Plum Island Light

Infobox Lighthouse


caption =
location = Plum Island (New York)
coordinates = coord|41|10|25.20|N|72|12|41.47|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearlit = 1827
automated = 1978
yeardeactivated =
foundation =
construction = second light on granite house (1869) metal tower (1978)
shape =
height = convert|50|ft|m from sea level
lens = 10 whale oil lamps (1827) Sixth order fresnel (1856) Fourth order fresnel (1897) Automated flash (1978)
range = convert|5|nmi|km
characteristic = 2.5 second White flash

Plum Island Light, also known as Plum Gut Light, is located on the western end of Plum Island, which lies east of Orient Point which in turn is at the end of the North Fork of Long Island in the US state of New York. An historic granite lighthouse originally built in 1869 sits at thesite, but no longer serves as an active aid to navigation. A short distance northwest of the granite lighthousebuilding is a convert|14|ft|m metal tower that holds the automated light that has served as an aid to navigation sincethe earlier light was decommissioned in 1978.cite web
url = http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHNY.asp
title = Historic Light Station Information & Photography: New York
publisher = United States Coast Guard
accessdate = 2008-09-08]

In 1826 the west end of Plum Island was purchased from Richard Jerome for $90 for the purpose of building a lighthouse.The following year a convert|35|ft|m high stone tower had been constructed to support the first light. That first lightwas comprised of 10 whale oil lamps with reflectors. The light helped navigation near the entrance to Long Island Sound, especially through the "Plum Gut" channel between Orient Point and Plum Island. In 1856 the original lamps and reflectors were replaced by a sixth-order Fresnel lens.cite web
url = http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=743
title = Plum Island Lighthouse, New York at Lighthousefriends.com
publisher = LighthouseFriends.com
accessdate =2008-06-03]

By the late 1860s the lighthouse was falling into disrepair. A new convert|55|ft|m tall granite lighthouse building was constructed and in service by 1869. The structure is of the same design as lighthouses at
Sheffield Island in Norwalk, Connecticut; Morgan Point in
Noank, Connecticut; Great Captain Island in Greenwich, Connecticut,
Old Field Point in Old Field, New York; and Block Island North on Block Island Rhode Island.cite web
url = http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=782
title = Great Captain Island Lighthouse, Connecticut at Lighthousefriends.com
publisher = LighthouseFriends.com
accessdate = 2008-06-02] The sixth order lens from the original lighthouse had been moved to the new building, then it waschanged to a newer fourth-order lens in 1897.

In 1879 Fort Terry was built on Plum Island. The relations between lighthouse keepers and army personnelremained congenial for many years, and the keepers could usually purchase food and supplies at the Fort commissary.But in 1916 an order came down and the keeper at Plum Island Light was informed that purchasing supplies at Fort Terrywas no longer allowed. The rule forced William Chapel, the keeper at the time, to sail over a mile to Orient, or 12 miles to New London to purchase supplies. Eventually the United States Lighthouse Service was able to persuade the Army that lighthouse keepers should once again be allowed to purchase supplies atarmy commissaries.

Starting in 1939 the Lighthouse Service duties were taken over by the United States Coast Guard. Coast Guard employed keepers were removed from Plum Island in 1978 when the light was automated on a structure built to the sideof the 1869 lighthouse.

In 1994 the Fresnel lens was removed from the lighthouse and moved tothe East End Seaport Museum in Greenport where it is on display.

Starting in 2000 the East End Lighthouses group (distinct from the Seaport Museum organization) was formed and has been working since that time with various government agencies to refurbish, and to hopefully eventually relight thePlum Island light as an active aid to navigation. On April 24, 2007 a resolution was passed by the Town of
Southold that will transfer ownership of the lighthouse to the town.cite web
url = http://www.eastendlighthouses.org/piUpdate.htm
title = Plum Island Update
publisher = East End Lighthouses
accessdate = 2008-06-03]

The Plum Island Lighthouse, like all of Plum Island, is not open for public visits. The lightmay be seen from the water, but landing on the island is restricted to persons authorized by the
United States Department of Homeland Security (usually those visiting the Plum Island Animal Disease Center).

References

External links

*cite web|url=http://www.eastendseaport.org/|title=East End Seatport Museum and Marine Foundation|accessdate=2008-06-03
*cite web|url=http://www.scroope.net/lighthouses/longisland/plumisland/default.htm|title=Plum Island (Plum Gut) Lighthouse - Plum Island, Long Island, New York|accessdate=2008-06-03