The Killick Shoal Lighthouse in Chincoteague Bay
On Friday, 30 May 1884, the Committee on Commerce of the US House of Representatives approved the appropriation of $10,000 to build a small lighthouse and fog signal on Killick Shoal in Chincoteague Bay, state of Virginia. The Governor of Virginia deeded the shoal to the US government in January 1885, and it was found that at low tide, there was less than 4 feet of water covering the shoal, and sub-surface borings were made. In November of 1885, the iron screw-pile substructure arrived and was placed; in mid-December, framing for the lighthouse began. On 10 March 1886, the light was first exhibited - a white fourth degree light - and in mid-April, the fog signal bell was in place. The first Killick Shoal Lighthouse keeper was Samuel E. Quillen, who was an interim keeper, before William M. Parker was appointed. Mr. Parker served as the keeper from 1886 until his death, on the lighthouse, in 1912; he was the first African-American lighthouse keeper in Virginia. During his t...