Old Field Point Light
Lighthouse From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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] The light was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.[3]
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 | |
| 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. |
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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.[4]
The first light came from nine whale oil lamps and was magnified by a large glass reflector.[4]
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.[4]
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.[4] The Old Field light shines on New York's Long Island Sound.[4]
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.[5]
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 [6] with links to customized nautical charts provided by National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration.
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