Lighthouse For Sale In Massachussetts
By Sue Clark on Jul 18, 2008 in Lighthouses For Sale 
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Another One On the Auction Block
The GSA, also known as the US lighthouse broker, is auctioning off another lighthouse. This one, Borden Flats Lighthouse, is at the mouth of the Taunton River near Fall River, Massachussetts. It is a 50 foot cast iron and brick spark plug type, still active, built on a granite caisson. It comes with its very own foghorn that blasts every ten seconds when needed, and also has NOAA weather equipment atop it. So you will have to share access to it with two governmental entities. So far, no one has bid on this lovely lighthouse, which is located only a half mile from land. That gives it much better access than some of the other offshore lights that have gone up for sale recently.
Standard rules apply. You must register to bid and place a deposit of $10,000 to get in on the action. Bidding was opened on July 7, 2008, yet so far no one has placed a bid yet. The GSA provides an Invitation For Bids document (PDF), which details the facts about this light, a National Historic Site. It therefore must be rehabilitated in accordance with those guidelines. It also details that you do not purchase the submerged lands under it, along with the directions on who to contact to work out a deal with the state.
About This Lighthouse
Borden Flats is the name of this lighthouse, which might ring a bell with some of you. Especially when combined with the name Fall River. The name “Borden Flats” was derived from the Borden Family, who owned extensive textile mills along the edge of the Taunton River and were one of Fall River’s wealthiest families. Its most notorious family member, Lizzie Borden (pictured at right), who was accused (but acquitted) of the axe murder of her parents. Lizzie’s home is now a Bed and Breakfast, where you can possibly stay on a foggy night if you can’t take the foghorn going off every ten seconds.
The light was offered to non-profits and municipalities under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act in 2006, but alas, no one wanted this little beauty. It has four levels above a basement, which holds a cistern for collecting and storing water. Surrounded by an exterior gallery deck, the first level served as a sitting room, kitchen and storage area. The second and third levels were sleeping quarters, and the fourth level was used as a watch room. The tower originally housed a Fourth Order Fresnel lens, but that was replaced by a modern optic in 1977. The light was automated in 1963.
As always, be sure to take advantage of the free email subscription option to watch this and the other current lighthouse auctions. Sharp’s Island will soon be up for grabs (auction opening August 7), but rumor has it that Michael Gabriel, the Nevada attorney who bought Fourteen Foot Bank Lighthouse last year and owns Bloody Point Lighthouse is looking to acquire that one (shown at left) for his collection.
Photo credits:
- Borden Flats Lighthouse by Elissa.
- Sharp’s Island Lighthouse by Zoopmon. Some rights reserved.
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