History
In 1853, Congress authorized the construction of a lighthouse on Lime Rock in Newport Harbor. Lime Rock is a limestone ledge about 220 yds (200 m) from the shore. The original lighthouse was a short stone tower with a 6th order Fresnel lens and an oil-burning lantern. The light was commissioned in 1854. In the beginning, the lighthouse keeper rowed from the shore daily to tend the light. In case of foul weather, the lighthouse keeper could stay in a small wooden shanty.
The first lighthouse keeper was James Stockbridge Lewis, who had assisted in its construction. After six months, Hosea Lewis, who was the father of James Lewis and a retired pilot, was appointed keeper. In 1857, a two-story house was built for the lighthouse keeper. Lewis and his family moved to the small island in 1857.
A few months after he moved to the island, he suffered a stroke. His wife, Ida Zordia Lewis and her children tended the light. Their eldest daughter, who was also named Ida Lewis, did much of the work. After her mother died, she was officially appointed lighthouse keeper from 1879 to 1911. The island and the lighthouse were named for Ida Lewis in 1924.
The last lighthouse keeper was Evard Jansen. He remained until the light was automated in 1927. The original light was replaced with an automated, acetylene light on a skeleton tower. It was deactivated in 1963.
The original Fresnel lens is on display at the Museum of Newport History. The lighthouse is maintained as the clubhouse of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. They have a light as a private aid during part of the year.
The Ida Lewis Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places, No. 87001700.
-
Ida Lewis Light
Read more about this topic: Ida Lewis Light
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“I saw the Arab map.
It resembled a mare shuffling on,
dragging its history like saddlebags,
nearing its tomb and the pitch of hell.”
—Adonis [Ali Ahmed Said] (b. 1930)
“I assure you that in our next class we will concern ourselves solely with the history of Egypt, and not with the more lurid and non-curricular subject of living mummies.”
—Griffin Jay, and Reginald LeBorg. Prof. Norman (Frank Reicher)