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Lighthouse Point Park, a gem of a location in New Haven, Connecticut, is home to one of the nation’s most beautiful vintage carousels, restored in the 1980s by a local nonprofit group with support from the city. The carousel building stands virtually in the shadow of the
80-foot-tall, stately 1847 Five Mile Point Lighthouse.
Nearby, surrounded by trees, bushes, and a wire fence, is the 1847 lighthouse keeper’s house. One of the oldest surviving lightkeeper’s dwellings in New England, it’s currently home to a New Haven parks department caretaker who provides a security presence at the park.
Robert Levine, director of New Haven’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Trees, says that his department “is committed to seeing that the keeper’s house and lighthouse structures are properly preserved for future generations.” A new roof, capable of withstanding winds of over 75 miles per hour, was installed about four years ago. Still, any visitor can plainly see that the well-worn house is in need of an overhaul.
Back in the 1920s, the decommissioned light station buildings (the light was replaced by Southwest Ledge Light offshore in 1877) became part of the city’s Lighthouse Point Park. Lawrence “Ted” Porter, moved in as caretaker in 1943. Porter had started his career with the city of New Haven at the age of 14, lighting gas lamps on the city’s streets. His stay as caretaker at Lighthouse Point Park stretched into the 1970s. A 1964 newspaper article reported that Porter had the duty of flying storm warning flags as needed from a steel tower, which still stands near the lighthouse.
Ted Porter endured some memorable storms, including a 1944 hurricane that had seawater lapping at his front door. It wasn’t unusual for the caretaker and his family to be stuck inside the house for two or three days after a severe snowstorm. Through it all, Porter took meticulous care of the house and grounds.
Ed Condon — a woodcarver and contractor who now lives
in nearby West Haven — was raised at the lighthouse by his
Uncle Ted and Aunt Rose. Condon loved his boyhood life at the lighthouse, storms and all. That’s why, in recent years, he’s been disheartened by the condition of the keeper’s house. The interior, he says, is plagued by leaks, falling plaster, and an infestation of squirrels.
The lighthouse tower also has some problems, including a leaky lantern dome and a brick lining that needs some repainting. There have been some recent improvements to lighting and railings, and the park staff has been able in recent years to offer tours of the lighthouse. The tours can be arranged by appointment and are sometimes available during special events.
Condon has suggested the formation of a “Friends of Five Mile Point Lighthouse” organization, which could be founded as a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF). Word
has gotten out about his efforts, thanks
to the Internet and a story in the
New Haven Register, and he says public response has been positive.
Bob Trapani, executive director of ALF, comments, “When Ed Condon approached ALF about forming a chapter, the passion and appreciation he possessed for the historic site was quite evident.” Trapani says that a partnership with ALF could take some pressure off the city’s tight budget by providing a platform for fundraising.
Condon has had conversations with officials and students at the Sound School, a public high school in New Haven with
a maritime focus. He suggests that displays created by the students could be featured in the potential museum in the keeper’s house.
To ease local traffic and to make it easier to reach Lighthouse Point Park from downtown New Haven, Condon suggests a water shuttle that could bring visitors to the park from the city’s Long Wharf. The shuttle, he says, could be run in part by the students of the Sound School.
Meanwhile, Robert Levine says that the rehabilitation of the keeper’s house and lighthouse will be part of a master plan that will soon be developed for the entire park. Levine says there have been discussions for several years of turning the house into a combination museum, classroom, and gift shop. A museum in the house would probably concentrate primarily on the history of Lighthouse Point Park, but Levine says the facility “would ultimately reflect the wishes
and priorities of the neighborhood and community stakeholders who will participate in the long-term planning efforts relative to the entire park.”
There’s been some disagreement between Condon and the city over the urgency of the keeper’s house situation; Condon feels significant repairs are needed immediately, while Levine says the situation is well under control. The development of the master plan for the park will begin this September or October, according to Levine.
When the master plan moves forward and the city begins seeking funds for restoration, Levine sees a partnership with one or more existing local organizations — such as the Sound School, Schooner Inc., Friends of the Carousel, or Elm City Parks Conservancy—as a strong possibility, and there would also be oversight and guidance from the local historic commission.
Another possibility would be the formation of a new “Friends of Lighthouse Point Park” group. “We need a strong group of people and an organization that can sustain itself,” Levine says, adding that he doesn’t rule out the involvement of an outside organization, like ALF, that could help support fundraising efforts.
A complete restoration of the
lighthouse and keeper’s house will most likely cost at least several hundred
thousand dollars. The good news is that all parties apparently have the long-term welfare of this beautiful and historic property at heart.
Local residents will be included in the development of the master plan for Lighthouse Point Park, and anyone wishing to be notified of planning meetings can e-mail Robert Levine at RLevine@newhavenct.net.
If you’d like to contact Ed Condon about his efforts, you can write him via e-mail at condon711@sbcglobal.net.
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