Sheffield Island Light, Norwalk, Connecticut
Built in 1868.
SHEFFIELD ISLAND (NORWALK) LIGHT
Location: Sheffield Island / Entrance to Norwalk River
Station Established: 1828
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1868
Operational? NO
Automated? NO
Deactivated: 1902
Foundation Materials: DRESSED STONE/TIMBER
Construction Materials: METAL TOWER ON STONE DWELLING
Tower Shape: OCTAGONAL ON SQUARE HOUSE
Height: 44 feet
Focal Plane: 51 feet
Markings/Pattern: WHITE TOWER/BLACK LANTERN ON DWELLING
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL 1857
Characteristic: Rotating red and white flashes
Historical Information:
- 1804: Robert Sheffield purchased White Island for $6000.
- 1826: Gershom Smith, Sheffield's son-in-law, sold 4 acres of the 53 acre island to the U.S. government for the first of 2 lights to be built on the island. He would serve as the first keeper.
- 1828: The first lighthouse was completed.
- 1857: A forth order Fresnel lens replaced the original 10 lamps and reflectors which were rotated with red and white flashes.
- 1868: The current lighthouse was built.
- 1902: The light was deactivated due to its distant location from the ledges it was designed to warn ships of. The Green Ledge Light replaced the Sheffield Island Light.
- 1914: The government sold the lighthouse and four acres of land to Thorsten O. Stabell for under $5000.
- 1930's: An attempt was made to create a resort on the island. It was shut down in 1937 due to a lack of fresh water.
- 1986: The Norwalk Seaport Association purchased the lighthouse and land from the Stabell family for $700,000.
- 1989: The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1993: A utility generator was rebuilt and electricity was added to the keeper's house. That fall, a storm flooded the basement resulting in the loss of a number of artifacts.
- 2000, September: The Norwalk Seaport Association retired the mortgage on the property.
- 2002: Summer tours are available by ferry service from Norwalk.
Researched and written by Diane Hackney, a Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Light House Society volunteer.
SHEFFIELD ISLAND (NORWALK) LIGHT
Location: Sheffield Island / Entrance to Norwalk River
Station Established: 1828
Year Current Tower(s) First Lit: 1868
Operational? NO
Automated? NO
Deactivated: 1902
Foundation Materials: DRESSED STONE/TIMBER
Construction Materials: METAL TOWER ON STONE DWELLING
Tower Shape: OCTAGONAL ON SQUARE HOUSE
Height: 44 feet
Focal Plane: 51 feet
Markings/Pattern: WHITE TOWER/BLACK LANTERN ON DWELLING
Relationship to Other Structure: INTEGRAL
Original Lens: FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL 1857
Characteristic: Rotating red and white flashes
Historical Information:
- 1804: Robert Sheffield purchased White Island for $6000.
- 1826: Gershom Smith, Sheffield's son-in-law, sold 4 acres of the 53 acre island to the U.S. government for the first of 2 lights to be built on the island. He would serve as the first keeper.
- 1828: The first lighthouse was completed.
- 1857: A forth order Fresnel lens replaced the original 10 lamps and reflectors which were rotated with red and white flashes.
- 1868: The current lighthouse was built.
- 1902: The light was deactivated due to its distant location from the ledges it was designed to warn ships of. The Green Ledge Light replaced the Sheffield Island Light.
- 1914: The government sold the lighthouse and four acres of land to Thorsten O. Stabell for under $5000.
- 1930's: An attempt was made to create a resort on the island. It was shut down in 1937 due to a lack of fresh water.
- 1986: The Norwalk Seaport Association purchased the lighthouse and land from the Stabell family for $700,000.
- 1989: The lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- 1993: A utility generator was rebuilt and electricity was added to the keeper's house. That fall, a storm flooded the basement resulting in the loss of a number of artifacts.
- 2000, September: The Norwalk Seaport Association retired the mortgage on the property.
- 2002: Summer tours are available by ferry service from Norwalk.
Researched and written by Diane Hackney, a Chesapeake Chapter of the U.S. Light House Society volunteer.