Stepping Stones Light, Lighthouse in Long Island Sound, New York
Stepping Stones Light is a square lighthouse rising from Long Island Sound with red brick walls built on a granite and concrete base. The structure stands about 46 feet tall and marks a navigational hazard in this busy waterway.
This lighthouse was built in 1877 by Irish bargemen and stonemasons from Throggs Neck under the direction of the United States Lighthouse Board. It was constructed to warn ships away from rocks that had long posed a hazard to navigation in the area.
The rocks take their name from Siwanoy Native American legends about the devil being driven across the water. This mythological origin remains connected to the place and ties it to the region's earliest stories.
The lighthouse operates automatically as a navigational aid and requires ongoing maintenance to keep it functional. The best views of the structure come from the water or from nearby coastal roads.
A lighthouse keeper named Cornelius Douglass experienced a harrowing moment in 1888 when his boat capsized during rough conditions. His family witnessed the accident from shore and quickly called for rescue, saving his life.
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