Black Rock Harbor Light
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| Black Rock Harbor Light | |
|---|---|
| Location: | South end of Fayerweather Island, Connecticut |
| Coordinates WGS-84 (GPS) |
|
| Year first constructed: | 1808 |
| Year first lit: | 1830 (current tower) |
| Deactivated: | 1933 |
| Foundation: | Fieldstone |
| Construction: | Granite rubble and Brownstone block |
| Tower shape: | Octagonal |
| Markings/Pattern: | White with black lantern |
| Height: | 40 ft |
| Original lens: | 8 lamps, 14 inch Parabolic Reflectors |
| Current lens: | Fifth order Fresnel lens |
| Range: | 11 nm |
| Characteristic: | Fixed white light |
Black Rock Harbor Light is a lighthouse in Connecticut, United States, on the south end of Fayerweather Island, Connecticut that used to mark the entrance to Black Rock Harbor.
[edit] History
The first Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse was a 40 foot octagonal wooden tower built in 1808. It originally had whale oil spider lamp, but it was upgraded to a system with eight lamps in 1830. However, the light was barely visible in hazy conditions, so in 1854, a fifth-order Fresnel lens was installed. The lighthouse was officially discontinued in 1933.
[edit] Historical Chronology
- 1808: First tower built.[1]
- 1811 & 1821: First tower survived hurricanes
- 1823: Present tower built
- 1824: First tower toppled by gale
- 1880: Keeper's quarters building constructed[2]
- 1932: Modern pole tower light is constructed as a replacement 1/4 mile off the shore of Fayerweather Island[2]
- 1933: Light was deactivated
- 1977: Keeper's quarters building is destroyed in a fire[2]
- 1980: Bridgeport Environmental Protection Agency along with Friends of Seaside Park restored the light tower.
- 2000: Light is relit, but does not serve as an active aid to navigation[2]
