Stratford Point Light

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Stratford Point Light
Stratfpt.jpg
Stratford Point Lighthouse
Stratford Point Light
Location Stratford, Connecticut
United States
Coordinates 41°09′07.19″N73°06′11.78″W / 41.1519972°N 73.1032722°W / 41.1519972; -73.1032722
Tower
Constructed1822 (first)
Foundationconcrete
Constructioncast iron tower
Automated1970
Height35 ft (11 m)
Shapeconical tower with balcony and lantern
Markingswhite tower with brias red band, red lantern roof
OperatorUnited States Coast Guard [1] [2]
HeritageNational Register of Historic Places listed place  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Light
First lit1881 (current)
Focal height52 ft (16 m)
LensFirst order Fresnel lens (1855)
Third order Fresnel lens (1881)
Fourth order Fresnel lens (1906)
190 mm lens (1990) [3]
Range16 nmi (30 km; 18 mi)  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Characteristic Fl (2) W 20s.
Stratford Point Lighthouse
Arealess than one acre
Built1881 (1881)
Architectural styleLate Victorian
MPS Operating Lighthouses in Connecticut MPS
NRHP reference No. 89001476 [4]
Added to NRHPMay 29, 1990

Stratford Point Light is a historic lighthouse in Stratford, Connecticut, United States, at the mouth of the Housatonic River. The second tower was one of the first prefabricated cylindrical lighthouses in the country and remains active.

Contents

It sits on a 4-acre (1.6 ha) tract at the southeastern tip of Stratford Point.

History

1908 postcard StratfordPointLighthouse1908Postcard.jpg
1908 postcard

The first Stratford Point Lighthouse was built in 1822. In 1855 a fifth order lens was added to the 28-foot (8.5 m) wooden tower. In 1881, the tower and dwelling were razed and replaced with a 35-foot (11 m) tall, brick lined cast-iron tower and equipped with a third order Fresnel lens. The light was automated in 1970 with a modern beacon. It is an active aid to navigation and is used for Coast Guard housing.

The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. [4]

Head keepers

See also

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References

  1. Rowlett, Russ. "Lighthouses of the United States: Connecticut". The Lighthouse Directory. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill . Retrieved 2016-06-23.
  2. Connecticut Historic Light Station Information & Photography United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 23 June 2016
  3. Stratford Point Lighthouse New England Lighthouses. Retrieved 23 June 2016
  4. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. November 2, 2013.