Rhode Island Lighthouse History

© 2004 R. Holmes

Location: On Little Cormorant Rock at the entrance to the Sakonnet River
1884 - present --Lat 41 27 12 N - Long 71 12 12 W

Established: 1884

Lighthouse Constructed: 1884

Deactivated: 1955 - 1997

Original Illuminating Apparatus: Fourth Order Fresnel Lens

Current Illuminating Apparatus: 300-mm lens

Height: 66 feet

Status: Active aid to Navigation/Owned by Friends of Sakonnet Lighthouse

Light Characteristic: Fixed White Alternating Group flashing (3) Red every 60 seconds (1924) Fixed White for 30 seconds, 2.6 seconds eclipse
4.8 seconds Red flash, 5.2 seconds eclipse
4.8 seconds Red flash, 5.2 seconds eclipse
4.8 seconds Red flash, 2.6 seconds eclipse

Flashing White every 6 seconds - Red sector from 015° to 170° (2005)

Flashing White every 6 seconds - Red sector from 195° to 350° (2006)

Range: White 12 miles - Red 10 miles (1924)
White 7 miles - Red 5 miles (2005)

In 1883, the Lighthouse Board picked Little Cormorant Rock, 800 yards off Sakonnet Point, as the site for the Sakonnet Point Lighthouse and began construction on it. Work continued late into the year, completing the lighthouse's pier, before winter storms forced construction to stop. There were concerns, due the site's exposed location, that additional funding would be needed to finish the lighthouse. However, these concerns prove to be unfounded.

In 1938, Rhode Island was ravaged by a hurricane. During it, Sakonnet Point Lighthouse was repeatedly pounded by huge wind driven waves. They hit with such force that they caused the light's base to crack. It was repaired but cracked again during Hurricane Carol, in 1954.

The Coast Guard decided not to repair the lighthouse and planned to blow it up. The people of Little Compton asked the Coast Guard not to destroy it. The Coast Guard offered the light to Little Compton, if they agreed to maintain it and leave it permanently unlighted. The town agreed and received ownership of the light.

In 1961, the lighthouse was sold to Carl Haffenreffer for $1,300. In 1985, he donated it to the Friends of Sakonnet Point Lighthouse, Inc. The group raised $100,000 to restore the lighthouse.

After years of work, the light was relighted on March 19, 1997. On March 22, hundreds of people gathered at Sakonnet Point to celebrate the relighting.

In 2010 restoration started on the lighthouse. A Department of Transportation grant of $844,323 and $170,000 raised by The Friends of Sakonnet Lighthouse will pay for the restoration and upkeep. The restoration work will include rebolting the lighthouse external plates and repainting the interior and exterior of the tower.

On July 12, 2010 three contactors working at the lighthouse were thrown into the water when their workboat was swamped by a wave. The men were rescued by kayakers and a nearby boat.