Point
Judith Light
 |
Courtesy of the National Archives |
Location:
Point
Judith
 1810 - present  Lat 41 21
39 N - Long 71 28 53 W
Established: 1810
Original Lighthouse Constructed:
1810
Current
Lighthouse Constructed: 1857
Automated: 1954
Original Illuminating Apparatus:
Ten lamps with 15 inch reflectors
Current Illuminating Apparatus:
Fourth Order Fresnel Lens
Height: 51 feet
Status: Active Aid to Navigation
Light Characteristic: Flashing White every 15 seconds (1906)
 Group Occulting (3) White every 15 seconds (2005)
5 seconds flash, 2 seconds eclipse
2
seconds flash, 2 seconds eclipse
2 seconds flash, 2 seconds
eclipse
Range:
13½ miles (1906)
 16 miles (2005)
The first Point Judith Lighthouse, an octagonal shaped wood tower, was built in 1810.
There's no record of what kind of lighting apparatus was used in the light. The
light was blown down during a hurricane in 1815.
The second Point Judith light, a stone tower, was built in 1816. It is uncertain how many lamps and reflectors were first
installed in the light. In 1838 Lt. George M. Bache reported that the light had
ten lamps with attached reflectors. They were also fitted with two-inch green
bull’s-eye lenses. It was believed that they would intensify the light from
the lamps. They didn’t and were later removed. The interior of the light
was very damp. During the winter ice would sometimes form on windows in the lantern room.
In 1857,
Point
Judith light was rebuilt. It was during this reconstruction that a keeper’s
dwelling was attached to the light tower. A fourth order Fresnel lens was installed
in the new light.
The lighthouse
was automated in 1954. The keeper’s dwelling was removed after the light
was automated. In 2000 the Point
Judith lighthouse underwent its first major renovation in a hundred years. The
lantern was removed and repaired. It took four months to complete the work. A
temporary light replaced it while it was dark. Point
Judith Lighthouse is located on Point Judith Coast Guard Station.
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