RODSHER (RODSHKHER, RUUSKERI)

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

The lighthouse got its name from the small island on which it is installed. Rodsher Island, which means “skerry island” in Swedish, lies in the central part of the Gulf of Finland (see figure on p. 163).

G. A. Sarychev wrote in 1808: “The island of Rodsher is small, low-lying and treeless, having a length of 90 fathoms, a width of 64 fathoms, and a height from the water of 3 fathoms... There are two huts on it: one for living, the other for supplies; belongs to Gogland peasants who come here from time to time to catch fish and seals” [50].

The first navigation sign in the form of an unlit tower was built on the island back in the 18th century, apparently by the Swedes. This is confirmed by archival documents, which say that in 1807, the Minister of the Navy, Admiral P.V. Chichagov, ordered to put in order the crumbling, unlit towers on the islands of the Gulf of Finland, including on the island of Rodsher, “... existing for more than 20 years and having fallen into complete disrepair.”

The Admiralty Board in 1805 decided: “... for safety from Stensher and Rodsher, erect towers on these islands, distinguishing them by shape, color and different types of tops.”

A new wooden tower was erected according to this decree in 1811. G. A. Sarychev described it in 1817: “On the island there is a wooden tower with a height of 60 feet from the foundation and 72 feet from the surface of the sea: it is octagonal, painted with black and white paint along stripes...”

In 1818, the tower was rebuilt - a lantern structure with a catoptric lighting apparatus was installed on its top, i.e. the tower was turned into a light beacon. It illuminated the entire horizon with 5 lamps with reflectors for a distance of up to 7 miles.

With the beginning of the Crimean War of 1853-1856, the commander of the Revel port ordered the Rodsher lighthouse to be extinguished. The lighting apparatus was removed and, together with the maintenance personnel, taken to the mainland to the Finnish village of Rogensalme. As soon as Russian ships began to control this part of the Gulf of Finland (in October 1854), the light of the lighthouse again illuminated the sea, showing the way to our ships.

In 1867, two bells were hung at the lighthouse for fog signals, and in 1868, the number of lamps and reflectors was increased to enhance the fire.

In 1870, instead of military servants, civilian servants began servicing the lighthouse. If previously a military team was assigned to the lighthouse only for the summer, and in the fall it was transported to the island of Gogland, leaving the lighthouse for the whole winter without supervision and often stopping the lighting ahead of time, but now the lighthouse was serviced all year round and an independent keeper was appointed to it (before that it was under the supervision of the keeper of the Northern Gogland Lighthouse).

By the early 1880s, seafarers increasingly began to make complaints about the irregular operation of the lighthouse and its weak light. In 1882, the Director of Baltic Sea Lighthouses appointed a commission to survey the lighthouse. She stated that the lighthouse tower had fallen into "...a completely dilapidated state. The supports have rotted, the roof is leaking, all the fastenings have weakened. A person in the lantern can swing the tower with his hands, which is also leaning toward NNO... It is impossible to overhaul the tower; a new one is needed."

The construction of the new lighthouse began in 1883, in accordance with the 16-year (1875-1891) plan for the construction and refurbishment of coastal and floating lighthouses on the seas of the Russian Empire. This construction was preceded by lengthy disputes between the Baltic Sea Lighthouse Directorate, the Hydrographic and Construction Departments.

The Baltic Sea Lighthouse Directorate, headed at that time by Rear Admiral R.I. Bazhenov, proposed installing a metal tower on the island - it is easier to move it to a new location if the need arises, and it is more durable than a stone one. However, the Construction Department, having carried out calculations, showed that in relation to Rodsher Island, one linear meter of a metal tower will cost more than one and a half times more than a brick one, which is unprofitable for the treasury.

On March 31, 1884, the Marine Technical Committee approved the design of a brick tower developed by the builder of Baltic lighthouses, engineer-Colonel Sluchevsky. He was also entrusted with supervising the construction.

Sluchevsky, having visited the island to choose a place for the tower, reported to Bazhenov: “The island... in appearance is a ridge of cobblestones, rising above the sea by 12 fathoms at the highest point... Elevated average

its platform is 12 fathoms long. On this site there is an old wooden lighthouse, a bathhouse and a house for family watchmen, who currently make up the entire population of the island. It is advisable to place the new tower in the middle of this site. The island is dotted on all sides with stone reefs for 100-150 fathoms from the shore, some of which rise 10 feet above sea level... A new pier was built on the eastern shore... There is no vegetation on the island, with the exception of two small vegetable gardens where potatoes and onions are produced. Vegetable soil for these gardens was obtained with great difficulty with the help of many years of collecting sea grass, brought occasionally and in very small quantities by the surf, and manure from 2-3 pigs - the only representatives of livestock on the island” [76].

Construction lasted three years. Almost all the building material had to be delivered to the island from the mainland, mainly from Revel. It was very difficult to unload it, since due to the reefs and rocks, it was possible to approach the island only in small boats and only in calm weather.

June 29, 1886 in the presence of the commander of the Revel port and the director of the Baltiys lighthouses

Whose sea Vice Admiral R.I. Bazhenov began lighting the lighthouse. The red brick tower was 16.2 m high and had a cylindrical shape. Its upper part ended with a platform surrounded by railings. In the middle of the platform, on a plinth, a flashlight with a diopter light-optical apparatus of the 3rd category was installed. Under the lantern base there was a guard room with insulated walls. There was a spiral staircase inside the tower.

The light-optical apparatus of the lighthouse, located at an elevation of 16 m from the base and 19.5 m from sea level, produced 17 flashes per minute and illuminated the horizon for a distance of up to 15 miles. A new wooden house was built for the caretaker and maintenance staff.

Unfortunately, there was no fresh water on the island. There was no way to dig a well in the rocky ground. They used rainwater collected from roofs in cisterns. However, it was impossible to store it - it deteriorated very quickly. In 1887, a desalination apparatus was purchased and installed, which made life much easier for lighthouse workers.

Another difficulty of serving at the lighthouse was the lack of any connection with the mainland and the nearby island of Gogland. Only

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in 1913 at the insistence of the Main Hydrographic Unit

To control the lighthouse, a radio station was installed in a specially built building. In 1904, a pneumatic siren was installed in addition to the bells for fog signals.

During the First World War, the lighthouse ensured the passage of ships of the Baltic Fleet to combat areas. When German ships appeared in the Gulf of Finland, the lighthouse was extinguished by order of the fleet command.

In 1918, the lighthouse provided its light for the Ice Campaign of the Baltic Fleet ships traveling from Helsingfors to Kronstadt. It was especially difficult for the 2nd detachment, which consisted of 2 cruisers and 2 submarines. Burdened with heavy submarines, the detachment with difficulty reached Rodsher Island on April 8. Here he was met by the icebreaker Ermak and the cruiser Rurik, called by radio, and helped to get to Kronstadt.

In 1920, according to a peace treaty, the island went to Finland, which became an independent republic. From then on until 1939 it was called Ruuskeri.

In 1939, the island again became the territory of our country, and the lighthouse returned to the department of the Hydrographic Service of the Baltic Fleet.

During the Great Patriotic War, the lighthouse was a silent witness to many tragic events. In August 1941, passing the island again,

By 1918, there was a caravan of ships, this time evacuating from Tallinn to Kronstadt. It was in the area between the islands of Rodsher and Gogland that the massive bombing of our poorly protected transports by German planes began. In front of the lighthouse workers, on August 29, 1941, the ship “Second Five-Year Plan” sank 4 miles from the island. Here, in sight of the lighthouse, the motor ship “Ivan Papanin” maneuvered, dodging bombs. The gas tanks and ammunition on board began to explode. A fire broke out on the ship, and it stuck its nose into the sand at the southern tip of the island. Following the “Ivan Papanin”, the transport “Ausmu” was sunk near the island.

Several thousand people gathered on the shore of the small island. German planes showered them with fire. Maddened people ran around the island, looking for shelter. The lighthouse premises were turned into an infirmary. The lighthouse workers helped the wounded with everything they could.

In December 1941, after the enemy captured the Moonsund Islands and evacuated the Tallinn naval base, the small garrison of Rodsher Island, along with the lighthouse workers, was evacuated to Kronstadt. As a result of the fighting, the lighthouse was completely destroyed.

After the Great Patriotic War, a temporary regime was first established on the island.

a wooden tower with an acetylene lantern, and in the 1950s a red stone octagonal openwork tower and new residential and service premises were built. The lighthouse began to operate in fully automatic mode. It currently shines a white flashing light up to 15 miles away. The lighthouse is equipped with a radar transponder.