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Established: 1871
First Lighted: December 1, 1871
First Keeper: William Thompson
Light: (1873) fifth order Fresnel lens, fixed red light.
Light: (1939) fourth order Fresnel lens,
fixed red, incandescent oil vapor, 870 cp.
Light: (1990) 250mm automated optic,
white flashing, 4 seconds
Fog Signal: (1871) cast steel bell struck by machine every 15 seconds
Fog Signal: (1990) none
Height of light above sea level: (1873) 54 feet
Height of light above sea level: (1990) 63 feet
Discontinued: 1948
Destroyed by fire: July 1963
Rebuilt and re-lit: September 1990
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The much photographed Victorian
structure is a near replica of the Original Bug Light built
in 1871 and discontinued in 1948. Long Beach Bar Lighthouse
was established on December 1, 1871, to mark the entrance to
Peconic Bay at the eastern end of Long Island. The original
structure was on screw piles, open underneath which led to its
colloquial nick name of “Bug Light” because at high
tide it looked like a giant water bug. The first keepers of
the light did not stay long as they reported that the winter
ice against the screw piles shook the lighthouse so bad that
they occasionally abandoned the structure as they feared for
their lives. And, of course, their annual salary was only $560.00.
Ice was reported especially bad in February of 1872 and February
of 1881 when two foot thick ice broke off some of the pilings
and shook the lamp lenses so bad that it was difficult to keep
the light lit. Because of the reported winter hazards assigned
keepers had a history of frequent changes, resignations, removal
and, in one case, abandonment.
There's the infamous story of the steamer Shinnecock, which
on August 3, 1911 was sailing from New York via the Long Island
Sound toward Peconic Bay. As it neared the Cornfield Lightship,
the vessel entered a fog bank. Capt. George Rowland set a course
for Plum Gut, and, having heard that station's fog bell, he
turned toward the Long Beach Bar Light. The steamer ran 22 minutes
in the direction of the lighthouse and then stopped to listen
for its fog signal. Since the captain heard nothing, the ship
moved ahead slowly but ran a ground within 5 lengths of the
light station. It was nearly half an hour after the grounding
before the fog bell was first sounded, and then it continued
ringing long after the fog had lifted. The undamaged steamer,
its passengers unscathed, was later pulled off the sandbar;
the keeper was severely reprimanded for not having sounded the
fog bell.
A concrete foundation was added in 1926 which still forms part
of the lighthouse structure. This foundation made possible the
installation of cisterns and a central coal fired steam heating
system as well as a badly needed protected storage area.
The original structure was destroyed by arsonists on the night
of July 4th, 1963. The restoration of this local Landmark was
initiated by Merlon E. Wiggin, who planned and supervised its
reconstruction. The reconstructed lighthouse, now an important
Federal Aid to Navigation, was the first project of the East
End Seaport and Marine Foundation. With innovative planning
and construction scheduling, the replacement lighthouse was
built on land in the Greenport Yacht & Shipbuilding and
launched down the yard’s railway like a ship to the tune
of a Navy Band and a 40 millimeter 21 gun salute. The whole
reconstruction project from the beginning until the relighting
took only 60 days, marking it as one of the most unique lighthouse
restoration projects in the world. The relighting ceremony for
its 250 millimeter, solar powered light 63 feet above the water,
occurred during a special fireworks ceremony on the evening
of September 5th, 1990 |
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The future of Bug Light is far
from certain. The Lighthouse sits on a series of 130 year old
screw piles that were cut off in 1925 to support the new concrete
foundation. The stone rip-rap surrounding the base of the lighthouse
is gradually sinking and major replenishment is required. Because
Long Beach Bar Lighthouse is Federal Aid to Navigation there
is also a need to establish an emergency fund to meet the Coast
Guard's requirement that repairs that impact the operation of
the light would need to be completed in 30 days to limit the
time the light was inoperable.
As 29 April, 2005, East End Lighthouses and the East End Seaport Museum have signed an agreement to work together for the continuance of Long Beach Bar Lighthouse for the purpose for which it replicated, specifically, as an Aid to Navigation. The Museum is to be responsible for routine maintenance and repairs and to maintain a fund for that work and East End Lighthouses will have the responsibility for all major repairs and improvements. Both entities have agreed to cooperate in raising funds for the lighthouse. |
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