1838-1877

Location & historical notes: Connecticut, southerly from Bridgeport off Stratford Point. 

Lightships assigned:

1838-1877: LV-15 (The only lightship to occupy this station.)

YEAR BUILT: 1837

BUILT AT: Norfolk (VA)

BUILDER: ?

APPROPRiATION: $10,000
(Approp. for "floating light for Middle Ground, Long Island Sound"

SISTER VESSELS: None

CONTRACT PRICE: ?

DESIGN: Woodã white oak framed and planked; copper, iron and locust treenail fastenings; 2 masts

LENGTH: 73' (lbp), BEAM: 194" DRAFT: 8', TONNAGE: 100 ("old measure")

PROPULSION: Sail

ILLUMINATING APPARATUS: 2 lanterns, each with 8 lard oil compass lamps having 10 wicks

FOG SIGNAL: Hand operated bell, and horn

CONSTRUCTION NOTES - MODIFICATIONS - EQUIPMENT CHANGES & IMPROVEMENTS: LV 15-
Reported to be smallest light vessel in the 3d District; "altogether too small"-
1856: Repaired at New York Navy Yard $10,876.61, "should be rebuilt or replaced"-
1856: Fitted with new reflector-type lamps-
1863: Oct 22-May 10 1864, repaired $3,872.15-
1864: Congress failed to grant appropriation for rebuild-
1871: Aug, repaired $1,421.73-
1874: Repairs for ice damage $449.30

STATION ASSIGNMENTS: LV 15
1838-1877: Stratford Shoal (CT)
1877-1879: Relief (CT) - (laid up)

(Stratford Shoal station discontinued Dec 1877)

(Prior to 1867 when No. 15 was assigned, official records identify this vessel as 'Middle Ground floating light", "Stratford Point Light Vessel" or "Stratford Shoal Light Vessel")

HISTORICAL NOTES: LV 15-

1838: Jan 12, placed on Stratford Shoal (CT)-
1838: Frequent problems with "drifting" i.e. dragging off station; moored with
2 anchors Jul 10, but did not provide improvement-
1856: Reported as "smallest vessel in 3d District", "altogether too small"-
1857: Feb, broke adrift; cost of tow back to station $5,100-
1864: Funds requested for rebuild, but Congress made no appropriation-
1865: "Slipped chain under heavy pressure of ice"-
1867: Dragged from station by moving ice, once in Feb, and twice in March-
1874: Dragged from station by moving ice-
1875: Carried off station by ice and grounded near Orient, Long Island. Towed
to New London -"in poor condition much decayed"-
1877: Dec, withdrawn and station discontinued upon activation of Stratford
Shoal Lighthouse-
1879: Laid up at Staten Island, "not worth the cost of repair"-
1880: Sold and afterwards anchored in Raritan Bay (NJ) for use as a floating
barracks during construction of Great Beds Lighthouse

More notes:

RETIRED FROM LIGHTSHIP DUTY: 1877 AGE: 40

SUBSEQUENT DISPOSITION: Sold at public auction Dec 16, 1880 - $1,010. Purchased by the contractor for Great Beds Lighthouse and used there as a floating barracks during lighthouse construction
 

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Revised: 10/23/06.