Lighthouse on the Vistula Spit

(autotranslated, could have mistakes)

History of the Maritime Lighthouse on the Vistula Spit

By decision of the Prussian Maritime Administration, it was resolved to build a lighthouse on the Vistula Spit (formerly Frische Nehrung), i.e., on a wide ridge of sand dunes that stretch in a narrow band from Westerplatte* along the entire delta of the Vistula. Further on, they transition into a narrow peninsula separating the Baltic Sea from the Vistula Lagoon (formerly Frisches Haff). The site chosen for the construction of the lighthouse in the last decade of the 19th century was located halfway between the lagoon and the sea on a 29-meter dune planted with coniferous forest, situated about 300 meters east of a village that was already a favorite seaside resort for residents of Elbląg and Gdańsk and was called Kahlberg (German: Ostseebad Kahlberg). The start of construction was planned for the spring of 1894 with the ceremonial laying of the cornerstone, which Emperor Wilhelm II and the Minister of Public Works were supposed to attend. However, for unknown reasons, the invited guests did not arrive at the ceremony. Initially, masons and carpenters were to perform their part of the work. These works were entrusted through the Construction Supervision of the Waterways Administration in Gdańsk to the construction entrepreneur Edward Stachowi (German: Edward Stachowi) from Elbląg, who began executing them in early June 1894. The significance of the lighthouse being built is evidenced by the materials used, which were ordered from well-known manufacturers. For example, bricks were supplied by a brickworks in the village of Matarnia (Polish: Matarnia) near Gdańsk, known for its impeccable reputation. For the construction of the base and cornice, dressed granite stone was specially brought from Dresden. The lighthouse itself, which crowns the tower, was made in Gdańsk. The clock mechanism and optical equipment were supplied by the firm "PICHT & Co" from Rathenow (German: Rathenow) near Berlin. Uninterrupted progress of work allowed for the handover of the lighthouse for use on May 1, 1895.

Numerous drawings shown on postcards depict what the built object, consisting of a tower and a building, looked like. The structure consisted of several distinct elements. On a high rectangular base stood a 19-meter tower, finished with an octagonal granite cornice. The cornice itself was adorned with arched decorations placed around it. Atop the cornice was also placed an octagonal lighthouse, matching in color with the gray cornice below. On the east side stood a semi-basement building with a gabled roof. On the north side was a bunker-storage room. The entire object was two-toned: the building and tower were made of red brick, while the lighthouse itself was painted gray to match the granite elements used.

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The lighthouse commissioned in 1895 emitted a flashing light (after 2 seconds of illumination, there was a 4-second pause), with a visibility range of 18 nautical miles, and the light level was at a height of 48 meters above sea level. A Fresnel lens system* of Class III was used on the lighthouse. It consisted of a lens (with a focal length of 500 mm) and a light source, which was a burner with a flame (60 mm in diameter) burning benzene. This was a very troublesome device to operate. The burner nozzle often clogged, causing the light to go out. Constant troubles with the benzene flame required frequent replacement of the burner cap (head). This system functioned for 30 years. Only on December 5, 1928, was a replacement made. A simpler solution was applied, allowing the use of compressed gas as fuel, fed directly into the burner. This change did not require continuous cleaning of the burner. It was sufficient to perform this every 6 hours, as gas burners were much more convenient to maintain. With the introduction of new burners, it became possible to release one of the two keepers from the watch crew that existed at the lighthouse at that time. The duty of the other keeper included conserving the mechanisms and gas system, as well as cleaning the lenses. Maintenance work on the lighthouse was continuous. Therefore, an additional assistant keeper was provided, whose duties included substituting for the main keepers in case of illness, leave, or other unforeseen circumstances.

The gas equipment on the lighthouse was installed by the famous Berlin firm "Julius Pintsch", which also installed a gas lighting installation on the lighthouse in the coastal village of Szylen (Polish: Stilo/Osetnik, German: Stilo Kathen) near Łeba* in 1926, and today under the name "Pintsch Bamag GmbH Dinslaken" is a supplier of electro-optical equipment used on maritime lighthouses. In the existing warehouse for benzene, three gas containers were placed. Gas consumption amounted to 40 liters per hour and provided light 20% brighter than when burning benzene. The application of new equipment led to changes in the light characteristics. The illumination time remained unchanged, but the pause lengthened to 9.5 seconds. Every maritime lighthouse requires, in addition to the main light, the installation of a reserve light for ensuring the navigation system. The reserve light was the old benzene lamp.

Already in the initial period of operation of the gas light, unforeseen troubles appeared, namely the lighthouse light was not visible during strong frosts. During the winter period, condensation of water vapor on the walls and window panes of the lighthouse was observed, which, freezing, formed a thin layer of ice, limiting the range of illumination. This phenomenon was stronger the smaller the lighthouse was and the greater the difference between the temperature inside and outside the lighthouse. The introduction of central heating led to the freezing of window panes at -5°C, whereas previously they froze only at -15°C. This phenomenon also manifested on other lighthouses subordinate to the directorate in Szczecin. Therefore, various procedures were conducted aimed at preventing this dangerous phenomenon for navigation. Agents used against the freezing of car windows were employed, double window panes with a 10-centimeter insulating layer were installed, or "ventilation" of the panes was performed using special vents. The two latter methods proved to be the most effective, however, the use of the second layer of window panes was technically difficult. It was decided to remove humidity by strong ventilation of the lighthouse along with the internal premises while simultaneously stopping their heating. From the beginning of the winter of 1931/32, the lighthouse was "underheated," and the freezing phenomenon did not manifest so intensely. The hill on which the lighthouse stood was significantly distant from the settlement, and only at the end of 1938 was the service building together with the keeper's residence connected to the local power grid. Connection to electricity did not lead to changes in the power supply of the lighthouse light, which remained a light obtained from a gas burner.

The late 1930s were a period of German expansion against Poland. Even for a relatively minor strategic object like a maritime lighthouse, recommendations were prepared for "special circumstances." For this purpose, on January 25, 1939, a letter was sent to the lighthouse keeper stating: "For some time, Section V of the Water Directorate has entrusted important tasks to the maritime lighthouse in connection with special circumstances." In performing these special tasks, the lighthouse keeper had to reach the lighthouse from his residence at night in the shortest possible time. Thus, the lighthouse keeper received orders to perform as a soldier. Everything was clear. War was approaching...

The lighthouse survived the war period without destruction. But 1945 brought significant changes not only on the Vistula Spit. German troops left the resort but did not forget to mine the lighthouse. On May 3, 1945, Soviet troops occupied the resort area while fighting with retreating German units moving west across the spit. During combat operations, many pensions and the maritime lighthouse were destroyed. The explosives detonated only when Soviet soldiers climbed the tower.

After the end of military actions in 1945, life slowly returned to normal. New residents began to appear in the territories around the lagoon and on the spit. The southeastern part of the Gdańsk Bay and the entire Vistula Lagoon remained without a lighthouse. However, the maritime administration did not leave this water area without a navigation light. The Administration in Gdynia decided to install a temporary navigation light. For this purpose, a tall building in Łysica (from 1945 to 1958, the area Kahlberg-Liep was called Łysica (Polish: Lysica), and then until today – Krynica Morska (Polish: Krynica Morska)) was chosen. An electric light was placed at a height of 45 meters above sea level in a turret raised on the roof of the veranda of the "Baltic" holiday home, located 6 cable lengths (about 1.1 km) to the west from the former lighthouse. The light had a visibility of 10 nautical miles (about 18 km) and was visible from the lagoon, as well as from locations on the other side of the lagoon: Tłukmitko, Suchacz and Frombork. The Navigation Department of the Main Maritime Administration in Gdynia sought to reactivate all lighthouses on the Baltic coast. The program also included the construction of lighthouses in Jastarnia and Łysica and the formation of a chain of radio beacons allowing determination of navigation position at distances beyond the horizon. Several options for building a lighthouse were considered, and a project presented by the Department of Construction of Gdańsk University of Technology under the direction of Professor Stanisław Puzyna (Polish: Stanisław Puzyna 1883-1955) was chosen. Given the low elevation of the Vistula Spit, the decision on the location of the new lighthouse was not difficult. It was decided to build a new lighthouse near the existing one. The project included the construction of a tower 26.5 meters high, 6 meters in diameter at the base and 4.5 meters at the top, with a lighthouse placed in the upper part, covered by a conical roof. Ready-made concrete blocks measuring 42x35x40 cm were used for the construction of the tower. To strengthen the structure being built, the blocks were connected with vertical inserts made of weapon steel, and horizontal reinforcement was achieved by making a reinforcing crown from blocks in six layers. A staircase was built for servicing the light, which attaches to the inner wall of the tower on brackets and spirals upwards. On the lighthouse, an optical-lighting device is placed at a height of 53 meters above sea level, consisting of a cylindrical lens 1000 mm in diameter and a two-position changer with 2 bulbs of 1000 W each. The visibility of the light in good weather was 19.5 nautical miles and was characterized by a flashing light, with 2 flashes in a group. During a period of 11 seconds, there were 2 flashes of 2 seconds each with a pause of 2 seconds, followed by a 5-second pause in illumination. Along with the construction of the lighthouse, a single-story technical room was built. This building housed the duty room for lighthouse keepers and a generator serving as backup power for the light and lighthouse devices due to frequent power outages at that time.

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The ceremonial lighting of the lighthouse and the handover of the entire facility for operation was performed by the Director of the Gdańsk Maritime Administration, Captain Waldemar Wallas, at 18:57 on August 25, 1951. The mechanisms and devices installed in 1951 still function on the lighthouse today. The cylindrical lens remained unchanged. After the war, Łysica long could not regain its significant status among seaside resorts and was treated as a fishing settlement. Only in January 1958 did the settlement receive town rights and emerge as a seaside resort with a simultaneous name change to Krynica Morska.

The Maritime Administration cared about technical development in the field of navigation safety. In addition to optical positioning systems, radio warning systems were introduced. The maritime lighthouse in Krynica Morska became one of many where a radio beacon was installed. In 1956, a radio installation was mounted at the lighthouse and the technical building was reconstructed. The radio beacon in Krynica Morska together with the lighthouses in Hel and Rozewie functioned as part of the Gdańsk Bay radio beacon chain from 1957 to 1997, transmitting a recognizable signal "KM" according to Morse code. The transmission time of the signal in good weather was four times an hour, specifically at 02; 08; 32 and 38 minutes of each hour. During fog, the signal was every 6 minutes, starting from the 02 minute of each hour. Navigators easily recognized this signal: "- .- - - (dash, dot, three dashes)". In connection with the cessation of using the radio beacon for navigation purposes, replaced by the GPS system, it was dismantled and the device moved to the lighthouse museum in Rozewie. The radio beacon mast was also moved to Rozewie, where devices for the first of two GPS stations operating in Poland were installed.

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Postcard depicting the lighthouse, issued by the Society of Friends of the Central Maritime Museum in Gdańsk, Poland, 2009.

According to IALA (International Association of Marine Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities) recommendations with headquarters in Paris, maritime lighthouses must preserve their external appearance, maintain the tower coloring and light characteristics published in the pilotage guide. Therefore, in order to improve the external coloring of the lighthouse, painting works are carried out more or less every 15 years. Internal and external restoration works on the lighthouse tower were last performed in 1996. The existing coloring at that time was preserved: the tower is painted red, and the lighthouse itself white.

One could end the story here about the history of the lighthouse in Krynica Morska. However, the lighthouse existed and functioned together with keepers who gave most of their lives to it. These people make up the history of the lighthouse and are its soul. Here are their surnames and names, and years of work at the lighthouse. Unfortunately, there are no documents allowing us to indicate in the lists of keepers from 1895-1945 who serviced the predecessor of the modern lighthouse.

• Śmigielski Jan 18.03.1950 - 07.08.1954
• Demond Hipolit 21.05.1951 - 14.03.1953
• Pakulski Krzysztof 01.07.1951 - 24.04.1954
• Makowski Michał 22.03.1952 - 15.10.1952
• Miller Franciszek 20.06.1952 - 15.09.1960
• Kryszczuk Konstanty 15.10.1952 - 30.11.1956
• Kurowski Edmund 20.01.1955 - 25.05.1964
• Piotrowski Henryk 21.07.1956 - 05.02.1959
• Gambusch Jan 01.05.1957 - 21.09.1961
• Fornalik Zbigniew 21.08.1959 - 21.03.1985
• Marczyk Andrzej 20.04.1961 – present
• Janczyszyn Józef 16.06.1961 - 31.12.1981
• Banaszak Kazimierz 07.09.1964 - 01.10.1964
• Kacpura Jan 01.04.1964 - 31.01.1992
• Broniszewski Milan 01.02.1982 - 13.09.1987
• Fornalik Jerzy 02.05.1985 - 31.07.1985
• Włoch Andrzej 01.11.1985 – present
• Serafin Mirosław 02.06.1989 - 30.12.1991

**Notes (www.wikipedia.org)**

Westerplatte (German: Westerplatte) — a peninsula on the Polish coast of the Baltic Sea near Gdańsk, where the heroic defense of the Polish Military Transit Depot took place from September 1 to 7, 1939.

Augustin-Jean Fresnel (French: Augustin-Jean Fresnel; May 10, 1788 — July 14, 1827), French physicist, one of the creators of the wave theory of light.

Hel (Polish: Hel, German: Hela, Kashubian: Hél) — a city in Poland, part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Puck County. Located on the spit of the same name. Area 21.27 km². Population 4,136 people (as of 2004).

Rozewie (Polish: Rozewie, former German Rixhöft) is a cape on the Baltic coast of Poland, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. Previously considered the northernmost point in Poland.

Jastarnia (Polish: Jastarnia, Kashubian: Jastarniô, German: Heisternest) is a small town in the Puck County, Pomeranian Voivodeship, northern Poland. It is located on the Hel Peninsula on the Baltic Sea. A popular Polish resort and small fishing port.

Łeba (Polish: Łeba, German: Leba) — a city in Poland, part of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Lębork County. Has the status of a urban-rural gmina.

Tłukmitko (Polish: Tłukmitko, German: Tolkemit) — a city in Poland, part of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship, Elbląg County. Has the status of an urban gmina.

Suchacz (Polish: Suchacz, German: Succase – a village located on the shore of the Vistula Lagoon, about 15 km from Elbląg before Tłukmitko.

Frombork (Polish: Frombork, German: Frauenburg) — a small city in northern Poland, located on the shore of the Vistula Lagoon.

Literature:

Lysejko A. "Latarnia w Krynicy Morskiej". Gdańsk: TPCMM 2007

Translated and supplemented by Viktor Prilutsky. The translation is printed with his permission.