New London Ledge CT Lighthouse RETURN
HERE'S THE STORY of the New London Ledge Connecticut Lighthouse:
Surrounded by water, a most unusual lighthouse stands guard at the entrance to New London Harbor. Rising three stories from the surface of the water, New London Ledge Light has guided ships away from disaster for nine decades. In 1760, the citizens of New London held a lottery to raise money for a much-needed lighthouse. This colonial city, named for the famous European capitol, is home to another English namesake, the Thames River. At the entrance to the Thames, where the river empties into the Long Island Sound, hazardous shoals and rocky ledges lie just below the surface, ready to strike the bow of an unsuspecting ship. New London Harbor Light was considered a marvel in its time. Unfortunately, during fog and inclement weather, the stone lighthouse was simply not adequate to warn mariners away from the shoals. In 1890, the Lighthouse Service recommended that a new lighthouse be established at New London Harbor. Because of Congressional delays, however, eighteen years passed until work actually began. After examining several underwater ledges, engineers settled on Southwest Ledge, located a mile from the shoreline, to build the modern, caisson-style sentinel. Standing in twenty-eight feet of water, the foundation was constructed inside a timber crib, 52 feet square and 31 feet high. Architects chose a stylish French Second Empire design for the structure, ensuring that New London Ledge Light would never be confused with another station. Built at a cost of $93,968, an exorbitant amount in its day, each corner of the lighthouse pointed toward one of the four points of the compass. On November 10 1909, the fourth-order Fresnel lens was illuminated for the first time. Fueled by mineral oil, mariners could spot the flashing, red and white beacon for more than sixteen miles. As an extra measure of security, a fog-signal apparatus was added in 1911.Although the light was automated in 1986, there are many who believe theold sentinel still houses an unusual resident. As the story goes, an assistant keeper named John Randolph was assigned, along with his wife, to this lonely outpost during the 1920s. Apparently, Mrs.. Randolph was quite miserable spending her days imprisoned in the eleven-room fortress. At the first opportunity, she escaped from the dismal rock with a sailor or harbor pilot. Her husband, embarrassed and distraught, committed suicide soon after. According to the legend, New London Ledge Light has been haunted ever since. Numerous keepers have reported strange happenings here. One keeper's wife and several children during the 1940sspoke of a bearded man appearing and then simply vanishing. Keepers and locals affectionately refer to the apparition as "Ernie". Strangely, there is no written record of Mr. Randolph serving at the light. Those who have had experiences with the special visitor, however, are quite certain of his existence.