Texas Lighthouses: Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann)

The story of Aransas Pass Lighthouse (Lydia Ann), which is located in Aransas Pass, Texas, begins in the year 1851, when Congress allocated $12,500 for the Aransas Pass lighthouse to be built. It was first speculated, that a screw pile lighthouse or possibly a prefabricated cast-iron tower be constructed. However, the type of lighthouse structure to be built was turned over to a committee to decide. The committees decision was a brick tower which was the most permanent style of the time, would be the style of the Aransas Pass Lighthouse (Lydia Ann).

The Aransas Pass Lighthouse has withstood the test of time. The lighthouse was severely damaged in 1862, during the Civil War, when Confederate soldiers, set off a powder keg charge, to destroy the lighthouse, so that the Union Troops would be unable to use it. The top third of the Aransas Pass Lighthouse was destroyed, along with most of the interior. The lighthouse was repaired, after the war, and put back into service in the Spring of 1867.

In August of 1919, a hurricane damaged the Aransas Pass lighthouse. Once again Congress appointed money for the repairs, $20,000. But, before the repairs could be completed, another hurricane hit the lighthouse in September of 1919. The workers took refuge in one of the out buildings. That building remained intact while several of the smaller dwellings were swept away. Aransas Pass Lighthouse was then repaired once again.

Sometime between the late 1800's and the early 1900's Aransas Pass Lighthouse came to be known as the Lydia Ann. Whether the name came from Frank Stephenson, the lighthouse keeper at the time, whose daughter's name was Lydia Ann or as historians believe, that the name may have originated from James B. Wells, veteran of the Texas Revolution, whose wife's name was Lydia Ann. The true origin may never be known.

Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann) was sold to Everett Bohls of Austin, Texas, in 1955, for the price of $25,151. This was the first private owner of the lighthouse. Aransas Pass was purchased in 1973 by Charles Butt, owner of the H.E.B. food store chain. Butt has restored the Aransas Pass (Lydia Ann) and the out buildings. The lighthouse is now equipped with keepers, who each evening, activate the lights and lower the flags.

Aransas Pass, Lydia Ann Lighthouse facts:

Built - Started in 1851, completed in 1857

Type - Octagonal, red brick.

Height - 68 feet.

Status - Deactivated.

Location - Port Aransas, Texas

Deactivated - 1952

Lens - Original lens was 4th order Fresnel.