Brenton Reef Light

Brenton Reef Light

Brenton Reef Light (USCG)
Location	Narragansett, Rhode Island, U.S.
Coordinates	41°25′35″N 71°23′22″W / 41.42639°N 71.38944°W / 41.42639; -71.38944Coordinates: 41°25′35″N 71°23′22″W / 41.42639°N 71.38944°W / 41.42639; -71.38944
Year first lit	1962
Deactivated	1989
Foundation	steel tower
Tower shape	square platform with tower at one corner
Height	87 feet (27 m)
Original lens	Crouse Hinds DCE-36 airways beacon
Range	22 nautical miles; 40 kilometres (25 mi)
Characteristic	white, two flashes every 10 seconds

The Brenton Reef Light was a Texas tower lighthouse at the entrance to Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, United States, south of Beavertail Point. Erected to replace a lightship in 1962, it was decommissioned in 1989 due to its deteriorating condition.

History

This offshore station was marked by a succession of lightships beginning in 1853, with new vessels being assigned to the station in 1856, 1897, and 1935. In the early 1960s the United States Coast Guard initiated a program to replace these lightships with large steel towers, commonly known as Texas towers. Brenton reef was selected for such replacement, but a somewhat smaller facility was constructed instead. This light was originally a manned station, with living quarters and galley, as well as engine room to supply power to the light and living quarters. It was connected to the Beavertail Light by submarine cables and maintained by Coast Guardsmen out of the Newport, Rhode Island station, and was converted to fully automatic operation during its active lifetime. At its activation in 1962, it became the second such light tower on the east coast.

These towers deteriorated relatively quickly, and in 1983 the Coast Guard first suggested decommissioning it. It was retained, however, due to the proximity of the America's Cup races. In 1989 the Coast Guard announced that the light was to be removed, and in 1992 it was dismantled. The following year the pieces were sunk off Long Island as part of an artificial reef. A lighted buoy replaced the tower at a position somewhat further south, where it remains at present.

Keepers^[1]

Lightship LV-14 (1853–1856)

Lightship LV-11 (1856–1897)

Lightship LV-39 (1897–1935)

Lightship LV-102/WAL 525 (1945–1962)

Lighthouse (1962–1989)

References

• "Historic Light Station Information and Photography: Rhode Island". United States Coast Guard Historian's Office. 
• Chart 13221: Narragansett Bay (Map). 1:20,000. NOAA. 1976. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
• Chart 13218: Martha's Vineyard to Block Island (Map). 1:80,000. NOAA. 2008-02-16. Retrieved 2008-06-12. 
• Holmes, R. "Rhode Island Lighthouse History: Brenton Reef Lights History". Retrieved 2008-06-12. 

Lighthouses of Rhode Island
Beavertail Block Island North Block Island Southeast Brenton Reef Bristol Ferry Bullock's Point Castle Hill Conanicut Island Conimicut Dutch Island Gould Island Gull Rocks Hog Island Shoal Ida Lewis Rock Musselbed Shoals Nayatt Point Newport Harbor Plum Beach Point Judith Pomham Rocks Poplar Point Prudence Island Rose Island Sabin Point Sakonnet Warwick Watch Hill Whale Rock Wickford Harbor