Coney Island Lighthouse

Year Built

1890

Cost

$18,000

Type

Square

Height

75 feet

Location

Sea Gate, Brooklyn

Automated Year

1989

First Lit

1920

Lens Type

Fourth Order fresnel lens

Fog Signal

None

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Skeletal white tower with black trim

Last Keeper - Date

Frank P. Schubert (1960 – 2003)

Description

The lighthouse is not open to the public.

Brief History

•  The original beacon, first lit on August 1, 1890 by Keeper Thomas Higgenbotham, was a fourth-order Fresnel lens powered by kerosene, showing a flashing red light.
•  In 1915, a 600-foot stone wall was put up for protection, but a large storm six months later undermined much of the wall.
•  In 1918, the fog bell building fell over into the water. Another skeleton tower for a fog bell was built and surrounded by several tons of riprap.
•  In 1960, Frank Schubert gladly accepted an assignment to Coney Island Lighthouse as his family would finally be able to live with him.
•  When the station was automated in 1989, Keeper Schubert, whose wife Marie had passed away in 1986, was allowed to stay on as a caretaker, and he continuing to climb the eighty-seven steps to the lantern each day to perform required maintenance duties.