Historic Hooper Island Lighthouse is sold
BALTIMORE -- A lighthouse built in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay just got a new owner.
The historic Hooper Island Lighthouse, located about four miles west of Middle Hooper Island on the Lower Eastern Shore, was put up for auction in August by the federal government.
An anonymous person bought the historic landmark for $192,000.
The working lighthouse is partially maintained by the Coast Guard, which will keep control of the building even under new ownership.
The new owner of the lighthouse will be responsible for all maintenance except for the light and support equipment, according to Will Powell, a spokesman for the U.S. General Services Administration.
The sparkplug lighthouse was built in 1902. It's situated in 18 feet of water and has a focal plane height -- how high the lamp sits above the water -- of 63 feet, according to the U.S. General Services Administration.
The structure was added to the National Register of Historic Places on December 2, 2002.