(Also known as Cedar Point)
This page last updated on 01/13/01
The Cedar Island light on June 6, 1999.
Location: Cedar Point County Park, Northeast of Sag Harbor
Description: Original structure (1839) was wooden, contained Sixth Order Fresnel lens. Existing structure (1868) 35 feet, Boston granite style architecture, constructed of Vermont (or Massachusetts) granite; previously had Sixth order Fresnel lens; tower is 4 stories tall, attached structure is 2 1/2 stories; foundation is granite, with a five foot wide walkway around structure, originally had a wrought iron railing around the foundation.
History of light: 1837, March 3: Congress appropriates $1000 for the construction of a lighthouse on Cedar Island.
1838, July 7: Another $2500 is appropriated.
1838, August 13: East Hampton Town trustees agree to sell Cedar Island to the government.
1838, August 20: The island is sold to the federal government for $200.
1839: Original wooden lighthouse constructed.
1855: The nine lamps with 14 inch reflectors are replaced by an Argand lamp and Sixth Order Fresnel lens.
1867, March 2: $25,000 appropriated for construction of a new lighthouse.
1868: Present structure built by a Massachusetts contractor.
1869: The construction of the new light is completed and a Fifth Order lens is installed in the tower.
1882: "A fog-bell, struck by machinery, was established."
1891: "The boathouse was moved and overhauled, a drive well was put down, and various repairs were made."
1894: "A set of boatways were built."
1899: "A set of fifth-order lamps were furnished and fitted. Various repairs were made."
1903: 600 tons of riprap were put down.
1904, August 10: 2000 tons of riprap were put on the northern side of the light to ease the erosion of the island, which was down to less than one acre, from its original three acres.
1904, December: Another 2000 tons of riprap were added.
1906, September: Another 2000 tons of riprap were added.
1908, January 24: A storm and high tide combined to cover most of the island with water and cause further erosion. The sturdy structure suffered no ill effects.
1934: Deactivated.
1936, June 22: A survey shows that the high water line has encroached almost halfway across the base of the light's stone pier. The size of the island is now .947 acres and a note on the survey tells us that the "size and shape of [the] island is continually changing as a result of erosion and accretion."
1937: Lighthouse and surrounding acre bought at government auction by Phelan Beale, a Manhattan lawyer, for $2,002.00.
1938, Septemer 21: Hurricane created a sand bar between the island and the shore, turning Cedar Island into Cedar Point.
1943: Sold to Isabelle Bradley.
1967: Acquired by Suffolk County.
1974: A fire heavily damaged the building The cause has been reported in at least one book and one newspaper article as vandalism. My sources, including a newspaper article from the day after it burned and two people who worked for the Suffolk County Parks Department at the time, suggest a different cause. I will be researching this more. The roof and oak interior were destroyed by the blaze. After the fire a new roof was installed and the doors and windows were sealed.
2000, Summer: The Long Island Chapter of the US Lighthosue Society is formed. One of its prime projects will be to work to have the lighthouse and oil house stabilized in anticipation of a future restoration.
2001: The lighthouse stands at the end of the peninsula, abandoned and awaiting restoration. Its lantern room, devoid of glass or any care, is rusting badly. There are voids in the foundation. Vines cover parts of the foundation and lower reaches of the walls. The adjacent 1902 brick oil house is in poor shape and is in danger of collapsing if efforts are not made to stabilize it soon.
Current use: Inactive and abandoned
The surrounding area: Cedar Point County Park is a very nice park which happens to be on the way to the Montauk light. Bring your binoculars for birding and whatever shoes you prefer for walking along the sand to the lighthouse. For those of you who like birds, Morton National Wildlife Refuge is about fifteen minutes or so west of Cedar Point and is known for the friendly chickadees, nuthatches and titmice that will eat out of your hand.
Public access? Yes. Located on county park lands.
Who to contact: Long Island Chapter, US Lighthouse Society. 631-477-2121. LILighthouses@aol.com
Similar Lights: The Saugerties light on the Hudson River is similar, but is made of brick instead of granite blocks.
Other information: Was originally on Cedar Island, an island 200 yards offshore named for its cedar grove, which became a peninsula during a hurricane in September 1938. There are still cedar trees on the peninsula. The light's original purpose was to help whalers sail safely between Northwest Harbor and Gardiner's Bay. The overall shape of the present structure, including the roofline and tower, is very similar to the Saugerties light on the Hudson River. The Saugerties light, however, is made of brick, while the Cedar Island light is granite. The original wooden lighthouse was located about 140 feet Northeast of the present light.
Important Note: This light is on Lighthouse Digest's "Doomsday List" of lighthouses they feel to be endangered. It has been the undeserving recipient of vandalism over the years, and was gutted by fire in 1974. As you can see by the above photographs, this is a beautiful structure. The sturdy granite construction gives a solid shell that needs relatively little upkeep, but the interior is undoubtedly horrid. The Sag Harbor Whaling Museum and a local business owner tried to raise the interest to restore the light about ten years ago but failed. It's disappointing that an area such as Sag Harbor, which is quick to point out its maritime heritage, has allowed this maritime treasure to be, quite literally, beaten and burned.
Visit the Cedar Island Photo Gallery.
Learn more about the Friends Of Cedar Island Lighthouse.
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All the text, code and photographs on this page are © 1998 - 2001 Robert G. Müller. Please don't copy any text, code or photographs from this site without my written permission. Thanks for understanding and respecting my work. :-)