9. Beacon Hill Lighthouse (Raffield House)

2071 County Road 30A

Beacon Hill Lighthouse, 2006

Established in 1902 and also known as the St. Joseph Light Range Station, the Beacon Hill Lighthouse consisted of a lantern room mounted in a square watch room atop a hipped-roof house. The building was constructed of century-old heart pine transported by barge to Beacon Hill from New Orleans. The light at the top was 96 feet above sea level and could be seen 13 miles out to sea. Each night the keeper ignited a beach beacon 600 feet from the house near the shore.

Charles Lupton and his family moved to the lighthouse from their post at the Cape San Blas lighthouse in 1902 and remained until Mr. Lupton retired 26 years later.

Beacon Hill Lighthouse, late 1920s

In 1960, the light was moved to a skeletal steel structure and the house was sold for $300 and moved to a farm where it was first used as a residence and later as a barn. In 1978, the house was sold and moved to its present location where it has been meticulously restored by Danny Raffield. A replica of the original lantern room is being commissioned by the Raffields.

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