Official Site of The State of New Jersey

The Hereford inlet had been used from the 17th century into the height of shipping, thus needing a state of the art lighthouse. It had been first used by whalers to haul in and butcher their catches. As the use of the inlet and nearby coastal shipping continued to increase over the years, so did the number of shipwrecks, due to strong currents and shifting sandbars near the entrance to the inlet. As a result, on June 10, 1872, Congress enacted legislation to finance the purchase of land and the construction of a lighthouse. The site chosen held a prominent position on the dune area overlooking the approach to the inlet. This wood-frame residential-style lighthouse was designed by the Lighthouse Board’s chief draftsman, Paul J. Pelz and was completed in 1864. The design is referred to as “Swiss Carpenter Gothic” and also “Stick Style”. The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was constructed to mark the mouth of the Inlet, which would help prevent shipwrecks.

On May 11, 1874 a “Notice to Mariners” formally announced the start of operation of the light. The fixed white light was located at latitude 39 degrees and longitude 74 degrees, 47 minutes.

Hereford Inlet Lighthouse stood firm against the onslaught of the winds, rains, and tides for 40 years at its original location. A severe storm in August of 1913 significantly damaged the foundation, requiring it to be moved westward 150 feet to where it sits today. For its first 50 years, the light in the tower was a stationary, fixed light. A rotating beacon was installed in 1924. In 1964 a metal tower was built in the backyard of the lighthouse, a rotating beacon was placed on top and the light in the lighthouse tower was turned off.

Through the efforts of Mayor Anthony Catanoso and his wife Phyllis, the City of North Wildwood obtained a lease to the lighthouse from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection in 1982. Restoration efforts began, backed by donations, grants and the work of volunteers. The light from the metal tower was placed in the lighthouse tower in 1986 and Hereford Inlet Lighthouse shone again, its original Fresnel lens being left on display on the lower level of the lighthouse. Grants awarded by the New Jersey Historic Trust and the N.J. Department of Transportation have helped finance maintenance, repairs and upkeep over the years.

In 2018 the beacon became inoperable and a flashing LED lamp was installed in the tower. The mayor and city clerk of North Wildwood have been in discussions with the US Coast Guard, who continues to maintain the light as an active aid to navigation for mariners, about the possibility of placing a new rotating beacon in the lighthouse in the future.

A historical marker was installed at the original location of Hereford Inlet Lighthouse on Anglesea Day – Friday, June 1st, 2018.

Keepers of The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse

• John Marche, 1874
• Laura Hedges, 1925-1926
• John Nickerson, 1874
• Ferdinand Heizman, 1926-1939
• Freeling Hewitt, 1874-1919
• Robert O’Neal, 1939-1945
• William Hedges, 1919-1925
• George Baker, 1945-1955
• Newman Bowden, 1955-1959
• Bruce Bolon, 1960-1961

Facilities for People with Disabilities
We encourage people with disabilities who require special considerations to contact the historic site / park at the phone number listed in the general information on the home page of the historic site / park. The staff will assist with arrangements. Text telephone (TT) users, please call the NJ Relay Services at (800) 852-7899.
 
For the Comfort and Enjoyment of All
This historic site / park is part of the NJ State Park system and your cooperation with the following will help ensure the survival of the museum collections, historic structures & features and surrounding property for the enjoyment and education of future generations!

• Keep your historic site / park and surrounding property clean and green! Protect this site by taking your trash with you. Whatever you carry into the site, plan on carrying it out too. Bring a bag or two for trash, recycling and cleaning up after your pet. There are no trash receptacles at this site. Thank you!
• No Smoking on NJ State Park Service Property. Pursuant to N.J.P.L.2005, c.383 (C.26:3D-56)
• Alcoholic beverages are not permitted at state historic sites [ N.J.A.C. 7:2-2.6]
• The collection or removal of any object from State Park property is prohibited without written permission from the Superintendent.
• Use of metal detecting devices on or unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) on or over the property is not permitted without a special use permit (SUP) from the State historic site / park.
• Commercial photography is not permitted on the property without a special use permit (SUP) from the historic site / park.
• Interior photography, videotaping or audio taping are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum, except by prior written permission and for educational purposes only.
• Non-commercial photography is permitted on the property (outside), but please help preserve the historic site / park and any surrounding property by not attaching anything to, climbing or sitting on historic structures and features or disturbing any plants, wild or cultivated. Photography may not interfere with other visitors to the historic site / park or impede site operations.
• Food and beverages; pets/animals, except for service animals, are not permitted in the historic structure / visitor center / museum.
• Please refrain from touching objects/furnishings in and building components of historic structures and museums, except where invited to do so by staff.

Please contact this historic site / park with specific inquiries about any of these restrictions, as there may be some variations at this specific historic site / park.

• Complete listing of New Jersey State Parks Rules and Regulations.
• For information about fishing and hunting, please refer to the NJ Fish and Wildlife website, or call the main information number in Trenton at 609-292-2965.