Old Field Point Light
Old Field Point Light is a lighthouse within the village of Old Field, New York between the entrances to Port Jefferson Harbor and Stony Brook Harbor on the North Shore of Long Island.[1][2]
 | |
| Location | Old Field, New York, Long Island north shore |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°58′37.2″N 73°07′06.9″W |
| Tower | |
| Constructed | 1823 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Wood tower on granite house |
| Automated | 1991 |
| Height | 74 feet (23 m) from sea level |
| Shape | Octagonal Tower. Black. Originally white with black lantern. |
| Light | |
| First lit | 1869 (Current tower) |
| Deactivated | 1933-1991 |
| Focal height | 23 m (75 ft)  |
| Lens | Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), "Modern Beacon" (current) |
| Range | 14 nautical miles (26 km; 16 mi) |
| Characteristic | Alternating Red and Green 24 s. Red Flash 12, Green Flash 12 s. |
Description
The Old Field Point Light located on the northern tip of Old Field, dates back to 1823. It was built by the United States government for $2,500. The rest of the lighthouse was finished in 1824 for an additional $1,500.[3]
The first light came from nine whale oil lamps and was magnified by a large glass reflector.[3]
In 1868, a new lighthouse was built, with kerosene lamps. In 1933, an automatic revolving light was installed. When the lighthouse was in use, the caretaker used the Old Field village hall as a home.[3]
The U.S. government gave it back to Old Field in 1935, with the proviso that the government can take it back in case of a national emergency. It was taken back during World War II by the U.S. Coast Guard, but after the war they gave it back to the Old Field community.[3] The Old Field light shines on New York's Long Island Sound.[3]
The structure is of the same design as lighthouses at Sheffield Island in Norwalk, Connecticut; Morgan Point in Noank, Connecticut; Great Captain Island in Greenwich, Connecticut, Plum Island on Plum Island in New York; and Block Island North on Block Island in Rhode Island.[4]
Cultural
The Archives Center at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History has a collection (#1055) of souvenir postcards of lighthouses and has digitized 272 of these and made them available online. These include postcards of Old Field Point Light [5] with links to customized nautical charts provided by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
References
- Light List, Volume I, Atlantic Coast, St. Croix River, Maine to Shrewsbury River, New Jersey (PDF). Light List. United States Coast Guard. 2007.
- ARLHS World List of Lights
- "Old Field History – Old Field, NY". Retrieved 2021-08-18.
- "Great Captain Island, CT" page at LighthouseFriends.com Web site, accessed August 21, 2006
- "Smithsonian lighthouse postcards". Archived from the original on 2010-03-11. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
