New Jersey - Barnegat Lighthouse

This lighthouse is located in Barnegat Lighthouse State Park, at the northern tip of Long Beach Island, NJ. The lighthouse is the third to be built on or near the tip of the island.

The first lighthouse was a 40-foot masonry tower constructed in 1834. It has a miserable reputation as a lighthouse. It stood until 1856 when it became inundated by the sea and finally toppled into the sea. Fortunately, the circumstances had been foreseen, and the lamps had been removed to a temporary wooden tower constructed further inland.

Construction of the present lighthouse began in 1857 and was completed in 1859. It is 163-feet tall with a red band painted around the top half of the tower and a white band around the bottom portion. Because of the similarity in size to the Absecon Lighthouse located to the south, Barnegat was given a different day marking. This helped mariners to distinguish it from its southerly comrade, which has a white tower with a wide black band painted around the middle of the tower.

The first-order flashing Fresnel Lens, the largest one installed and the last lens to operate in the Barnegat Light, was removed in 1927. This occurred after the Barnegat Lightship took up station off the Barnegat Inlet. The lens was sent to the Tompkinsville Lighthouse Depot on Staten Island, NY. Years later, in 1954, the lens was returned to the town of Barnegat Light and is on exhibit in the Barnegat Light Historical Museum.

This lighthouse is owned by the State of New Jersey. At the time of my visit here in 2001 the lighthouse was an inactive light, and normally only open to the public during the summer season.

Rhode Island - Rose Island Lighthouse

The Rose Island Lighthouse was built in 1870. It sets on a tiny knob of land, a mere 17 acres. Rose Island lies almost underneath the span of the Newport Bridge, CT, which is to the right of the lighthouse, just out of the picture. The lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1971 and declared surplus in early 1980.

In 1985 the Rose Island Lighthouse Foundation acquired the badly vandalized lighthouse and began restoration. They opened it to the public in 1992 and it later became what is now a quirky and rustic bed and breakfast Inn. It's not a spot that appears in many guidebooks, because without restaurants or shops or even running water, there's not much to do here except, relax and look at the water, bird-watch, fly kites and swim in the bay. Because the island is a protected bird-nesting area, it is off-limits to humans from spring until mid July. Except for the off-limit period, you could get to Rose Island by taking the little red Jamestown or Newport Ferry.

At the time of my visit here in 2001, this light was an active private aid to navigation. Due to its distance off-shore, the haze, and no sunshine, I used a 500mm lens to get this picture.

Connecticut - Stonington Harbor Lighthouse

The Stonington Harbor Lighthouse is located on Windmill Point, at the east side of Stonington, Harbor, CT. The first lighthouse built near here in 1823 had a 30-foot stone tower. However, due to erosion of the beach near the lighthouse it was replaced by this one in 1840 using some of the granite stones from the original lighthouse. The tower stands 35-feet tall not counting the lantern. This lighthouse was shut down in 1889, and at the time of my visit here in 2001 the light remained inactive.

Rhode Island - Watch Hill Lighthouse

The Watch Hill Lighthouse is located on the north side of the east entrance to Fishers Island Sound, Rhode Island. The first lighthouse built here in 1808 had a wooden tower and was 35-feet tall. It was replaced in 1857 by this 45-foot tower made of granite brick. At the time of my visit here in 2001, the Lighthouse Keeper's Association maintained a small museum which was open on Tuesday's and Thursday's during the months of July and August. The light was also active at that time and displayed a white flashing light every 15 seconds. I took this picture from Stonington Harbor, Connecticut using a 500mm lens with a 2X coupler. Because of where I took the picture, I mistakenly cataloged this lighthouse as a Connecticut lighthouse, when in fact it is located in Rhode Island.

Connecticut - Morgan Point Lighthouse

The Morgan Point Lighthouse is located on the west side of the mouth of the Mystic River at Noank, CT, and north of Fisher Island Sound. The first lighthouse built here in 1831 was 25-feet tall but didn't provide adequate light for the mariners. It was replaced in 1868 by this one standing 52-feet tall. It operated until 1919 when it was deactivated and then later sold to a private owner. At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was a private residence, and the light remained inactive.

Connecticut - Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse

The Saybrook Breakwater Lighthouse is located at the mouth of the Connecticut River, at Old Saybrook, CT on the south end of the west jetty. This spark-plug style lighthouse was built in 1886 and stands 48-feet tall. It was constructed of cast-iron with a brick lining. The lighthouse was automated in 1959 replacing the original first order Fresnel lens. (The Lynde Point Lighthouse, which I posted last week, is not far from this one.) At the time of my visit here in 2001, this was an active lighthouse.