One of the more unique lights on Long Island Sound, this beautiful place always reminds me of an old opera house!

Many years ago, returning to Darien from Block Island, while powering our family sailboat through the Race on a  windless and very foggy day, we got hung up on a string of lobster pots. There were at least ten lobster buoys wrapped around our prop. The good news was that it acted as an anchor, making us fast in the swift, dangerous current speeding out of Long Island Sound. The bad news was that if we cut loose or broke away, we couldn't use our power and our sails were useless. 

We called the Coast Guard.  Through a series of horn blasts and radio, those remarkable, courageous sailors found us in the dense fog!  They  tied us alongside their boat and guided by the horn from the lighthouse, brought us safely into New London harbor.

At the dock, we were able to clear the prop of the lobster buoys, have lunch and continue on our way!

Built in 1909, at the mouth of the Thames River, for $115,000, this light stands fifty-eight feet above sea level and guides mariners in and out of New London Harbor. A foghorn was added in 1911. Her uncommon light patterns of three flashing groups of white, alternating with a flashing red every thirty seconds can be seen for fourteen miles.

Ghost legend has it that around 1930, the lighthouse keeper's wife ran off with the Block Island Ferry Boat Captain. The keeper, apparently undone, jumped to his death on the rocks below the light.  The story goes that he still roams the upper rooms, opening and closing doors, rattling his chains and making strange noises.

The Coast Guard took over and lived at the lighthouse from 1939 to 1987.  Most didn't care for the obvious confinement and were happy to leave.

Al LaBanca, 

Sailor/Artist, Darien, CT