Fayerweather Island Lighthouse (Black Rock Harbor) Lighthouse in Connecticut renovated
Fayerweather Island Lighthouse, also known as Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse, is in the Black Rock Harbor section of Bridgeport, Connecticut, near the end of Barnum Boulevard at Seaside Park. The station’s interesting history dates to 1808, and longtime nineteenth century keeper Kate Moore gained fame as a lifesaver. The keeper’s house was destroyed by fire in 1977; only the lighthouse tower remains.
The lighthouse has received a major facelift in recent months thanks to the Black Rock Community Council History Committee. The committee extended thanks to the City of Bridgeport and, in particular, Special Projects Coordinator for the Parks Department Steve Hladun for overseeing the work and to Doug Royalty and Connecticut’s State Historic Preservation Office for providing funding and expertise for the restoration effort.
The work included the repair of the stone in the tower, repainting and application of an anti-graffiti sealant on the lower section; the repointing of the upper brick section of the tower; the removal and reinstallation of the solar lighting system; resealing of the lantern glass; sanding and painting the of the lantern and roof; removal and restoration of the lantern gallery railing; and the installation of an osprey deterrent system to prevent further nesting.
Photos courtesy BRCC History Committee
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Ship Shoal Lighthouse (LA) to be moved to shore
Officials in Berwick, Louisiana, have announced plans to move the Ship Shoal Lighthouse — a 125-foot-tall iron skeletal tower that began service in 1860 — from its home on an offshore reef below Dulac to a site on the waterfront of Berwick. Berwick is already home to the Southwest Reef Lighthouse.
You can read more about this story here.
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Opening Day (April 19) is free fee day as Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses (NC) open for the season
Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras Lighthouses will be open for climbing this year from Friday, April 19 through Monday, October 14.
National Parks of Eastern North Carolina Superintendent David Hallac invites the local Outer Banks community and park visitors to climb the lighthouses at no charge on opening day, April 19. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and can only be obtained in person, that day, on site.
In 1999, Cape Hatteras Lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet to help protect it from an encroaching Atlantic Ocean shoreline. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the “move of the century,” Cape Hatteras National Seashore will present daily interpretive programs on the epic journey. Meet staff at the Hatteras Island Visitor Center Pavilion at 10:30 am to hear the 20-minute program. The daily programs begin May 3 and continue through October 14.
Click here for more information.
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Tours at New London Harbor Lighthouse (CT) challenged again
Just after tours had resumed at Connecticut’s New London Harbor Lighthouse, which is owned by the New London Maritime Society, the owners of the former keeper’s house and another neighbor filed suit to stop the tours. The lawsuit marks the latest chapter in a battle that goes back a decade.
You can read more about this story here.
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Solar power installed in remote Monomoy Point Light Station (MA) keeper’s house
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff, Cotuit Solar, Glynn Electric and volunteers from the Friends of Monomoy have installed solar power in the 170-year-old Monomoy Point Light Station, located off the south side of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. 16 solar panels now provide 4400 watts of power.
The Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge also now has a new 38-foot landing craft that can carry 20 passengers.
Click here to read more about this story.
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If you have items of interest to the lighthouse community and its supporters, please email them to Jeremy at nelights@gmail.com.
Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of more than 20 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is the president and historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org