Huntington Harbor Lighthouse
Huntington Bay, Long Island, NY
The 1912 lighthouse in Huntington Bay needs your help. After years of service, the lighthouse was allowed to deteriorate. Save Huntington's Lighthouse, Inc., has been working to restore the structure. We're close, but need your continued support.
[Lighthouse Fast Facts] [Lighthouse History] [The Restoration]
[About Save Huntington's Lighthouse, Inc.] [How You Can Help]
Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Fast Facts:
Year built: 1912
Builder: Charles Mead
Type of construction: Reinforced Concrete
Foundation: Reinforced Concrete Crib built on land, then towed to site
and sunk
Original Optic/Current Optic: Fifth Order Fresnel/300mm
Fog Signal: Horn/Original Bell
National Register of Historic Places Number: 89000501
Current Use: Active Aid to Navigation
Owner/Manager: US Coast Guard, leased to Save Huntington's Lighthouse,
Inc.
History of the Huntington Harbor Light:
In 1857, a lighthouse was built on the tip of Lloyd's Neck to assist ships in finding shelter in Lloyd Harbor from the wind and waves that often hinder navigation on the Long Island Sound. This first lighthouse, called the Lloyd Harbor light, was of little help to ships entering the adjoining Huntington Harbor. In 1912, a new lighthouse was built to serve Huntington Harbor.
The new structure was a unique lighthouse, in both design and construction. The Venetian Renaissance style makes the light look like a small castle. The reinforced concrete foundation and structure is unique to the area, as well. The foundation for the light was built nearby on land, then floated to the site and sunk.
This lighthouse housed members of the Lighthouse Service, then the US Coast Guard, for 55 years.
In 1967, the light was fully automated. The deterioration of the unoccupied lighthouse started and would continue for almost two decades.
As a result of a 1983 survey, the light was deemed unsafe for servicing personnel and too expensive to repair. The Coast Guard considered demolishing the lighthouse and erecting a steel tower.
When restoration began at the light, there was a great deal of work to be done. The lighthouse was in poor condition. Salt corrosion, a sagging and leaking roof, inhabitation by birds, vandalism and time had all taken their toll.
The first phase of the project was demolition and debris removal. The next step was to repair the cracked and worn masonry and make the lighthouse structurally sound.
Presently, the exterior of the structure has been completely restored and is now structurally sound.
Making the restoration more difficult has been the fact that the lighthouse is not accessible by land. This slows the work and increases the cost.
About Save Huntington's Lighthouse, Inc.
To meet the threat to the lighthouse, Save Huntington 's Lighthouse was incorporated in 1985. This not-for-profit group has been working to fully restore the lighthouse, create a museum inside, and make it available to the public.
Those wishing to help finish the restoration of the lighthouse may do so by making a tax-deductible gift to Save Huntington's Lighthouse. You may also help by volunteering or voicing your support for the project. Contact Save Huntington's Lighthouse for more information.
PO Box 2454
Halesite, NY 11743
631-421-1238 Fax:
631-423-0965 E-mail: PSetchell@aol.com
Entire contents of this page are Copyright
© 1999-2002 Save Huntington's Lighthouse, Inc.
Please do not copy any of the material on this site without the written permission of Save Huntington's
Lighthouse, Inc.
This site created and maintained by Robert G.
Muller.