Castle
Hill Light
 |
© 2004 R. Holmes |
Location:
Entrance to
East Passage of Narragansett Bay
 1890 - present Lat 41 27
44 N - Long 71 21 47 W
Established:
1890
Lighthouse Constructed: 1890
Automated: 1957
Original Illuminating Apparatus:
Fifth Order Fresnel Lens
Current Illuminating Apparatus:
300-mm Lens
Height: 34 feet
Status: Active Aid to Navigation
Light Characteristic: Flashing Red every thirty seconds (1906)
 Isophase Red every six seconds (2005)
Range: 11½ miles (1906)
 12 miles (2005)
In 1869 an application was made for a lighthouse at Castle Hill in Newport. After
examining the area, the Lighthouse Board recommended that a light and a fog signal
be built there. The Board requested an appropriation of $18,000 to build it. Congress
didn't appropriate the money. The request was renewed the following year and was
again denied. The Lighthouse Board didn't renew their request in 1871.
On March 3, 1875, Congress appropriated $10,000 for a fog signal at Castle Hill.
A site was chosen, but couldn't be purchased. The property owners had built mansions
for summer residences and felt that the fog signal would lower their property
values. The Board looked for a new site in the area, but couldn't find a suitable
site. After two years of unsuccessfully trying to acquire the site, the Lighthouse
Board considered placing a whistle buoy off the point instead. But because of
the sheltered character of the position its
success
was doubtful. The buoy was never placed on the site
In 1886, the Lighthouse
Board tried to build the lighthouse again. The following year one of the property
owners, Alexander Agassig, sold them the land for the light for $1.00. On October
20, 1887 the bids to build the lighthouse and fog signal were opened. William
Wilbur was the low bidder, but this was on the condition he was allowed a right
of way to the proposed site. Agassig refused to give them one. It took nearly
two years of negotiations before he relented and deeded a .198 acre right of way.
Construction started on the light later in the year and was completed in 1890.
It was first lighted on May first. A six-room keeper’s dwelling was built
on at the nearby Castle Hill Cove.Castle
Hill Lighthouse survived the 1938 Hurricane without serious damage. In 1957 the light was automated and its Fresnel lens was replaced
with a 300-mm plastic lens. The light is still an active aid to navigation
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