Black River Historical Society

Off the shore of Lorain, Ohio is the lighthouse that has become the symbol of the city. It served for years as a beacon of light for ships on Lake Erie. What tales it could tell of storms and shipwrecks, of dutiful serving and patient waiting. It was the steady beam on which captains depended as they sailed the lake. The first permanent settlement at the mouth of Black River was made in 1807. The post office was established a few years later and since the settlement had no name, the post office was called the Mouth of Black River. This was later shortened to Black River. In 1834 the village was incorporated as Charleston.Forty years later, in 1874, Charleston was re-incorporated as Lorain. The town developed shipbuilding as its first major industry. The first navagation light was a lantern hanging from a pole near the mouth of Black River. However small, it was a help to vessels on the lake. Still, there was a need for something better in the early years of the 1800s. The first lighthouse on the Black River was built in 1836-37. It was a brick structure built close to the shore. The light used lard oil fuel,which was later changed to kerosene. A year later on November 26, 1838 Lieutenant C. T, Platt, U. S. N. wrote in a report that the Black River Beacon was lit with 8 fixed lamps, each with a reflector in need re-silvering. The Beacon it leaked badly, its frame needed soldering and the windows needed puttying, all of which could be done for $25. By 1875 the lake had deposited sand near the location of the lighthouse. Thus, it was said to be on the shoreline. Over the years many changes and improvements were made. This first light was replaced in 1875 when a new light was placed at the end of a newly constructed 600-foot pier that led from the west side of the mouth of Black River. Every day the keeper had to take the oil to the lighthouse. Storms often blew from the west and on two different occasions lighthouse keepers were washed from the pier and drowned. It was decided to build a 3-4 foot high metal walkway on top of the pier so that the keepers would be above the "green" water of the waves.