Black Rock Harbor Light
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Location: | South end of Fayerweather Island, Connecticut |
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Foundation: | Fieldstone |
Construction: | Granite rubble and Brownstone block |
Year first lit: | 1830 (current tower) |
Year first constructed: | 1808 |
Deactivated: | 1933 |
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.
[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 and 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.
- 1811 & 1821: First tower survived hurricanes
- 1823: Present tower built
- 1824: First tower toppled by gale
- 1933: Light was deactivated
- 1980: Bridgeport Environmental Protection Agency along with Friends of Seaside Park restored the light tower.