Public Official Appeals for Help to Save Avery Point

By Timothy Harrison

In December 1997 issue of Lighthouse Digest, we added Connecticut's Avery Point Lighthouse to our Doomsday List of endangered lighthouses. The lighthouse is in sad shape, now surrounded by a fence to protect people from the falling bricks. Rumors indicated that the structure might be torn down. Since then we have received a copy of a letter from James L. Streeter, (a City Councilman for the City of Groton, CT), which he sent to Sidney J. Holbrook, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Connecticut. In this letter he appealed to the Governor's office for any assistance possible to save the lighthouse. From his letter we learned that the University of Connecticut's Avery Point Campus Assistant Director has applied for a grant from the Long Island Sound License Plate Fund for $25,000 to stabilize the outside of the structure. However, it is estimated that restoration of the lighthouse could cost as much as $150,000, which the University does not have. Councilman Streeter also furnished us with some historical information on the site.


The Avery Point Lighthouse is located on the University of Connecticut's Avery Point Campus in the Eastern Point area of the City of Groton, CT.


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 influential in local development. The extravagant granite structures were constructed on this site in 1902. One well known structure is called the "Branford House."


After the death of Morton F. Plant, the Plant Estate was sold to the State of Connecticut at auction in 1938. However, at the outbreak of World War II, the United States Coast Guard took over the site and constructed a Coast Guard Training Station.


In the early 1940's, the Coast Guard constructed the Avery Point Lighthouse as a memorial tower, a symbol of the Coast Guard's lightkeeping responsibilities. It was only a ceremonial light and was never considered or listed as an active aid to navigation.


When the Coast Guard closed the training center in 1967, the light in the tower was turned off for the last time. The property reverted back to the State of Connecticut. No maintenance or upkeep to the tower has been done since the Coast Guard left.


Although a number of local citizens have discussed forming a local grass roots group to help save the lighthouse, none has yet been formed.


Coast Guard should get involved.


Although the United States Coast Guard is basically getting out of the lighthouse business and turning lighthouses over to non profit groups, historical societies and other government agencies, they should get involved in saving this particular lighthouse.


Yes, it's true they no longer own the Avery Point Lighthouse, but in many ways this little light in Connecticut is almost as important as America's first lightstation in Boston Harbor. Why, because it was the only lighthouse built by the United States Coast Guard as a symbolic memorial to the Coast Guard's history of lighthouse keeping in America. Coast Guard officials should ask the United States Congress for a special emergency act for funds to save and restore this lighthouse. After all, there is not that much money needed in the scheme of things. Perhaps it could be some type of 50/50 grant, or if every member of the United States Coast Guard (retired, auxiliary, etc.) could donate $5.00, they could save this memorial tower that was built in their honor.


Can you spare $5.00 to save Avery Point?


If every subscriber to Lighthouse Digest would send $5.00 to New England Lighthouse Foundation, Avery Point Fund, P.O. Box 889, Wells, ME 04090, it could make a difference. Realizing that every subscriber can't or won't send $5.00, those of you that can, please, send more. Remember, every donation is tax deductible.


Let's see if we can help save Avery Point Lighthouse!