Los Morrillos de Cabo Rojo

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This light is of the third order, flashes white every minute, is 121 feet above high water, is visible 18 miles, and is shown from an hexagonal dark-gray tower attached to a one-story flat-roofed gray dwelling, which has green blinds and white trimmings. The tower is 40 feet high from its base, was commenced in 1878 and was finished in 1882 by the Spanish, at a cost of 14,900 pesos. It is used to guide along the southerly coast of Puerto Rico and to the Mona Passage. The lamp and revolving machinery were overhauled and repaired as practicable, but they are still in bad condition. The floors and walls were cemented, the plumbing and sewer were overhauled and two bevel-gear wheels for the lens clock were furnished, and the clock was repaired. In February 1901, the lamp, which gave out, was replaced temporarily with a regulation type table stand lamp, which is still in position, awaiting a new lamp, which is to be sent from the general light-house depot. A duplicate of the machinery, which has been ordered from France, is expected to arrive quite soon. The layout of Cabo Rojo Lighthouse, which was the third lighthouse built in Puerto Rico, is very similar to those at Arecibo and Cabo San Juan. The one-story dwelling measures 90’x 37’, and its entrance is located on the north side of the structure, opposite the tower. On the left and right side of the entrance hall or vestibule were doors that opened into identical five-room apartments for the keepers. The five rooms consisted of two bedrooms, a kitchen/dining room, a bathroom, and a living room. Walking straight through the vestibule, one would find two rooms just before the steps that led up to the tower entrance. On the left was a storeroom, while an engineering room was on the right. A spiral stairway in the storeroom led to a circular oil room with a vaulted roof positioned beneath the tower. Just east of the lighthouse is a cistern, used to store precious water for the keepers.