Penfield Reef Light, Maritime lighthouse in Fairfield County, United States.
Penfield Reef Light is a lighthouse built on Penfield Reef at the entrance of Black Rock Harbor along Long Island Sound, in Fairfield County, Connecticut. It is constructed of granite and wood, stands about 36 feet (11 meters) tall, and guides maritime traffic through this stretch of water.
Congress authorized the construction of this lighthouse in 1870, and it began operating in 1874. Over the following century it was gradually updated, and in 1971 the Coast Guard switched it to remote operation.
Penfield Reef Light is one of the few lighthouses in North America built in the Second Empire style, which gives it a look closer to a house than a tower. The steep mansard roof makes it easy to recognize from the water, setting it apart from more typical lighthouse designs in the region.
The lighthouse sits on a reef offshore and cannot be reached on foot, so the best way to see it is from a boat. Boat tours along the Fairfield County coastline often pass close enough to get a good view.
In December 1916, keeper Frederick Jordan drowned while rowing to shore, leaving his assistant Rudolph Iten alone at the lighthouse. Iten later recorded a series of events he could not explain, which have given the place a lasting reputation for strange occurrences.
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