Avery Point Light facts for kids
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| Post-renovations view in 2014 | |
 Avery Point Light
Location in Connecticut
Avery Point Light
Location in the United States
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| Location | Groton Connecticut, U.S. |
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| Coordinates | 41°18′55″N 72°03′49″W / 41.315260°N 72.063563°W |
| Year first constructed | 1944 |
| Deactivated | 1967–2006 (reactivated) |
| Construction | concrete tower |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | unpainted tower, white lantern, black lantern roof |
| Height | 55 ft (17 m) |
| Focal height | 56 ft (17 m) |
| Current lens | LED |
| Characteristic |  Fl G 4s. |
| ARLHS number | USA-023 |
| USCG number | 1-21742 |
The Avery Point Lighthouse is a cool lighthouse located in Groton, Connecticut, right on the campus of the University of Connecticut. Even though it was finished in 1943, its light wasn't turned on until May 1944. This was because people were worried about possible enemy attacks during World War II.
The lighthouse first used eight 200-watt light bulbs. Later, in 1960, these were changed to a flashing green light. On June 25, 1967, the lighthouse was turned off. This happened when the United States Coast Guard Training Station moved away. The Avery Point Lighthouse is known as the last lighthouse built in Connecticut that was used for guiding ships.
Over time, the lighthouse started to fall apart. By 1997, the University of Connecticut said it was unsafe. But don't worry! People decided to save it. In 1999, a group called the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) started working to restore it. A local group, the Avery Point Lighthouse Society, also helped a lot.
The restoration work began in 2001 and finished in 2006. They had to build a new top part (called a lantern) and fix many broken parts of the tower. Money was raised to help pay for the repairs. The lighthouse was officially turned back on and celebrated on October 15, 2006. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
Building the Lighthouse
The land where the Avery Point Lighthouse stands used to belong to a man named Morton F. Plant. His large home, Branford Manor, is very close by. Many years after Plant passed away, the state of Connecticut bought the land. Then, it was given to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard needed to build lights or other tools to help ships navigate as part of their new training center.
The lighthouse was designed by Alfred Hopkins and Associates. It was planned to be a 41-foot (about 12-meter) tall tower with eight sides. The tower was finished in March 1943. It is made of brown concrete blocks and has a wooden lantern (the top part where the light is) on top.
During the restoration, workers found that six different kinds of concrete blocks were used to build it! The tower has five windows: two facing south and one each for the north, east, and west. The balcony around the lantern is made of concrete and has 32 Italian marble railings. These marble pieces were brought from Italy around 1900. Inside, there's an iron ladder that goes up to the watchroom. The lighthouse's design looks like the Colonial Revival style. It is officially the last lighthouse built in Connecticut to help ships navigate.
How the Lighthouse Served
The Avery Point Light was not turned on until May 2, 1944. This delay happened because people were worried about enemy attacks from the sea during World War II. The first light was unusual. It used eight 200-watt bulbs to create a steady white light.
Even though it didn't have a full-time lighthouse keeper, people or students from the U.S. Coast Guard Training Station took care of it. In 1960, the light was changed to a flashing green light. Its brightness also doubled, from 100 to 200 candlepower. The light was turned off on June 25, 1967. This was when the Coast Guard training center moved to Governors Island.
Saving the Lighthouse
By July 1997, the University of Connecticut said the Avery Point Light was in "dangerously poor condition." They even called it a safety hazard. In December 2007, a magazine called Lighthouse Digest wrote an article titled "Avery Point added to Doomsday List." This was because there were rumors that the lighthouse might be torn down. The article showed pictures of the lighthouse blocked off, with crumbling bricks and a "Keep Out Hazardous Area" sign.
Luckily, people started raising money in 1999 to save and restore the lighthouse. The American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) helped, and a new local group, the Avery Point Lighthouse Society (APLS), also joined in 2000.
In 2000, the APLS website estimated they would need about $25,000 for a study and another $150,000 to $200,000 for the actual restoration. In 2001, a Connecticut State Senator named Catherine Cook helped get a bill approved for $150,000 to fund the restoration. An engineering company also did a study for free, which was a big help.
The first part of the restoration began on December 1, 2001, when the old lantern (the top part) was removed. It was in such bad shape that they decided to build a brand new one that looked exactly like the original. From 2003 to 2004, a company called West Mystic Wooden Boat Building Company donated the materials and work to build the new lantern. The owner of the company, Steve Jones, used to be a lighthouse keeper himself!
The original concrete blocks used to build the lighthouse were not very strong. They had too much sand and started to crumble. So, workers decided to replace the outer layer of blocks. They also made the remaining original blocks stronger with cement and steel. They needed 3,000 new blocks, which had to be made with special molds.
Work on the tower began in September 2003. However, the costs went up, and they needed more money. In 2003, the National Park Service provided another $100,000 through the "Save America’s Treasures Act." Senators Chris Dodd and Joe Lieberman supported this funding. Because of delays in getting the money, the second part of the restoration didn't start until June 2005. The work then continued from July to early November. Finally, the lighthouse was turned back on and celebrated on October 15, 2006.
Why the Lighthouse is Important
Some people have said that the Avery Point Lighthouse was built as a memorial. For example, a 1994 guide said it was a "memorial tower" and a symbol of the Coast Guard's job. While it wasn't originally built as a memorial, it has certainly come to serve as one over the years. The lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, showing its importance as a historical landmark.
Images for kids
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Post-renovations view in 2014
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Avery Point Light overlooks Fisher's Island Sound from the bluffs at Avery Point
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In 2000, prior to restoration.
