Old Orchard Shoal Light

Old Orchard Shoal Light

Year first constructed	1893
Year first lit	1893
Automated	1955
Foundation	Concrete/Cast Iron Caisson
Construction	Cast Iron
Tower shape	Conical "Spark Plug"
Markings / pattern	lower half brown, upper half white , on black pier
Height	35 ft (11 m)
Focal height	51ft (16m)
Original lens	Fourth Order Fresnel lens
Current lens	250mm
Range	W 7nm R 5nm
Characteristic	Fl W 6s (Red from 087 deg to 203 deg
Fog signal	Removed/ Original air siren and horn
ARLHS number	USA-565
USCG number	1-35395 [1] [2] [3]
Orchard Shoal Light Station, Old
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Nearest city:	Staten Island, New York
Coordinates:	40°30′44.272″N 74°5′55.369″W / 40.51229778°N 74.09871361°W / 40.51229778; -74.09871361Coordinates: 40°30′44.272″N 74°5′55.369″W / 40.51229778°N 74.09871361°W / 40.51229778; -74.09871361
Area:	less than one acre
Built:	1893
Architect:	US Lighthouse Board
Governing body:	U.S. Coast Guard
NRHP Reference#:	06000864[4]
Added to NRHP:	September 20, 2006

Old Orchard Shoal Light is a sparkplug lighthouse in lower New York Bay marking a large shoal area. The Fresnel lens was removed in 1950.

History

Old Orchard Shoal Light was completed and lit on April 25, 1893.^[5]

Before moving on to Governor's Island and then finally Coney Island Light, Frank Schubert, said to be the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States, was stationed at Old Orchard Shoal Light.

Old Orchard Shoal Light is listed on the National Park Service's Maritime Heritage Program as Lighthouse to visit ^[6] and as one of New York's Historic Light Stations.^[7]

On May 29, 2007, the Secretary of the Interior identified Old Orchard Shoal Light Station as surplus under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. The property was described as

Gedney Channel/Lower New York Bay, 3.5 miles south of New Dorp Beach. Remote 35 ft. conical, 3-story “spark plug” style light (1893) with keeper’s quarters (approx. 1000 SF). Interior lined in brick up to 3rd floor. On 0.72 acre submerged land. Constructed of cast iron on concrete/cast iron caisson. Markings: white upper/black. Protective riprap and breakwater sheltering light’s boat basin. Accessible by boat only."^[8]

No group was identified under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act as willing and able to preserve the Old Orchard Shoal Light, and on June 5, 2008, the General Services Administration placed the light up for sale via an auction. The initial bid was $10,000 and the light finally closed on August 27, 2008 at a final bid of $235,000.^[9]

References

1. ^ (PDF) Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey. Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2009. p. 297. http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/pdf/lightLists/LightList%20V1.pdf. 
2. ^ "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: New York". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHNY.asp. 
3. ^ ARLHS World List of Lights
4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
5. ^ Annual report of the Light-House Board to the Secretary of the Treasury for the Fiscal Year ended June 30, 1893, Treasury Department, Document No 1647
6. ^ National Park Service's Maritime Heritage Program's Inventory of Historic Light Stations
7. ^ National Park Service's Maritime Heritage Program's Inventory of NY Historic Light Stations
8. ^ Available properties through the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Program for 2007
9. ^ GSA listing (1-PR-08-005) for Old Orchard Shoal^{[dead link]}