Historic Information

The Avery Point Lighthouse

The Avery Point Lighthouse is situated at the southeastern end of the University of Connecticut’s Avery Point campus located off of Shennecossett Road in the Town of Groton.

The Avery Point campus was originally the site of the 72-acre estate of Morton F. Plant, a wealthy industrialist, philanthropist and yachtsman, who was very influential in local development in the early 1900’s.  Several large and ornate granite structures were constructed and completed on this site prior to 1903.  One well-known structure, which still stands today, is called the “Branford House” and is listed on the National Historic Register.  The upper of this building presently houses university administrative offices and the lower floor is made available for special meetings and banquets.

In 1938, some two decades after the death of Morton Plant, his estate was sold, at auction, to the State of Connecticut.

In March of 1942, the property was sold by the State of Connecticut to the United States Government.  The Quit Claim Deed for this transaction stipulated that the “United States of America [will] erect and maintain on or over the land . . . . beacon lights or other buildings and apparatus to be used in aid of navigation”.  The Deed further required that the lights, buildings and apparatus be constructed within five years.

In 1942 the United States Coast Guard (USCG) occupied the site and established the USCG Training Station.   Throughout the years, thousands of Coast Guardsmen received training at the Groton Station in a variety of schools, including radio communications and aids to navigation – the latter being established in 1945.

In March of 1943, the USCG fulfilled the requirement of the Quit Claim Deed and completed the construction of Avery Point Lighthouse.  It was at this time considered “ready for service”; however, World War II “hostilities concerns” precluded the light from being lit until May 2, 1944.

The fifty-five foot octagonal-shaped structure has two internal levels including the upper level lantern room and a walk - around outer deck.  The bearing walls are constructed of unusual block masonry units (blocks) made of a brown colored cement and sand.  Three different size blocks were used in constructing the walls.

The wooden lantern room is set back and forms a ‘walk-around’ between its exterior and the top of the masonry tower.   This lantern room is hand carved and has hints of  Williamsburg architecture.  It has eight separate fixed glass lower window panes and Palladian glass upper frames. 

A three-foot high balustrade travels around the top of the structure and is perhaps the most unique architectural feature of the lighthouse.  It consists of brown colored cast stone rails and corner posts located at the intersection of the octagon’s eight sides.  Between the rails of the balustrade are thirty-two equally spaced turned pink Italian marble balusters.  These balusters once adorned the famous flower gardens of Morton Plant. 

Overall, the lighthouse takes on the look of a ‘tower’ rather than a traditional lighthouse.

According to a description in Kenneth Kochel’s 1994 edition of “America’s Atlantic Coast Lighthouses: A Traveler’s Guide”, the Avery Point Lighthouse  “. . . . was built to be a memorial tower . . . . and a symbolic representation of the Coast Guard’s lighthouse keeping responsibilities”.  It was the last lighthouse constructed in the State of Connecticut.

Some have stated that the structure was never an actual “aid to navigation”; however, independent research by the Avery Point Lighthouse Society has proven otherwise.  The lighthouse is listed in the USCG’s [navigational] List of Lights from 1944 through 1967.  The light, and it characteristics, also appear on numerous USCG approved maritime navigational aid charts.  Initially the beacon of the lighthouse was a cluster of eight fixed lights; however, in March of 1960 the characteristic was changed to flashing green every four seconds. The change of light pattern is listed in the USCG’s [navigational] “Notice to Mariners”.

In 1967, the Coast Guard closed its training center at Avery Point and relocated to Governor’s Island, New York.  The Avery Point property was again occupied by the State of Connecticut. 

The University of Connecticut, established an off-site campus at Avery Point shortly after the departure of the Coast Guard.  The Coast Guard maintains a small staff at a research and development type laboratory at Avery Point and had periodically used the lighthouse to conduct various navigation experiments.

Unfortunately, for a period of over thirty years, maintenance and upkeep of the lighthouse was sorely lacking and largely discontinued.   The structure developed serious deterioration problems and, in 1997, the University considered razing the structure. 

A group of local citizens, calling themselves the Avery Point Lighthouse Society (APLS), organized an effort to Save, Restore and Relight the structure.  APLS, which subsequently became a chapter of the American Lighthouse Society of Wells, Maine, was successful in saving the structure from the wrecking ball and in raising substantial funds to restore the structure to its original glory.  The organization was also successful in having the lighthouse placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
|
Structural restoration of the lighthouse was completed in November, 2005.  A dedication brick walkway, traveling a distance of over 840 feet and consisting of over 3,100 engraved and 17,000 blank bricks was installed at the site of the lighthouse and completed in the spring of 2006.

APLS, ALF and the University are presently working together to receive permission from the United States Coast Guard to install a light in the lighthouse so it once again will be used as an official aid to navigation.  It is anticipated this process will move along very smoothly and that the light will be installed in time for a relighting/rededication ceremony for the lighthouse scheduled for October 15, 2006.