Watch Hill Lighthouse

Year Built

Current Lighthouse 1856

Cost

$8,300

Type

Square

Height

61 feet

Location

Watch Hill

Automated Year

1986

First Lit

1857

Lens Type

Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), VRB-25 (current)

Fog Signal

Horn: 1 every 30s

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Natural w/ white lantern, red roof

Last Keeper - Date

Charles Merritt (1984 – 1986)

Description

Granite tower w/ brick lining, 1856 keeper's house, oil house, garage, 1909 fog signal building still standing.

Brief History

•  In 1838, the lighting apparatus in the lantern room consisted of ten sets of lamps and reflectors arranged on iron frames in two equal clusters.
•  In 1856 a granite lighthouse was built at Watch Hill to replace the old Watch Hill Lighthouse. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the new lighthouse.
•  In 1879 Jared Crandell died. His wife Sally Anne replaced him. She served as Watch Hill Lighthouse's keeper for ten years.
•  On September 21, 1938 one of the most powerful hurricanes in American history hit Rhode Island. The keepers Lawrence Congdon and Richard Fricke kept the light on during most of the storm.
•  Watch Hill Lighthouse was automated on August 31, 1986. The Watch Hill Lighthouse Keepers Association signed a thirty year lease with the Coast Guard that day.