The first keeper of Stonington Harbor Light, Connecticut, when it went into service in 1824, was Captain William Potter at a yearly salary of $300. By 1838, the lighthouse was in danger of being claimed by the sea, which was eating away at the bluff beneath the tower. The government considered building a wall around the station, but decided instead to build a new lighthouse further back from the eroding shore. The second lighthouse was completed in September 1840 by John Bishop of New London. The rebuilding cost $4,914. The new lighthouse consisted of a stone tower, 32 1/2 feet high, attached to the keepers house. William Potter was keeper of the lighthouse until his death in the mid-1840s. His wife, Patty, became keeper after her husbands death. One inspector found the dwelling at this time to be the most filthy house he had ever visited. Perhaps Mrs. Potters housekeeping skills improved, as she remained keeper for six more years. The fortress-like stone lighthouse was acquired by the Stonington Historical Society in 1925. They converted the interior into a six-room museum of local history.
Posted on: Mon, 26 May 2014 18:12:17 +0000
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