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Shelton, CT
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Title
The Light In The Park
Artist
Karol Livote
Medium
Photograph - By Karol Livote
Description
The Light In The Park - Original Photography by Karol Livote
Fayerweather Island Lighthouse a/k/a Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse, Seaside Park, Bridgeport, Connecticut
Black Rock Harbor, with its deep port sheltered by Fayerweather Island, was a developing shipping center in the 18th century, and it seemed only natural to build a lighthouse on the island to guide ships into the harbor.
The first Fayerweather Island Lighthouse, a 40-foot octagonal wooden tower, was built in 1808 on a 9 acre tract of land purchased from David Fayerweather the previous year for $200. It was only the second site to be purchased for the purpose of a lighthouse on Western Long Island Sound. The keepers dwelling was originally a 1 story home which had a kitchen, living room, and one bedroom. Over time, it would grow to eleven rooms. The first keeper, John Maltbie, died only five months after coming to the station.
Despite the short tenure of the first keeper, the position at Fayerweather Island rarely turned over, with only seven keepers in its 125 years of operation. Isaac Judson, the second keeper, served from 1808 to 1817, then the position went to Stephen Moore. Two years later, Keeper Moore was injured, and unable to tend the light. He remained the official keeper for fifty-two more years, until his death at age 100. Tending the light, without title for all those years, was his daughter Catherine.
Catherine began assisting her father in light keeping duties at age twelve and was fourteen years old when her father became disabled, and she took on his duties. She would continue as official keeper after his death, until she retired in 1878. She died in Bridgeport at age 95. Not only did she keep the light burning, but was also credited with saving twenty-one lives during her sixty-two years at the light.
In an interview at age 84, she recalled keeping the light, Our house was forty rods (about 700 feet) from the lighthouse, and to reach it I had to walk across two planks under which on stormy nights were four feet of water, and it was not easy to stay on those slippery, wet boards with the wind whirling and the spray blinding me.
The storm tossed seas wrecked havoc on September 3, 1821, as a hurricane ripped through the island. The winds were so furious that every vessel went ashore in this harbor . . . the Lighthouse laid flat. The lighthouse was destroyed. It would take two years to construct a new one. The builder of the new light, a 41 tower made of coursed sandstone ashlar with rubble mortar, claimed it would withstand the storm of ages.Edmund Blunt, in American Coast Pilot, disagreed, stating, a more contemptible Lighthouse does not disgrace Long Island Sound, most shamefully erected and badly kept. The tower has survived storms and vandals for over 180 years.
The lifesaving beam was first cast by a whale oil spider lamp, the old apparatus from Stratford Point. It was upgraded to a system with eight lamps and parabolic reflectors in 1830 but the light was barely visible in hazy conditions. In 1854 a fifth-order Fresnel lens was installed.
After Catherine retired, a new keepers dwelling was built in 1879. The next keeper, Leonard Clark, was a Civil War Veteran and former whaling captain. He served as keeper for 28 years, until his death in 1906. Once again, a woman took over the duties. His wife, Mary Elizabeth Clark was named keeper, until his replacement, John D. Davies, arrived 2 months later. Davies, a veteran of the Irish Lighthouse service, would be the last keeper, serving until the lighthouse was officially discontinued on March 3, 1933.
Congress deeded the lighthouse to the City of Bridgeport in 1934, but over time it became the victim to the elements and vandalism. The keepers dwelling burned to the ground in 1977. In 1983, Friends of Seaside Park and the Black Rock Community Council showed interest in the structure, and began restoration and preservation efforts, but sadly the tower was once again neglected and vandalized.
Two citizens of Bridgeport, David Grant Grimshaw and Patricia Roche, could not let the tower fall into further decay. In 1993, they began a fundraising effort to preserve the lighthouse. In 1998, they saw their dream realized, when the tower was restored. Paint and mortar were carefully analyzed to restore it to its original color. Graffiti resistant paint was applied and vandal proof steel panes, which from afar appear as glass, were installed in hopes that the restoration will hold this time. While the tower is not an official aid to navigation, solar panels and lighting equipment have been installed, so that the tower can be illuminated. With much time and effort, the tower is once again set to withstand the storm of ages.
Uploaded
March 28th, 2014
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Viewed 1,406 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 03/27/2024 at 7:05 AM
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Nocera Inferiore, Sa - Italy
Congratulations! Your fantastic artwork has been chosen as a Photography Evolution Group feature! You are invited to archive your artwork in the "Archive 2022" discussion. There are many other discussions in the group where you can promote your art even further more.
Shelton, CT - United States
Thanks for the feature in the First Friday group and the Broadcast Monkey group.
Greensboro, NC - United States
Fabulous minimalism, dreamy, serene feel and excellent capture, Karol!! F/L
Monroe, CT - United States
Thank you very much Lenore, for the feature in the Photos- Best of Minimalism group!
Vevey, Va - Switzerland
Congratulations, Karol, on being voted one of the very best by your peers in Best of Minimalism! Your work is beautiful! Lf
Mosman, NS - Australia
Truly beautifully atmospheric, Karol, and congrats 2nd Place - a winner..........v.......Vivian
Kamloops, BC - Canada
Great image, Karol. Congratulations on winning Second Place in Artist of the Month. f/l
Pueblo, CO - United States
CONGRATULATIONS, Karol! You have been voted Second Place in the Artist of the Month in the Best of Minimalism in Photography for March! This is excellent work and is just a sampling of what won you this honor! v/f/ and feature on home page for one month.
Monroe, CT - United States
So many thanks for all the features including but not limited to the Lighthouse in drawing and photography group, the motivation mediation group and the photography from around the world group
Las Cruces, NM - United States
CONGRATULATIONS your outstanding artwork is FEATURED in the highly viewed Art Group: MOTIVATION MEDITATION INSPIRATION! From the hundreds of pieces of artwork received daily to review and choose from, your work has been chosen because of it's excellence!
Gettysburg, PA - United States
Wow, a superb image and scene! Love the soft tones and mood as well as the negative space! LF
Newington, CT - United States
This is by far one of the most intriguing photographs on Fine Art and I thank you for the treasured history of it as well ! Paula
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