| C.J.Bergh was appointed lighthouse keeper from
1832 - a position he held until 1875. He died 77 years
old after 38 years of employment. He left a wife and 25
children. According to Bergh's repeated complaints to the
administration, the buildings were in very poor
condition, e.g. shortage of water supply, the residence
was freezing cold and also far too small for his large
family. In 1853 the lantern was replaced by permanent
lighting system. From 1860 meteorological observations
were performed, and in 1869 a telegraphic cable was
constructed. Now the telecommunication company
established a semaphore station with a signal mast for
day signalling in accordance with the international flag
system. The first fog signal came in 1891, and in 1896
the telegraph was replaced by telephone. Around the same
time the semaphore station was taken over by the
lighthouse service.In
1900 a 36 metres high cast iron tower replaced the old
brick tower. Nine years later the semaphore station
burned down due to a stroke of lightning. During World
War 2 the dwelling house was ruined in a fire in which
also the lighthouse keeper's wife was killed. The
building was replaced with a semi-detached house around
1950.
A pilot station was constructed on Oksøy around this
time. However, in 1979 the pilot station was relocated to
Kristiansand, and 10 years later it was decided that the
station should be restored and preserved as a cultural
relic.
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In 1920 the fog siren was replaced with a more
powerful system. A new machine house was constructed
close to the tower, and the siren itself was placed on
the tower roof. In 1929 the navy set up a direction
finder by the lighthouse. The lighthouse was also
electrified in 1951 when Flekkerøy eventually was
supplied with electricity. Radio beacon was introduced in
1964.
The Coast Directorate is planning to use Oksøy and
Grønningen lighthouse in the testing of new equipment
for remote surveillance of lighthouses in Norway.
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