses,” she said.  “I never even knew this was open. I love it!” Sharp, who got married at a lighthouse, said she wished her husband could have joined her, but she may bring him to Ned’s Point during the next tour.

“I really wanted to go inside,” said six-year-old Nathan Winterhalter.

According to his parents, Mike and Jen, Nathan was bitten by the lighthouse bug by the age of two.  The trio is originally from Florida, but is spending a couple weeks in Marion on vacation.

“We saw the lighthouse yesterday and Nate really wanted to see it.  We saw that there were tours and decided to come by today,” said Mike.

Ned’s Point is only the next lighthouse in a long series of visits the family has made.     “We’ve seen a lot of lighthouses,” Jen said.  “None of them have had elevators. Lucky for us, this is a smaller one.”

Ned’s Point Lighthouse tours continue on through the summer.  Tours held on July 19 and July 26 from 10:00 am to noon.  They continue on next month, scheduled for August 2, 9, and 16, from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm.  No appointments necessary.

By Eric Tripoli