New London Ledge Lighthouse

Year Built

1909

Cost

$60,000

Type

Short cylindrical tower on 3-story dwelling

Height

58 feet

Location

Thames River, New London Harbor

Automated Year

1987

First Lit

1909

Lens Type

Fourth-order Fresnel lens (original) - VLB-44 (current)

Fog Signal

Fog horn (original) - None (current)

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

White tower, red lantern roof

Last Keeper - Date

Peter Polotnianka (1986 – 1987)

Description

A French Second Empire style building with a tower on top.

Brief History

•  The light was completed and first lit in November of 1909 and a fog horn was also installed at the time.
•  In 1910 the lighthouse was renamed to New London Ledge Light. It was originally called the Southwest Ledge light.
•  In 1916, Keeper George Hansen recounted how he rescued an eagle with a six-foot wingspan after he saw it flying in an erratic fashion before tumbling into the sound.
•  New London Ledge isn’t the only New England lighthouse said to be haunted, but its resident ghost Ernie is the most famous of the supernatural denizens.
•  In 1990 the light was added to the National Register of Historic Places.