The Break in Winter

Stand on the bluff in front of Chatham Lighthouse and watch the passing parade of boats
coming around the southern tip of the outer beach as they enter or leave Chatham Harbor.

The ever-changing view from the Chatham Lighthouse bluff

By Walter Brooks

A winter storm in 1987 tore a hole in the nine mile-long beach opposite the Chatham Lighthouse, cutting off the southern two miles of barrier beach.  While this may seem a delight to sightseers, back then it spelled doom for nine very expensive, waterfront homes. Over the years the break has widened to a mile, and the severed south part was gradually linked to the shore by shifting sands.

History repeats itself. In 1879 these twin lighthouses fell into the sea in the same spot where today's Chatham Light looks out on the scenes below.

Those who fail to learn from the past are condemned to repeat it, and this is surely the case here because a century before the exact same break occurred. That time it swept away two lighthouses. Many of the smaller Chatham homes of that era were prudently moved further back from the shore.

The past repeats itself

In 1870 a nor'easter broke through the outer beach in front of the lighthouses. At the time the Chatham twin lights were 228 feet from the edge of the 50-foot bluff. 

Beach Facts: The barrier is called Nauset Beach in Orleans and South Beach in Chatham. The southern part, which was severed in 1987, has grown several miles and now extends to opposite the northern part of Monomoy Island. This winter another storm broke through this new South Beach three miles south of Chatham Light. You can walk South Beach from its link to the shore in front of the lighthouse.For the next several years each passing winter storm eroded a little more of the cliff in front of the two beacons.

By 1877 the two lighthouses were only 48 feet from the edge. On September 30, 1879, the south light wobbled a mere 27 inches from the precipice. Some Chatham boys found ancient coins, rumored to be pirate treasure, under the lighthouse and local fishermen placed bets on the exact time that tower would fall.

Finally, at 1:00 p.m. on December 15 the south tower fell to the beach below. Fifteen months later the north light and the lighthouse keeper's home fell into the sea.

The view from Chatham Lighthouse changes a thousand times a day. These photos were taken from the bluff overlooking the breakthrough. Be sure to visit the scene soon before our summer visitors arrive. Then spend the afternoon in this colorful seaport town for lunch and visit its unique shops. Click to see your choices here.