Five Mile Point Light facts for kids
 |
|
| Five Mile Point Light in 2008 | |
 Five Mile Point Light
Old New Haven Location in Connecticut
|
|
| Location | Long Island Sound New Haven Connecticut United States |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 41°14′56″N 72°54′14″W / 41.24898°N 72.90379°W |
| Year first constructed | 1805 (first) |
| Year first lit | 1847 (current) |
| Deactivated | 1877 |
| Foundation | brownstone basement |
| Construction | brownstone tower |
| Tower shape | octagonal tower with balcony and lantern |
| Markings / pattern | white tower, black lantern |
| Height | 80 ft (24 m) |
| Original lens | 12 lamps, 21 inch reflectors (1845) Fourth order Fresnel lens (1855) |
| Range | 10 nautical miles (20 km) |
| Characteristic | decorative light |
| ARLHS number | USA-539 |
The Five Mile Point Light is a historic lighthouse located in New Haven, Connecticut. It stands on the coast of Long Island Sound, right at the entrance to New Haven Harbor. The lighthouse gets its name because it's about five miles (8 km) from Downtown New Haven.
The first lighthouse here was a 30-foot (9.1 m) wooden tower built in 1805. Later, in 1847, a new 80-foot (24 m) tower made of brownstone was built. This new lighthouse used 12 lamps to shine its light. In 1855, a special Fresnel lens was added to make the light even stronger. The Five Mile Point Light was turned off in 1877 when a new lighthouse, the Southwest Ledge Light, took over its job. Today, the lighthouse is part of Lighthouse Point Park. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.
Contents
A Historic Location
The area where the lighthouse stands has a long history. In July 1779, during the American Revolutionary War, a battle happened right here. British soldiers tried to land their boats and invade New Haven. American forces fought back bravely to defend the beach.
One of the first British soldiers killed was Ensign Watkins. He was buried near where the lighthouse would later be built. Even though the British burned some houses nearby, they faced heavy losses. They eventually gave up their plan to attack New Haven.
The First Lighthouse
In 1804, the United States Congress decided that a lighthouse was needed at Five Mile Point. They wanted to buy land for it at a fair price. That same year, Amos Morris, Jr., whose family home was burned in the 1779 battle, sold one acre of his land to the government for $100.
On March 16, 1805, money was set aside to build the lighthouse. Later that year, a 30-foot (9.1 m) wooden tower was built by Abisha Woodward. It was meant to guide ships around the Southwest Ledge. The light came from eight oil lamps, but many people thought it was too dim. A house for the lighthouse keeper was also built in 1805. The first keeper was Amos Morris Jr., but he only stayed for three weeks.
By 1838, the wooden tower and keeper's house were in bad shape. So, in 1847, Congress approved $10,000 to build a brand new stone lighthouse.
The Current Lighthouse Tower
The lighthouse you see today was built in 1847. It's an 80-foot (24 m) octagonal tower made from brownstone. The inside of the lighthouse has a 74-step granite staircase that leads up to the top. The light was originally powered by 12 lamps. It shone from 97 feet (30 m) above sea level.
A new brick house for the lighthouse keeper was also built at this time. In 1855, the lamps were replaced with a more powerful Fresnel lens. This special lens made the light much brighter and easier to see. In the 1860s, a fog bell was added to help ships in foggy weather.
The Five Mile Point Light was turned off in 1877. This happened because the Southwest Ledge Light, which was built offshore, took over its role in guiding ships. The last keeper, Elizur Thompson, moved to the new lighthouse. Later, he returned to live in the Five Mile Point keeper's house. He then helped the National Weather Service by flying storm signal flags.
Over the years, the lighthouse property changed hands. In 1922, the land went to the state of Connecticut, and the buildings went to the city of New Haven. Two years later, New Haven bought the land from the state. The tower was carefully repaired in 1986. This restoration fixed cracks and cleaned the building.
Why This Lighthouse Is Important
The Five Mile Point Lighthouse is very important to the history of New Haven. It shows how lighthouses were built in America during the early 1800s. It also plays a big part in the maritime history of New Haven.
Today, the keeper's house is a private home for staff from the New Haven Recreation Department. Both the lighthouse and the keeper's house were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.
Images for kids
-
Five Mile Point Light in 2008
-
Postcard showing the lighthouse, around 1912
