Hereford Inlet Lighthouse Serves As Site to Mark Religious Heritage

NORTH WILDWOOD – Religious diversity was celebrated May 21 when representatives from government, churches and the community gathered for a “Bridges of Faith Day” event at the site where the first religious service was held in 1878. 
Speakers pointed to the “beacon of light,” the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, as a symbol of hope, tracing its beginnings from when it first lit the way for sailors to find their way home to “shining the light as the community works together to achieve common goals” today.
About 60 residents attended on the lighthouse grounds, as clergy from four churches, government representatives and the president of one of the companies who helped with lighthouse restoration spoke about how the groups worked together to better North Wildwood.
In addition, a combined choir performed a number of hymns at the non-denominational event including “Just As I Am,” “America” and “Amazing Grace.”
According to Stephen Murray, chairman of the Friends of the Hereford Inlet Lighthouse, the lighthouse was one of the most important of its time. Religious services, including Sunday school for children, were held on the site until the first church was built in North Wildwood.
The lighthouse is situated on the south side of Hereford Inlet, which leads from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway linking Maine to Florida.
Thomas Flud, lighthouse chaplain, noted that “peace among nations begins with peace here.”
Representatives from six churches were invited, however, only four participated: Rev. Father R. Nicholas Rafael II from St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church; Rev. Thomas Fisher from North Wildwood United Methodist Church; Rev. Joseph Wallace from Notre Dame de la Mer Parish representing Wildwood Catholic High School/Cape Trinity Catholic Regional School, and Rev. Wayne Runner from St. Simeon’s Episcopal Church.
No representatives spoke from the First Baptist Church of Anglesea or Central Bible Church.
Rafael talked about the characteristics of his church and religion, while the others recalled their church’s historical events as they established themselves in the city.
Michael Zumpino, president of Triad Associates, of Vineland, spoke about how faith-based organizations help address community challenges and how “the combination of government and faith can be bridged for the community’s good.”
He said he’d used that philosophy in his company’s work, offering its involvement with the lighthouse restoration as an example. He founded Triad Associates, a community development firm, in 1978.
City Clerk W. Scott Jett presented a resolution supporting the event ordered by City Council. He also recalled several examples of how “faith-based services are found in the hearts of people,” including when members of the community came forward to finish some remodeling work at Jett’s boyhood home that was unfinished when his father died in 1974.
“This community has a long tradition of faith, service, and love for one another,” he noted.
Afterward, Murray said he was “really happy with the way the event went.” Although he wished more had attended, he was glad for the ones who did show.
Lighthouse Restored
The Friends restored the lighthouse and continue to maintain it. According to their historical records, the inlet was first used by the 17th-century whalers to haul in and butcher their catches.
The inlet’s use as a haven to mariners increased as travel and shipping increased.
“Shipwrecks also increased,” according to the Friends’ website, “because of strong currents and shifting sandbars.”
In 1849, a life-saving station was built, eventually replaced by a larger one in 1871 and the lighthouse in 1874.
The Hereford Inlet Lighthouse was the only one like it on the East Coast, although it had five similar houses on the West Coast.
The light is visible at a distance of 13 nautical miles.
Lighthouse Keepers
John Marches was the first lighthouse keeper in 1874 but drowned less than three months into the job when his boat capsized while returning from the mainland.
Freeling Hysen Hewitt replaced Marches and served for the next 45 years.
“Freeling was a very respected man,” Murray noted. “He was a real pioneer of the island. He was a merchant seaman, who also served on City Council, was the first fire chief, was an ordained Baptist minister. His great grandson gave the Friends a family organ which now sits in the lighthouse.”
A severe storm in August 1913 significantly damaged the lighthouse’s foundation requiring it to be moved west 150 feet, to where it sits today.
In 1964, the Coast Guard put an automatic rotating optic behind the lighthouse, and it was closed.
In 1982, the Department of Environmental Protection turned it over to the city, and in 10 months a portion was restored and re-opened. A museum also was created.
In 1998, the Friends began to restore it to its original look and Murray, who served as superintendent of parks for 37 years, designed the park along with the garden areas that exist today.
To contact Karen Knight, email kknight@cmcherald.com.