Sheffield Island Light
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Sheffield Island Light is a historic lighthouse located at the southern end of the Norwalk Islands in Norwalk, Connecticut. It marks the west side of the mouth of the Norwalk River on northern Long Island Sound.
History
The island, at the time known as "White Island", was purchased by Captain Robert Sheffield in 1804 for $6000.[1] In 1826 Gershom Smith, Sheffield's son in law, sold 4 of the island's Script error: No such module "convert". at the southwest point to the United States government for the purpose of building a lighthouse. Smith would serve as the first keeper for the light which was completed in 1828. At the time the island was known as Smith Island. The first light originally ran on oil.
In 1857 the light was upgraded to a fourth-order Fresnel lens. The original Script error: No such module "convert". tower was replaced by a Victorian style limestone (masonry) dwelling, with a Script error: No such module "convert". high light tower in the gable, in 1868.[2] The Fresnel lens from 1857 was moved into the new structure and with a focal plane Script error: No such module "convert". above water it was visible for more than Script error: No such module "convert"..[2] The lighthouse is of the same design as lighthouses at Great Captain Island and Morgan Point in Connecticut; Old Field Point Light and Plum Island in New York; and Block Island North in Rhode Island.[3]
Greens Ledge Light was built to the west of Sheffield in 1900 and was better located to warn ships of the rocks and shoals on the approach to Sheffield Island harbor and Norwalk harbor. Sheffield Island Light was then deactivated in 1902.[1] Sheffield Island Lighthouse was put up for sale in 1914 and purchased by Thorsten O. Stabell. In 1986 the 118-year-old structure was purchased by the Norwalk Seaport Association for renovation and restoration. In 1989 the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1993 an electric generator was added to the structure. In the fall of that year, a great storm flooded the basement of the building and artifacts were lost or destroyed.[1] In 2002 the Seaport association started ferry service to the island, which is still running.[4] In October 2011 the lighthouse was re-lit by a solar powered system installed to replace the gasoline generator system. The beacon is focused only on the Norwalk side and is not intended for use as navigation.[5]
See also
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References
- Crompton, Samuel Willard. "The Lighthouse Book." Barnes and Noble Books, New York, 1999. Template:ISBN.
Notes
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External links
- Norwalk Seaport Association, which runs the lighthouse
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- Pages with script errors
- Pages with reference errors
- Lighthouses completed in 1868
- Buildings and structures in Norwalk, Connecticut
- Lighthouses in Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Lighthouses on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
- Museums in Fairfield County, Connecticut
- Maritime museums in Connecticut
- Tourist attractions in Norwalk, Connecticut
- National Register of Historic Places in Fairfield County, Connecticut
- 1828 establishments in the United States