Bells Rock Light, lighthouse in Virginia, United States
Bells Rock Light is a lighthouse in the York River in Virginia built on iron piles near West Point. The hexagonal cast-iron structure stood about 40 feet tall and was equipped with a Fresnel lens that projected a white light, accompanied by a fog bell that rang every 15 seconds during poor visibility.
The lighthouse was planned in the late 1870s and first lit in 1881 to safely guide ships to West Point, where the Richmond and York River Railroad was located. A red sector was added to the white light in 1892 to improve navigation, and by 1928 the original hexagonal structure was replaced by a steel skeletal tower.
The name Bells Rock refers to the fog bell that sounded during poor visibility to warn approaching ships. The bell was a key signal for sailors navigating the river at night or in difficult weather conditions.
The lighthouse site is visible from the water and can be viewed from the shores near Belleview, Virginia. The area is easily accessible from nearby hotels and viewpoints that offer good vantage points to see the historic location.
A schooner struck the foundation in 1884 and broke three support columns, but workers quickly repaired the lighthouse without causing long service interruption. This showed the resilience of the structure and the swift response of maintenance teams to emergencies.
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