New London Ledge Light

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox lighthouse

| image = File:2022 New London Ledge Light.jpg

| caption = The lighthouse in 2022

| image_size = 275px

| location = Thames River
New London Harbor, Connecticut

| coordinates = {{coord|41|18|21.18|N|72|04|38.82|W|display=inline,title}}

| yearbuilt = 1909

| yearlit =

| automated = 1987

| yeardeactivated =

| foundation = concrete pier

| construction = granite and brick building

| shape = short cylindrical tower on 3-story dwelling

| marking = white tower, red lantern roof

| height = {{convert|58|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| focalheight = {{convert|58|ft|m|abbr=on}}

| lens = Fourth order Fresnel lens (original), VRB-25[http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/new-london-ledge.html New London Ledge Lighthouse] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160708094207/http://www.newenglandlighthouses.net/new-london-ledge.html |date=2016-07-08 }} New England Lighthouses. Retrieved 21 June 2016 (current)

| range =

| characteristic = three white flashes separated by 5 s, 10 s off, red flash, 10 s off

| managingagent = New London Ledge Lighthouse Foundation{{Cite rowlett|ct|accessdate=2016-06-21}}

[http://www.uscg.mil/history/weblighthouses/LHCT.asp Connecticut Historic Light Station Information & Photography] United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 21 June 2016

| module = {{Infobox NRHP|embed=yes

| name = New London Ledge Lighthouse

| nrhp_type =

| built = {{Start date|1909}}

| builder = T.A. Scott Company (foundation)
Hamilton R. Douglas Company (structure)

| architecture = Second Empire

| added = May 29, 1990

| mpsub = [https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/64500080.pdf Operating Lighthouses in Connecticut MPS]

| refnum = 89001471{{NRISref|version=2013a}}

}}

}}

New London Ledge Lighthouse is a lighthouse on the Thames River in the U.S. state of Connecticut, at the mouth of New London Harbor. It was built in 1909 in the Second Empire style and was automated in 1987. In 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The lighthouse is owned and maintained by the New London Maritime Society as part of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act program.{{cite news|author=Smith, Greg| date=August 6, 2015|newspaper=The New London Day| url = http://www.theday.com/local/20150806/new-london-maritime-society-takes-over-as-new-london-ledge-light-owner| title = New London Maritime Society takes over as New London Ledge Light owner}}

History

New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the southwest ledge at the mouth of New London Harbor. It was originally called the Southwest Ledge light, but this caused confusion with Southwest Ledge Light in New Haven, Connecticut, so it was renamed New London Ledge Light in 1910. The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service, and the light was automated in 1987. The original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed and was later put on display in the New London Customhouse museum. The light was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

File:New London Ledge Lighthouse, New London, Conn (69112).jpg|Postcard, c.1930-45

File:Lantern and watchroom, looking north - New London Ledge Lighthouse, Long Island Sound, East of main harbor channel, New London, New London County, CT HAER CONN,6-NEWLO,16-11.tif|The light's lantern and watch room in 1997

File:New London Ledge Lighthouse (CT).jpg|The top of the lighthouse in 2010

File:US Navy 110406-N-8467N-005 SS Memphis (SSN 691) passes the Ledge Light lighthouse at the mouth of the Thames River for the final time.jpg

Ghost legend

Ledge Light has long been the subject of a ghost legend, centering around the supposed spirit of a former keeper named Ernie. The lighthouse has been featured on paranormal reality shows such as Scariest Places on Earth and Ghost Hunters. Investigators from The Atlantic Paranormal Society concluded on Ghost Hunters that there was not enough evidence to determine any paranormal activity taking place at the lighthouse, despite a few unexplained phenomena such as cold spots.TAPS "[http://www.scifi.com/ghosthunters/episodes/episodes.php?seas=2&ep=0207&act=1 The Ledge Lighthouse]{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". Ghost Hunters, Sci Fi Channel.

Head keepers

  • W.B. Petty (1909 – 1910)
  • George E. Hansen (1910 – at least 1917)
  • Howard B. Beebe (1926 – 1938)
  • Leonard Fuller (at least 1940)
  • Michael Scanlan (1943 – 1949)
  • William Clark (1954 – 1959)[http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=800 New London Ledge, CT] Lighthouse Friends. Retrieved 21 June 2016

See also

References

Notes

{{Reflist}}

Bibliography

  • {{HAER |survey=CT-172 |id=ct0650 |title=New London Ledge Lighthouse, Long Island Sound, East of main harbor channel, New London, New London County, CT |photos=12 |data=9 |cap=2}}