BUFFALO SOUTH BREAKWATER

Alternate Name(s):
Buffalo Harbor Entrance South Side
Type:
Year Established:
1903
Existing:
Yes
Buffalo South Breakwater NY
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2000
Photo Credit:
Mike and Carol McKinney
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society Archives
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
STONY POINT
Latitude:
42° 50.0'
Longitude:
78° 52.3'
City / Town:
BUFFALO
U.S. State:
New York
Location County:
ERIE
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
No
Light List Data:
  1. BUFFALO SOUTH BREAKWATER
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1993
Year Tower Established:
1903
Tower Construction Material:
IRON
Tower Foundation:
TIMBER CRIB / CONCRETE PIER
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
43.5
Tower Shape:
CONICAL
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1903
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
CONCRETE & IRON
Keeper's Quarters?:
No
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1903
Keeper's Quarters Style:
DUPLEX
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
BRICK
Other Structures:
ENCLOSED PASSAGE BETWEEN TOWER AND FOG SIGNAL STATION

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Current Optic:
N/A
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH-ORDER FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1903
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
Yes
Comments:

Historical Information:

In the latter part of the Ninetieth Century ship traffic to Buffalo necessitated expansion of the Buffalo harbor and a new breakwater was constructed south of the main harbor.

  • 1903: Funds were appropriated for construction of light stations to mark the new breakwater. The southern light was near the Lackawanna Steel plant.
  • 1904: A fog signal with compressed air was completed. 
  • 1988: The original Fourth Order Fresnel lens was removed and installed in Buffalo’s Old Main Lighthouse and relit.
  • 1993: The lighthouse was discontinued.
  • 2007: Placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
  • 2008: The lighthouse was offered to qualified groups through the Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act. Application of Buffalo Lighthouse Association was  approved.
Entered by:
t.wheeler
Entered Date:
Jul 21, 2017