Sheffield Island

Alternate Name(s):
Norwalk, Smith Island
Type:
Year Established:
1828
Existing:
Yes
Source:
LL-1879
stone lighthouse
Download:
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Courtesy of:
US Lighthouse Society
Collection / Donor:

LOCATION

Location:
SHEFFIELD ISL/ENTRANCE TO NORWALK RIVER
Latitude:
41° 02.53'
Longitude:
73° 25.11'
City / Town:
NORWALK
U.S. State:
Connecticut
Location County:
FAIRFIELD
Country:
United States

OWNER & ACCESS

Open to Public:
Yes
Light List Data:
  1. Sheffield Island
Light list data courtesy Gary Riemenschneider

STRUCTURE

Year Discontinued:
1902
Year Tower Established:
1868
Tower Construction Material:
METAL TOWER ON STONE DWELLING
Tower Foundation:
DRESSED STONE/TIMBER
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
52 feet above water
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
46 feet
Tower Shape:
OCTAGONAL ON SQUARE HOUSE
Fog Signal Building?:
No
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1869
Keeper's Quarters Style:
MID-VICTORIAN (INTEGRAL)
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
LIMESTONE BLOCKS
Other Structures:
WOODEN COTTAGE (1927)

OPTICS

Active Aid to Navigation?:
No
Original Optic Type:
FOURTH ORDER FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1857
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
No

More Information

Documents Photographs Postcards Architectural Plans Newspaper Clippings Objects People
Comments:
  • 1827 - a 30' stone lighthouse tower begins to operate
  • 1838 - light source was 10 lamps with parabolic reflectors that alternated white/red light
  • Many complaints that the light was not sufficient for navigation
  • 1868 - construction of new lighthouse with a 4th Order Fresnel lens
  • July 1872 - Keeper Noah Mosher, Sr dies while seated in a chair watching passing vessels. Noah Mosher, Jr. succeeds him
  • Aug 1897 - Keeper Samuel Armour falls from top of the lighthouse as the rope gave away. Miraculously he survives and returns to service.
  • 1902 - Light discontinued as Green's Ledge begins operation
  • Lighthouse goes through a series of owners until 1986 when purchased by the Norwalk Seaport Assn. for $700K
  • 1989 - Lighthouse placed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Oct 17, 2011 - Lighthouse relit, now uses solar power
    • Entered by:
    t.wheeler
    Entered Date:
    Jul 20, 2017