New London Ledge Light

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New London Ledge Light
New London Ledge Light
2022 New London Ledge Light.jpg
The lighthouse in 2022
New London Ledge Light
Location Thames River
New London Harbor, Connecticut
Coordinates 41°18′21.18″N72°04′38.82″W / 41.3058833°N 72.0774500°W / 41.3058833; -72.0774500
Tower
Constructed1909
Foundationconcrete pier
Constructiongranite and brick building
Automated1987
Height58 ft (18 m)
Shapeshort cylindrical tower on 3-story dwelling
Markingswhite tower, red lantern roof
Power sourcesolar power  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
OperatorNew London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation [1] [2]
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
Focal height58 ft (18 m)
LensFourth order Fresnel lens (original), VRB-25 [3] (current)
Range15 nmi (28 km; 17 mi)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Characteristic three white flashes separated by 5 s, 10 s off, red flash, 10 s off
New London Ledge Lighthouse
Built1909 (1909)
Built byT.A. Scott Company (foundation)
Hamilton R. Douglas Company (structure)
Architectural style Second Empire
MPS Operating Lighthouses in Connecticut MPS
NRHP reference No. 89001471 [4]
Added to NRHPMay 29, 1990

New London Ledge Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the Thames River in the U.S. state of Connecticut, at the mouth of New London Harbor. It was built in 1909 in the Second Empire style and was automated in 1987. In 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse is owned and maintained by the New London Maritime Society as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program. [5]

Contents

History

New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the southwest ledge at the mouth of New London Harbor. It was originally called the Southwest Ledge light, but this caused confusion with Southwest Ledge Light in New Haven, Connecticut, so it was renamed New London Ledge Light in 1910. The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service, and the light was automated in 1987. The original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed and was later put on display in the New London Customhouse museum. The light was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. [4]

The submarine U.S.S. Memphis passes the light for the final time before being decommissioned in 2011 US Navy 110406-N-8467N-005 SS Memphis (SSN 691) passes the Ledge Light lighthouse at the mouth of the Thames River for the final time.jpg
The submarine U.S.S. Memphis passes the light for the final time before being decommissioned in 2011

Ghost legend

Ledge Light has long been the subject of a ghost legend, centering around the supposed spirit of a former keeper named Ernie. The lighthouse has been featured on paranormal reality shows such as Scariest Places on Earth and Ghost Hunters . Investigators from The Atlantic Paranormal Society concluded on Ghost Hunters that there was not enough evidence to determine any paranormal activity taking place at the lighthouse, despite a few unexplained phenomena such as cold spots. [6]

Head keepers

See also

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Connecticut". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  2. ↑ Connecticut Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 21 June 2016
  3. ↑ New London Ledge Lighthouse Archived 2016-07-08 at the Wayback Machine New England Lighthouses. Retrieved 21 June 2016
  4. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  5. ↑ Smith, Greg (August 6, 2015). "New London Maritime Society takes over as New London Ledge Light owner". The New London Day .
  6. ↑ TAPS "The Ledge Lighthouse [ permanent dead link ]". Ghost Hunters, Sci Fi Channel.
  7. ↑ New London Ledge, CT Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved 21 June 2016

Bibliography

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