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 Beaux Arts 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 was manned by
members of the United States Lighthouse Service from 1912 until
1939, and by the United States Coast Guard since then.
In 1949, 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. |
The Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society mourns the passing of Bob Baranaskas - a great friend of the Lighthouse. He will be greatly missed.
(Photo courtesy of Newsday)
Don't Miss the 5th Annual Long Island Lighthouse Challenge!
Held the weekend of May 16 - 17th
Check out the details on our Current Events Page or
visit the Challenge Website at
http://www.lilighthousesociety.org
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