Rhode Island Lighthouse History

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 Dutch Island Light

 

 
 Courtesy of Coast Guard Historian's Office


Location: Southern tip of Dutch Island
1826 - presentLat 41 29 48 N - Long 71 24 17 W


Established: 1826


Original Lighthouse Constructed: 1826


Current Lighthouse Constructed: 1857


Deactivated: 1979


Original Illuminating Apparatus: Eight lamps and reflectors


Current Illuminating Apparatus: Solar Powered Beacon


Height: 42 feet


Status: Restored/Private Aid To Navigation


Light Characteristic: Fixed White (1906)
Occulting Red every 10 second (1940)
Flashing Red every 10 second (1950)
Flashing Red every 6 second (1979)
None (2005)
Flashing Red every 6 second (2007)


Range: 12¾ miles (1906)
13 miles (1940)
12 miles (1950)
6 miles (1979)
None (2005)
3 miles (2007)


Dutch Island Lighthouse was built on the southern end of the island in 1826. The light tower and its attached keeper's dwelling were built of slate and other stones found on the island. Early records are vague on the number of lamps first installed in the light. An 1838 report stated that it was equipped with eight lamps and reflectors.

After thirty years in service the light needed major repairs. In the Lighthouse Board's 1855 annual report, the condition of the lantern and tower were described as "extremely bad." The report recommended that "the lantern, illuminating apparatus, and stairs of the tower, if not the tower itself should be rebuilt."

A new tower was built in 1857. It was attached to the keeper's dwelling. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed in the new tower.

Dutch Island lighthouse was automated in 1947 and the fourth order Fresnel lens was replaced with a 375mm lens. The keeper's dwelling was torn down sometime in the early 1960s. The area around the light was later turned over to the state of Rhode Island.

In 1972 the Coast Guard wanted to close the light. Captain B.E. Thompson said, "the light appears to have outlived its usefulness because it was out for a week last month and several days last fall before someone reported it." After local residents and boaters protested the closing, the Coast Guard decided not to close it. The light remained in service until 1979, when vandals damaged it. The Coast Guard didn't repair it.

In April 2000 the Coast Guard leased the light to the American Lighthouse Foundation. A local chapter of ALF, the Dutch Island Lighthouse Society, was founded to preserve and restore the lighthouse.

In 2007 after years of fundraising by Dutch Island Lighthouse Society and a $120,000 grant from the Rhode Island Department of Transportion, restoration started on the lighthouse. The work was done by Abcore Restoration of Narragansett, Rhode Island.

A solar pwered beacon was installed in the restored Dutch Island Lighthouse. It was paid for an anonymous donation. On November 17, 2007, just after 7:00 PM the lighthouse was relighthed

 

For information on the Dutch Island Lighthouse Society, contact:

Dutch Island Lighthouse Society
P.O. Box 435
Saunderstown, RI 02874

 
Updated 11/19/2007

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