The Lighthouse
The Fire Island Light house is the tallest lighthouse on Long Island, as it is also a identified as a “historical landmark”. Following of the lighthouse being completely finished in 1826, it was there for about twenty-five years, before it was demolished; due to the lighthouse it’s self-being too low to the ground. The granite stones that are still present today where the original lighthouse was built were used by building the terrace and to enlarge the keeper’s dwelling. According to Federal Superintendent of Lighthouses, Jonathon Thompson, he wrote and explained in a letter on June 15th, 1825 about the purchase of the property on the east side of the Fire Island Inlet.
Historical Overview
While reviewing plans for the First Fire Island light, both Mrs. Etta Guthy and her husband created a drawing of the original lighthouse, before it was demolished, from the engineering specifications. The picture is described as a black and white, sketched photo of the original lighthouse, with the three windows, from top to bottom, surrounded by many trees, in addition to body of water behind the lighthouse.
In the 18th century, Lighthouse keepers were stationed at the Fire Island light at the Keepers quarters, living there. Keepers at the light house used a variety of means to keep the light burning-it helped captains find their way safely along with ever changing coastline. In the 18th century, the Fire Island light protected human lives and cargo aboard ships approaching the New York Harbor. In the year of 1852, The Newly organized lighthouse board was hoping to satisfy the public, as they recommended that the light elevation and intensity should be increased. Instead, the United States government decided to fund a completely new light.
In contrast of the original lighthouse, the current lighthouse at Fire Island today, in 1857, congress appropriated the new tower for $40,000, in order to rebuild it. The stones from the original lighthouse are now used on the terrace on the lighthouse, today. In the year of December 31, 1973, The Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned as an aid to navigation. The new aid to navigation was a "small flash tube optic" installed atop the Robert Moses State Park Water Tower. In the year of 1891, the lighthouse tower is coated with black tar and white stripes (Day Markers), painted on, so people are able to see the light house more clearly throughout the day, along with comparing it to the other light houses. Prior to the lighthouse that was decommissioned between the years of 1973 to 1974, The Coast Guard gave the National Park Service a five-year permit to use the entire Lighthouse Tract (approximately 82 acres). In 1979, the tract was declared by law to be within the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore. With limited funds, the major function of the Park Service during its early administration of the Lighthouse tract was to prevent further deterioration of the buildings through neglect and vandalism. Between 1974 and 1980, private citizens grouped together in an effort to "save the Fire Island Lighthouse." The strobe light on the Robert Moses Tower only shone seaward and was of no use to boaters on the Great South Bay. Public support for restoration of the Fire Island Lighthouse was great among the Baymen.
The Fresnel lens will always have a huge impact on both the original lighthouse along with the current lighthouse. In 1858, introducing the “new” lighthouse, The First Order Fresnel Lens was built with clockwork mechanism. The new tower was fitted with a First Order Fresnel Lens, which emitted a white flash at one-minute intervals. A Funk Lamp with 4 concentric wicks was used for illumination. Over the years various fuels were used for the lamps, including whale oil, lard oil, mineral oil and kerosene. Electricity finally reached the lighthouse on September 20, 1938. However, on September 21, 1938 a hurricane struck the island, effectively severing all electric power to the island and causing a delay in the electrification of the Fire Island Light Station. The United States Coast Guard has been present on Fire Island since its inception in 1915. A Coast Guard Station was established on the Lighthouse tract. Eventually the United States Lighthouse Service was dissolved. The administration of lighthouses was placed under the jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard in 1939 "in the interest of economy and efficiency" (Presidential Reorganization Act). The Old Shinnecock Light’s first Order Lens was using Mercury Bath. While, The Fourth Order and apparatus went through the exact same process, until the lens was charged, which occurred in the year of, 1933. Even though the Fresnel lens was originally built in the first lighthouse, it will always remain both historical and symbolic in the current lighthouse, as it’s function is it continuously beam light. Recently, in 2011, the Lens building officially opened, displaying original First Order Fresnel lens.
In the original lighthouse, oil lamps were used the entire time while the lighthouse was still activated, until it shut down. There were first eighteen lamps, which decreased in 1842, as it dropped down to fourteen lamps. Meanwhile, in the current light house that still stands today on Fire Island, used whale fuel as oil after the beacon was lit on November 1st, prior to the opening of the light house. Today, the lighthouse runs on electric power, consisting of two thousand and a hundred light bulbs! The Lighthouse was restored to its 1939 condition, which is when electricity was first installed. On Memorial Day, May 28, 1986, the Fire Island Lighthouse was relit and reinstated as an official aid to navigation. Because many were in favor of having a light house on Long Island, President George Washington signed the order for the establishment of a light house at Montauk Point in the year of 1797, but only after New York State had ceded the land, which originally was called Turtle Hill, to the federal government. The $22,300 built lighthouse, was completed in 1797.
Many people wonder why Fire Island was called, Fire Island. It’s still an unsolved mystery. . The Native American name of Fire Island was originally called, Sictem Hackey, which translated to, “Land of the Secatogues”, which apparently was an allusion to local Indians. Although, according to historian Richard Bayles, the name Fire Island, came from the Native American tribe, because they have never heard of Fire Island before. There was a misinterpretation them after they repetitively said, “Five islands” which in Dutch is, “vijf” and also when they kept saying the number four as well in Dutch which is, “vier”, and that sounds very similar to the world “fire” because they rhyme. Because Five and fire, sound very similar. This was referring to the number of islands near the Fire Island inlet. At times histories have referred to it in the plural, as "Fire Islands", from the inlet that cuts through the barrier and connects the Great South Bay to the ocean. Other versions say the island derived its name from fires built on the sea's edge by Native Americans or by pirates to lure unsuspecting ships into the sandbars. Some say it is how portions of the island look to be on fire from sea in autumn. Yet another version says it comes from the rash caused by poison ivy on the island. The name of Fire Island first appeared on a deed in the year of, 1789. While the western portion of the island was referred to as Fire Island for many years, the eastern portion was referred to as Great South Beach until 1920, when widespread development caused the whole landmass to be called Fire Island.
In the 18th century, Lighthouse keepers were stationed at the Fire Island light at the Keepers quarters, living there. Keepers at the light house used a variety of means to keep the light burning-it helped captains find their way safely along with ever changing coastline. In the 18th century, the Fire Island light protected human lives and cargo aboard ships approaching the New York Harbor. In the year of 1852, The Newly organized lighthouse board was hoping to satisfy the public, as they recommended that the light elevation and intensity should be increased. Instead, the United States government decided to fund a completely new light.
In contrast of the original lighthouse, the current lighthouse at Fire Island today, in 1857, congress appropriated the new tower for $40,000, in order to rebuild it. The stones from the original lighthouse are now used on the terrace on the lighthouse, today. In the year of December 31, 1973, The Fire Island Lighthouse was decommissioned as an aid to navigation. The new aid to navigation was a "small flash tube optic" installed atop the Robert Moses State Park Water Tower. In the year of 1891, the lighthouse tower is coated with black tar and white stripes (Day Markers), painted on, so people are able to see the light house more clearly throughout the day, along with comparing it to the other light houses. Prior to the lighthouse that was decommissioned between the years of 1973 to 1974, The Coast Guard gave the National Park Service a five-year permit to use the entire Lighthouse Tract (approximately 82 acres). In 1979, the tract was declared by law to be within the boundaries of the Fire Island National Seashore. With limited funds, the major function of the Park Service during its early administration of the Lighthouse tract was to prevent further deterioration of the buildings through neglect and vandalism. Between 1974 and 1980, private citizens grouped together in an effort to "save the Fire Island Lighthouse." The strobe light on the Robert Moses Tower only shone seaward and was of no use to boaters on the Great South Bay. Public support for restoration of the Fire Island Lighthouse was great among the Baymen.
The Fresnel lens will always have a huge impact on both the original lighthouse along with the current lighthouse. In 1858, introducing the “new” lighthouse, The First Order Fresnel Lens was built with clockwork mechanism. The new tower was fitted with a First Order Fresnel Lens, which emitted a white flash at one-minute intervals. A Funk Lamp with 4 concentric wicks was used for illumination. Over the years various fuels were used for the lamps, including whale oil, lard oil, mineral oil and kerosene. Electricity finally reached the lighthouse on September 20, 1938. However, on September 21, 1938 a hurricane struck the island, effectively severing all electric power to the island and causing a delay in the electrification of the Fire Island Light Station. The United States Coast Guard has been present on Fire Island since its inception in 1915. A Coast Guard Station was established on the Lighthouse tract. Eventually the United States Lighthouse Service was dissolved. The administration of lighthouses was placed under the jurisdiction of the US Coast Guard in 1939 "in the interest of economy and efficiency" (Presidential Reorganization Act). The Old Shinnecock Light’s first Order Lens was using Mercury Bath. While, The Fourth Order and apparatus went through the exact same process, until the lens was charged, which occurred in the year of, 1933. Even though the Fresnel lens was originally built in the first lighthouse, it will always remain both historical and symbolic in the current lighthouse, as it’s function is it continuously beam light. Recently, in 2011, the Lens building officially opened, displaying original First Order Fresnel lens.
In the original lighthouse, oil lamps were used the entire time while the lighthouse was still activated, until it shut down. There were first eighteen lamps, which decreased in 1842, as it dropped down to fourteen lamps. Meanwhile, in the current light house that still stands today on Fire Island, used whale fuel as oil after the beacon was lit on November 1st, prior to the opening of the light house. Today, the lighthouse runs on electric power, consisting of two thousand and a hundred light bulbs! The Lighthouse was restored to its 1939 condition, which is when electricity was first installed. On Memorial Day, May 28, 1986, the Fire Island Lighthouse was relit and reinstated as an official aid to navigation. Because many were in favor of having a light house on Long Island, President George Washington signed the order for the establishment of a light house at Montauk Point in the year of 1797, but only after New York State had ceded the land, which originally was called Turtle Hill, to the federal government. The $22,300 built lighthouse, was completed in 1797.
Many people wonder why Fire Island was called, Fire Island. It’s still an unsolved mystery. . The Native American name of Fire Island was originally called, Sictem Hackey, which translated to, “Land of the Secatogues”, which apparently was an allusion to local Indians. Although, according to historian Richard Bayles, the name Fire Island, came from the Native American tribe, because they have never heard of Fire Island before. There was a misinterpretation them after they repetitively said, “Five islands” which in Dutch is, “vijf” and also when they kept saying the number four as well in Dutch which is, “vier”, and that sounds very similar to the world “fire” because they rhyme. Because Five and fire, sound very similar. This was referring to the number of islands near the Fire Island inlet. At times histories have referred to it in the plural, as "Fire Islands", from the inlet that cuts through the barrier and connects the Great South Bay to the ocean. Other versions say the island derived its name from fires built on the sea's edge by Native Americans or by pirates to lure unsuspecting ships into the sandbars. Some say it is how portions of the island look to be on fire from sea in autumn. Yet another version says it comes from the rash caused by poison ivy on the island. The name of Fire Island first appeared on a deed in the year of, 1789. While the western portion of the island was referred to as Fire Island for many years, the eastern portion was referred to as Great South Beach until 1920, when widespread development caused the whole landmass to be called Fire Island.