Our replica of theLatimer Reef Lighthouse comes complete with:
- Cedar Wood Construction
- Aluminum exterior light housing
- Brass and Copper Railings
- Windows that reflect light
- Standard 40 Watt Bulb, 120 Volt AC incandescent light fixture
- Hand crafted and hand painted detail
- Choice of interior or exterior wiring
Options available for the Latimer Reef Lighthouse are:
- Nightlight 7 Watt Bulb, small base light fixture and lantern lens
- Flashing Beacon Kit and lantern lens
- In Line On/Off switch for interior wiring
- Outdoor Photo-electric cell for dusk to dawn operation
- 3 to 21 foot Vinyl Coated Galvanized Steel security cable
- Extended Caisson Base to Cover a Water Well Head, plumbing or electrical appliance on your lawn
- Replica Smokestack And Fogbell
- Original Lower Gallery Roof and Railings
- Historical Appearance
HEIGHT: 32 Inches
WIDTH: 16 Inches
SHAPE: Conical
WEIGHT: 18 Pounds
The Latimer Reef Lighthouse Station was established in 1884 replacing a bouy and the Eel Grass Shoal Lightship which had been stationed about 0.8 miles from Latimer Reef. Located in the east end of Fisher's Island Sound, the lighthouse is in New York waters but only 4 miles southeast of Mystic, CT. Originally equipped with a fifth order Fresnel lens, it was upgraded to a fourth order lens in 1899. The 49 foot tall conical tower is made of cast iron plates lined with brick assembled on a cement filled, cast iron caisson. Originally painted all brown, it was later painted white with a brown caisson and daymark band. The light station was automated in 1974 and its original lower gallery roof was removed rather than replaced during maintenance. A design feature of the "spark plug" lighthouses was to collect rain water from the roof in a cistern for use in the station. Now an unstaffed station, that feature was no longer necessary to maintain the station. Originally equipped with a fog bell, the fog signal is now given by an electronic fog horn on the watch room deck. The classical lens was replaced in 1983 with a 300 mm modern optic.
The Latimer Reef Lighthouse continues to be an active aid to navigation maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. The lighthouse is powered by solar panels and batteries and provides a flashing white light every 6 seconds.
June 2004 Issue George A.Troy 1888-1976, Proud To Be A Lighthouse Keeper, By Jeremy D'Entremont. "Troy was assigned as an assistant keeper at Latimer Reef Lighthouse, a “sparkplug” style offshore station near Fisher’s Island, New York, at a pay rate of $40 per month. Married men usually were assigned to onshore lights, but Troy was single at the time. “There was a scarcity of applicants for the job since the men had to work hard, live away from home, and do their own housekeeping and cooking.” Please go to the Lighthouse Digest Magazine Archives to read this article. Lighthouse Digest magazine not only keeps the history of our lighthouses alive both in print and on line, but it is the best single source to keep current on all aspects of lighthouse preservation, news and events.
The Latimer Reef Lighthouse is best viewed by private boat. Distant views are available from local ferries and from Dubois Beach in Stonington, CT. Directions: From Interstate 95 in Connecticut, take exit 91for Stonington and State Route 234. From the I 95 west/south exit, turn left onto Taugwonk Rd and pass under I95. Continue straight onto State Route 234 southbound. From I95 east/north exit, turn right onto State Route 234 southbound. Continue about 2/10th mile to a left turn onto North Main Street. Continue on North Main Street to a left turn onto State Route 1, Trumbull Street northbound. Travel one block to a right turn onto Alpha Avenue. At the end of Alpha Avenue, turn left onto Water Street. Take water street io the Stonington Harbor and Dubois Beach. The Latimer Reef Lighthouse will be visible to the south west by the northern end of Fisher's Island. Note the Stonington Harbor Lighthouse & Museum on Water Street on your way to the waterfront.
Please visit the Stonington Historical Society's Old Lighthouse Museum web site for more information on the Stonington Harbor Lighthouse when in the area to view the Latimer Reef Lighthouse.
Visit the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce for more information and attractions when visiting the Mystic & Stonington areas in south east Connecticut.
For more photographs and history of the Latimer Reef Lighthouse, you can visit the:
United States Coast Guard Historians' Official Web Site
New England Lighthouses - A Virtual Guide
Lighthouse Explorer Database