Ring Out the New, Bring In the Old
By Sue Clark on Jan 4, 2008 in News 
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A Light To Return Home
Replaced by a rather homely looking skeletal tower nearly forty years ago by the Coast Guard, Great Captain’s Lighthouse in Greenwich, Connecticut, may beam a little brighter if plans to replace the new with the old come to fruition this year. Both lights are visible in the photo to the left, showing the stately old tower next to the upstart lighthouse wannabe.
Ever since the light was deactivated in 1970, residents of Greenwich have protested the loss, and about ten years ago began raising money in earnest, with groups like Return The Light forming to help. One of the members of the group was Ben Fisher, who was killed in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, and in whose memory many donations were made.
Plans Being Reviewed
To make sure the original 1998 project isn’t out of date, the Department of Parks and Recreation is reviewing the plans. The entire lighthouse will be restored, and plans are to make part of it into a memorial to 9/11. The lighthouse was staffed by a caretaker until 2003, but since then, vandals have covered the building with graffiti. The island is accessible by ferry, but only to residents of Greenwich. For a great history and closeup photos of this light, Lighthouse Friends has a nice page, including tales about a bootlegging operation on the island.
Private Aids To Navigation
With the work scheduled to begin in the Spring of this year on the interior, and next winter on the exterior, soon mariners will have a new private aid to navigation in the near future, Coast Guard permitting. And permit they must, as there is an approval process involving forms to fill out, and more. Approval for Private Aids to Navigation (PATON) is regulated by U.S. Coast Guard under Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 66 (33CFR66). From the Coast Guard:
A Private Aid to Navigation is a buoy, light or daybeacon owned and maintained by any individual or organization other than the United States Coast Guard. These interests include private citizens, marina and yacht clubs, municipal and state governments, construction and dredging companies, research and non- profit organizations, beach front associations, and large industrial companies. Private aids to navigation are designed to allow individuals or organizations to mark privately owned marine obstructions or other similar hazards to navigation, or to assist their own navigation operations. Private aids to navigation are required to be maintained by the owner as stated on the U.S. Coast Guard permit.
After the application process is over, look forward to a new (old) light on entering the western end of Long Island Sound.
Photo Credit: Great Captain’s Light by pixxiestail on Flickr (Creative Commons)
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