1921. (early mounted photo) Dumpling Rock Light Station, Dartmouth, Mass. c.1860-1870 by T.E.M. White Photographer, New Bedford, Mass. Very early image shows the first two-story, stone dwelling with a lantern on its roof perched on Dumpling Rock. The town of Dartmouth, on the south coast of Massachusetts, grew as a center for shipbuilding and whaling in the early nineteenth century. A lighthouse was needed to help guide local shipping traffic, and Dumpling Rock, a few hundred yards offshore from Round Hill Point, was an ideal location. In 1828 a sum was appropriated for a lighthouse. The initial structure consisted of a two-story, stone dwelling with a lantern on its roof. It was first lighted on October 19, 1828. The lantern held a system of ten lamps with 14-inch reflectors, exhibiting a fixed white light visible for 10 nautical miles. In the early 19th century a kind of semaphore system, seen here in the upper right, was employed by the keeper here to announce to New Bedford when a ship was approaching. The merchants of New Bedford, upon seeing the signal, would prepare to sell their goods to the incoming mariners. In 1888, the Lighthouse Board announced that the dwelling was in such bad condition that it would have been a “waste of money to give it further repair.” Instead, a new wood-frame dwelling with an attached square light tower was built on the old foundation in 1890, thus dating this photo to before 1890. The image measures about 7” by 9 ½” on 10 ¾” by 13 ¾” mount. The detail is quite good. Notice the Keeper perched in the fog bell tower looking to sea with his telescope. Overall good condition, a few ink spots and some light moisture staining and spotting, primarily to mount but the few on the photo do not detract. A rare early view, will be quite nice framed. (VG-). $210.