This picture of Gay Head lighthouse was taken by me around 1960.  I believe the building is the Coast Guard station which was being removed as it was too close to the edge due to the erosion of the cliffs.  (Seamond can you verify this).

  This picture is from 2006.

According to the book “Guide to Martha’s Vineyard” the original lighthouse was one of the first revolving ones in the country; often the wooden works became swollen in damp weather, and the keeper or his wife was obliged to turn the light by hand all night long.  In 1856 this was replaced by a larger steel structure that housed a stronger light with a Fresnel lens.  In 1952 the present automatic light was erected, and the old lens was given to the Vineyard Museum.”

       The Fresnel lens from the outside… and inside.