John Donahoo

Who was John Donahoo?

John Donahoo was a lighthouse builder active in Maryland for much of the first half of the nineteenth century.

Little is known of Donahoo's life, but he appears to have been an active citizen in Havre de Grace, Maryland, for much of his career; he was an election judge and town commissioner, and served on the school board. He was also an active businessman, with concerns in fishing and real estate. As a builder, Donahoo attracted the attention of Stephen Pleasonton, Fifth Auditor of the United States Treasury and overseer of lighthouse construction for the government; Donahoo's prices were low and the quality of his work was good. Consequently, he was awarded the contracts for a dozen lighthouses in Maryland and Virginia. Seven of these still stand:

Pooles Island Light

Concord Point Light

Cove Point Light

Point Lookout Light

Turkey Point Light

Piney Point Light

Fishing Battery Light

He also constructed the following lighthouses:

Thomas Point Light

Fog Point Light

Lazaretto Point Light