Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck

United States Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck is located on the northern tip of Eatons Neck on Long Island New York. It is the oldest Coast Guard Station in New York and the fourth oldest in the United States founded originally in 1849 by the New York Lifesaving Benevolent Association. Consequently, the Eatons Neck Lighthouse is the second oldest lighthouse on Long Island and the sixth oldest in the United States.

Since July 7, 2010 Station Eatons Neck is commanded by CWO3 Steve Pollock. BMC Wayne Balliet serves as the Executive Petty Officer and MKC Marshall Kenney serves as the Engineer Petty Officer. Station Eatons Neck has a complement of Active Duty, Reserves and Auxiliarists The equipment consists of 41-foot (12 m) and 25-foot (7.6 m) boats along with a radio station manned constantly.

The Station stands watch over the middle portion of Long Island Sound from the Port Jefferson-Bridgeport line to just East of New York City and guards the City's back door maritime entrance as well as providing assistance to local boaters.

The Station has both family and UPH (Unaccompanied Personnel Housing) housing.

Eatons Neck Lighthouse is on the grounds of the Station.

Chronology of Lighthouse from Coast Guard web site

1798, March 14: $13,250 was appropriated for the lighthouse to be built.

1798, June 16: Ten acres were bought from John Gardiner for $500.

1798, July 2: President John Adams authorized construction of the light.

1798, December 6: Construction of the lighthouse was completed.

1799, January 1: The light was first lit.

1837: An inspection found the light to be defective. The light was not visible at 10 miles.

1838: Twelve lamps with 13-inch reflectors were installed to improve the visibility of the light.

1842: 9-inch reflectors were installed.

1850: Thirteen lamps with 15-inch reflectors were installed.

1858: A new lantern and a third order Fresnel lens were installed.

1867, March 2: Congress approved funds needed to renovate the lighthouse.

1868: Renovations completed included the replacing the old wooden stairs with iron stairs with landings, the interior walls were lined with brick, the :keeper's quarters were expanded and the steam fog signal was installed.

1880: The keeper's quarters were renovated.

1907: The oil lamp was replaced with an oil vapor lamp.

1921: The light was electrified.

During World War II two large story barracks were constructed on the site for 150 guardsman. The building burned down on February 6, 1958.

1961: The light was automated.

1973: The lighthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.^[2].^[3]

References

External links

• U.S. Coast Guard Website
• Official History of the Life-Saving Service & Coast Guard Station at Eaton's Neck
• Long Island Lighthouses page
• Eatons Neck Auxiliary
• Local area information
• Google Maps
• USCG list of Fresnel lenses still in operation December 2008