9214b. (stereoview) Chatham Twin Lighthouses on Cape Cod by G.H. Nickerson c.1870. Extremely rare early view features the early twin light towers and keeper’s dwelling on Chatham bluffs. The two new brick towers shown were completed in the summer of 1841 to replace the deteriorating early towers. The towers were each 30 feet tall. A new brick dwelling was connected to both of the towers by covered walkways. In 1857, the lantern rooms were changed as we see here, and each received fourth-order Fresnel lenses. The lamps were fueled by lard oil. A tremendous storm hit Cape Cod in November 1870. Before the storm, the Chatham lights were 228 feet from the edge of the 50-foot bluff. The storm had broken through the outer beaches, and the erosion accelerated. By 1877 the light towers stood only 48 feet from the brink. The Light House Establishment took note of the increased erosion and moved quickly to rebuild the station, across the road and much farther from the edge of the bluff. Two 48-foot, conical cast-iron towers were erected in 1877, along with double one-and-one-half-story wood-frame dwellings for the principal keeper, the assistant keeper, and their families, which we see today. Thus we can date this image to the period 1857-1877. Most likely 1870-1876. View is clear and close, only one spot and some light foxing. Rare early image. (VG). $268.