Sands Point Lighthouse
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[edit] Sands Point Lighthouse
The Sands Point Lighthouse is located in Nassau County of Long Island, New York along its northern coast, in the Township of North Hempstead. The fourth lighthouse to be established on Long Island, this 1809 stone tower was built by a Revolutionary War veteran who stayed on as its first keeper for many years. The Lighthouse is sometimes referred to the Mitchell Lighthouse, after Samuel L. Mitchell, the man fought for it to be constructed.
In 1806, New York State Governor Daniel D. Tompkins purchased five acres of land from Benjamin Hewlett to be used for the lighthouse. Revolutionary War veteran Noah Mason completed construction of the Lighthouse in 1809 and became the first keeper. The Lighthouse was 40 feet high and octagonal in shape with four windows on the south side and had a four feet thick base and made of coursed brown stone. The lighting apparatus was eleven lamps and reflectors, arranged on two tables so that the fixed white light aimed at vessels transition between Long Island Sound and the East River. In 1856, a fifth-order Fresnel lens was installed, producting a flashing light every thirty seconds.
In 1814, Mason again witnessed an act of British aggression. This time from the tower of the Lighthouse, during the War of 1812, Mason watched navel battle between American gunboats and the British frigate Acosta. Mason remained the keeper until his death in 1841.
The Masons had added to the original wood frame constructed keeper’s house and According to an 1838 report, the house contained 23 rooms. In 1867 Congress allocated funds to renovate the tower and replace the keeper’s home stating the house was beyond repair. The tower was extensively renovated and the wooden spiral stairs and windows were placed with cast-iron versions. The old dwelling was replaced with a new brick dwelling and the old lumber used to build a barn, shed and outhouse.
No longer considered necessary, the Sands Point Lighthouse was deactivated on October 31, 1894. The Lighthouse was quickly reactivated in response to massive local opposition. In December of 1922, the Lighthouse was officially deactivated and the light and lantern room were removed from the tower. The beacon was moved to an automated steel skeleton tower located offshore at the end of Sands Point.
New York State Govenor Alfred E. Smith tried to acquire the land to be used at a state park, but was unsuccessful and in February 1924, socialite Mrs. Oliver H.P. Belmont purchased the property at auction for $100,000. Belmont built a large mansion on the plot of land next to the lighthouse. In 1927, the property and lighthouse was again sold, this time to William Randolph Hearst for $400,000. The Hearst’s lived in the keeper’s house and used the mansion for guests. In 1940, put the property up for sale and after being unable to find a buyer, he surrendered the property to a New York bank to satisfy the mortgage. Also unable to find a buyer for the property, the Bank began to sell parts of the mansion and demolishing it. The property was later sold to a realtor who divided it into one-acre lots and build the private residential development that stands there today.
The Lighthouse has remained in private ownership. On October 27, 1992, the Village of Sands Point and the Landmarks Commission designated the Lighthouse as a village landmark. Over the years, the Lighthouse has been damaged by erosion and by storms. A number of protection methods have also been built, destroyed and rebuilt. The original Lighthouse and keeper’s house remain in good shape and well preserved by its private owners.
The only view of the Lighthouse for visitors is from the water.
Today, a skeletal light tower sitting off the Sands Point shore serves the same purpose as the original Lighthouse. On a clear day when approaching the light from the north, you are able to see the New York skyline.
SANDS POINT LIGHT (OLD)
State: NEW YORK
Location: LONG ISLAND
Nearest City: PORT WASHINGTON
County: NASSAU
U.S.C.G. District: 1
Year Station Established: 1809
Existing Historic Tower:
- Year Light First Lit: 1809
- Is the Light Operational? NO
- Date Deactivated: 1922
- Automated:
- Foundation Materials: BROWNSTONE
- Construction Materials: BROWNSTONE
- Markings/Patterns: UNPAINTED MASONRY W/FAUX LANTERN
- Shape: OCTAGONAL
- Relationship to Other Structures: ATTACHED
- Tower Height: 65
- Original Optic: 11 LAMPS, 9" REFLECTORS
- Year Original Lens Installed: 1809
- Present Optic: FOURTH ORDER, FRESNEL
- Year Present Lens Installed: 1856
- Height of Focal Plane: 68
- Fresnel Lens Disposition:
- Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s): N/A
Modern Tower? YES
- Year Tower Constructed: 1968
- Type: STEEL SKELETAL ON STEEL PILES IN REEF
- Tower Height: 38
- Height of Focal Plane: 38
- Current Optic: GREEN PLASTIC AEROBEACON Year Installed:
Existing Sound Signal Building? NO
- Fog Signal Type: NONE
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
- Year Constructed: 1868
- Number of Stories: 2.5
- Architectural Style: COLONIAL
- Construction Materials: BRICK
Other Structures: COVERED PASSAGEWAY ATTACHES TOWER TO KEEPERS DWELLING
Current Use: PRIVATE RESIDENCE
Owner/Manager: PRIVATE OWNER (OLD TOWER) / U.S. COAST GUARD (NEW TOWER)
Open to the Public? NO
Web Site:
National Register Status: NONE Reference # 0
- Name of Listing:
- On State List/Inventory? YES; Year Listed: 1994
Miscellaneous: REPLACED BY MINOR LIGHT OFFSHORE IN 1922
[edit] External links
- Sands Point Lighthouse - from Lighthousefriends.com
- Sands Point Lighthouse - at National Lighthouse Museum
[edit] References
Lighthouses of Long Island; http://www.birdsandbeacons.com/Lighthouses/ExecutionRocksLight.htm
National Lighthouse Museum; Copyright © 2001; http://www.lighthousemuseum.org/nylights/sandspt.htm
National Park System; http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/sandspt.htm
New York Lighthouses; Copyright © 1998 -2006; http://www.longislandlighthouses.com/sandspt.htm
