The light was a 21-foot (6.4 m) tall wooden hexagonal pyramidal tower with a black lantern that used a 6th order Fresnel lens.

[5][6] The foundation rests upon the river bottom and was a 15-foot (4.6 m) square crib that was made of yellow pine timbers and sheathed with planks that was filled with stones and protected by riprap.

The crib extends up to the high water mark to a frustum of a 15-foot (4.6 m) square pyramid that is reduced to 10 feet (3.0 m) at its top and filled with stone.

[7] The original light was a hexagonal beacon lantern made of brass and copper with a sixth order Fresnel lens.

[17] Gilbert B. Hayden (also known as Burnett or Bernie) was noted as a keeper of the light with sparse details found in The Day.

[18] In 1931, The Day also contained information about Bernie's service, stating that he "gave the best part of his life to tending [the] Essex light".