During the winter of 1919, it became apparent the famous Barnegat Lighthouse was in danger of being washed into the Atlantic. At first, federal officials showed little interest in saving it; instead, they favored replacement with a lightship. However, the Washington bureaucrats didn’t expect the groundswell of support from newspapers, politicians and people across the country to save the landmark.

As the beach continued to erode, the government officials talked and held meetings.