Sheffield Island Lighthouse

Year Built

1828

Cost

N/A

Type

Octagon on square house

Height

44 feet

Location

Sheffield Island, Norwalk

Automated Year

N/A

First Lit

1868

Lens Type

Fourth-order Fresnel (1857) - Present optic: Solar-powered LED optic (2011)

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

1902-2011

Color

White tower - black lantern on building

Last Keeper - Date

Samuel Armour (1886 – 1902)

Description

The building and lighthouse have been repaired and still standing.

Brief History

•  In July 1872, sixty-four-year-old Noah Mosher, who had been serving as keeper of Norwalk Island Lighthouse since 1861, fell dead from his chair while watching passing vessels with his spy glass.
•  In August 1901, Keeper Samuel Armour became ill with typhoid fever after drinking contaminated water from the station's cistern.
•  Sheffield Island Light was replaced in 1902 by the new Greens Ledge Light farther west.
•  Sheffield Island Lighthouse was put up for sale in 1914 and purchased by Thorsten O. Stabell.
•  In October 2011 the lighthouse was re-lit by a solar powered system installed to replace the gasoline generator system.