Penfield Reef Light

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Penfield Reef Light

Penfield Reef Light is a historic lighthouse in Connecticut, located on Penfield Reef at the southern entrance to Black Rock Harbor in Long Island Sound, off Fairfield. Built in 1874, it is notable as one of the last offshore masonry lighthouses and as part of the Second Empire style, with a granite keeper’s house and a wooden tower built into the roof.

What you’ll see and where it sits
- The lighthouse sits about 1.1 miles off Fairfield Beach, describing the treacherous Penfield Reef that long challenged ships entering Black Rock Harbor.
- The structure combines a granite keeper’s dwelling with a wood-frame tower integrated into the roof, founded on a granite caisson.

History in brief
- 1874: Penfield Reef Light is constructed and becomes an active aid to navigation.
- 1916: Keeper Frederick A. Jordan disappears in rough seas; assistant Rudolph Iten witnesses the event. The story contributes to local haunting legends.
- 1969–1971: The Coast Guard plans to replace the lighthouse with a steel tower, but public opposition helps keep the original structure. The light is automated in 1971, ending the era of keepers.
- 1990: The lighthouse is added to the National Register of Historic Places as Penfield Reef Lighthouse.
- 2002: Repairs address structural problems after years of wear.
- 2012: Hurricane Sandy damages the lighthouse, flooding interiors and affecting the building.
- 2015: A major rehabilitation fixes storm damage, makes the structure weather-tight, replaces windows and roofing, and repairs masonry.
- 2016–present: The U.S. General Services Administration periodically lists the lighthouse for sale. Fairfield and other groups have shown interest, but ownership has not been publicly resolved. A 2023 listing kept the property in question, with no public disclosure of a new owner.

What makes it special
- Penfield Reef Light is one of the few remaining offshore masonry lighthouses and a distinctive example of the Second Empire style, with a keeper’s dwelling and a tower integrated into the house.
- It is an active aid to navigation and has a place on the National Register of Historic Places, highlighting its historical and architectural importance.

Head keepers (selected)
- George Tomlinson (1874–1876)
- Augustus W. Eddy (1876–1880)
- William Jones (1880–1882)
- Neil Martin (1882–1891)
- William H. Haynes (1891–1908)
- Elmer V. Newton (1908–1914)
- Frederick A. Jordan, Sr. (1914–1916)
- Rudolph Iten (1917–1919)
- Charles Reuter (1919–1920)
- Rudolph Iten (1920–1926)
- George Petzolt (1936–1941)
- William A. Shackley (1941–1946)
- Jose Fernandez (1948–1953)
- John Chilly (1958–at least)
- Patrick Tomlinson (1968–1969)

Penfield Reef Light remains a landmark reminder of coastal navigation, bravery of the keepers, and the enduring history of Connecticut’s lighthouses.