Oswego Harbor West Pierhead Light facts for kids
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| Oswego Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse | |
| Location | Oswego, New York |
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| Coordinates | 43°28′24″N 76°31′01″W / 43.47332°N 76.51682°W |
| Year first lit | 1934 |
| Automated | 1968 |
| Foundation | Concrete/masonry caisson |
| Construction | Steel and cast iron |
| Tower shape | square |
| Markings / pattern | White with red roof and green trim |
| Height | 57 feet (17.37 meters) |
| Original lens | Fourth Order Fresnel lens |
| Current lens | Modern optics |
| Characteristic | Alternating red and OFF flash every 5 seconds |
| ARLHS number | USA-571 |
| USCG number | 7-2080 |
The Oswego Harbor West Pierhead Lighthouse is an active aid to navigation located off the coast of Oswego, New York. It helps guide boats safely. This lighthouse was built in 1934. It replaced an older light that was built in 1880.
The lighthouse stands at the end of a long breakwater. This breakwater is about 2,000 feet (610 meters) long. It stretches out into Lake Ontario from the mouth of the Oswego River. You can reach the lighthouse by boat or by walking along the breakwater. However, it is not open to the public. The City of Oswego owns the lighthouse, and the United States Coast Guard operates it. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site.
History of the Oswego Lighthouse
The very first lighthouse at this spot was built in 1889. This was when the second breakwater for the harbor was constructed. That original light stood for many years.
Then, in 1934, the lighthouse you see today was built. Two years later, in 1936, a one-story building was added. This building was where the lighthouse keepers lived.
A sad event happened on December 4, 1942. A boat used to take keepers to the lighthouse overturned. Six Coast Guardsmen lost their lives in this accident. The lighthouse continued to be staffed by people until 1968. After that, it became automated, meaning machines took over its operation.
The six Coast Guardsmen who died were:
- GINSBURG, IRVING (SN2)
- HOLDSWORTH, LESLIE J. (SN1)
- JACKSON, KARL H. (BM1)
- SPRAW, RALPH J. (MM2)
- SISSON, EUGENE C. (BM2)
- WILSON, ALSTON G. (LT)
The original fourth order Fresnel lens was taken out in 1995. It is now displayed at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego. In December 2000, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
This lighthouse is the only one of four original lighthouses in Oswego that is still standing. Today, the light is powered by solar energy.
How the Lighthouse Was Built
The lighthouse tower sits on a very large concrete and masonry base. This base is called a caisson. It rises about 17 feet (5.18 meters) above the average lake surface. The walls of this caisson are very thick, about three feet (0.91 meter) wide.
The main part of the lighthouse above the caisson is made of strong steel plates and cast iron. These materials form the walls, roof, doors, and window shutters. It has a one-story living area with a sloped roof. A three-story tower stands at the northeast corner of the caisson.
The caisson has a large basement area. It also has two steel doors. One is on the south side, where boats can land to drop off people or supplies. The other steel door is on the west side, leading to the breakwater. There are special ladders at both entrances to help people get to the doors and the deck above.
The first floor inside the lighthouse contains the living quarters. This area includes a living room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a hallway, and a bathroom. The walls are plastered, and the floors have vinyl tiles. The wood trim is varnished. A steel chimney goes up through the roof at the southwest corner. The top level has a lantern room and a watch deck. A cone-shaped roof with a decorative ball on top covers this area.
On June 1, 2006, the lighthouse was no longer needed by the government. It was then recommended to be given to the City of Oswego. This transfer happened under a special law called the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
On May 18, 2009, the General Services Administration officially gave the Oswego West Pierhead Light to the City of Oswego. The mayor of Oswego received the deed. This transfer included both the light and the keeper's living quarters. The city plans to make it part of their waterfront access program. The U.S. Coast Guard will continue to maintain it as a working navigation aid.
