Horton Point Light

Horton Point Light is a lighthouse on the north side of Eastern Long Island, New York near Southold. Infobox Lighthouse


caption = Horton Point Light
location = Long Island Sound, Southold, New York
coordinates = coord|41|05|6.51|N|72|26|44.77|W
yearlit = 1857
automated = 1933
construction = Granite and Brick covered in Stucco
shape = Square, attached to rectangular house
height = convert|58|ft|m|abbr=on.
marking = White with black lantern and copper roof
lens = Third order Fresnel lens rotating, 1857
range = 14 mi.
characteristic = Green slow flash every 10 seconds

History

The current lighthouse was established and the tower was first lit in 1857. The site is on a bluff convert|60|ft|m above Long Island Sound. The tower was automated in 1933 and is now operational. The light was deactivated from 1933 to 1990. The foundation is granite and the lighthouse is built out of granite and brick with stucco. A square tower is attached to a rectangular house. The tower is convert|58|ft|m high with the focal plane of the light being convert|103|ft|m above sea level. The tower is white with a black lantern and a copper dome. There is a third order Fresnel lens installed in 1857. The light has a slow green flash every ten seconds.

Chronology:

*1790: President George Washington commissioned the lighthouse.
*1855: Land to build to lighthouse on was purchased by the US government for $550.
*1857: Lighthouse was constructed and lit with William Sinclair serving as the first light keeper.
*1933: Light was turned off in the tower and a skeleton tower was lit on shore.
*1934, January: Southold Park District purchased the lighthouse buildings and grounds from the US Department of Commerce for $1.00.
*1938: The last keeper stayed until the hurricane of 1938.
*1976: Restoration of the lighthouse was started.
*1990: Major restoration allowed for the repair of the tower both internally and externally. The light was reopened and relit. The skeleton tower (seen in photo to right) on the shoreline was removed.
*2007: The lighthouse is still an active aid to navigation and hosts a museum. Visitors are able to climb the tower.

External links

* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=392 Horton Point Light House]
* [http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-cp/history/WEBLIGHTHOUSES/LHNY.html USCG site]
* [http://www.longislandlighthouses.com/hortonpt.htm Long Island lighthouses article]
* [http://www.southoldhistoricalsociety.org/lighthouse.htm Southold Historical Society: Nautical Museum at Horton Point Lighthouse]