Get on the Water With the Norwalk Seaport Association this May

Seabirds have made Long Island Sound off the coast of Norwalk their home for millennia. Bird lovers and nature enthusiasts have spotted waterfowl, shorebirds, and seabirds along with migrating birds of all types in this rich natural environment. And, one of the most interesting places to view our avian friends is from the water. 

May is one of the best times of the year to spot birds, so this year, the Norwalk Seaport Association is offering its first birding cruises of the season on Sunday, May 5th, and Sunday, May 19th. These two birding excursions depart from the Seaport’s Dock at 70 Water Street in Norwalk at 7:30 a.m. The vessel returns to the dock around 10 a.m. Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for children and are available online at seaport.org. It is advised that passengers arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. Birding excursions are also scheduled for June 2, 16, and 30th. 

This cruise is guided by a bird enthusiast who will be on board to point out migrating as well as nesting birds encountered along the way. One of the most exciting aspects of this harbor cruise is that you never know what species of birds or how many you will encounter. 

A unique highlight of this cruise is the chance to spot birds at the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge on Sheffield Island. Here you will see a variety of habitats that support nesting and wading birds. This spot is known for its small population of herring and great black-backed gulls that nest along Sheffield Island's rocky shoreline. The importance of the Norwalk Islands to wildlife, especially migratory birds is enormous, and the special Bird Cruises hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association give nature enthusiasts the chance to spot these magnificent seabirds up close with the added benefit of a knowledgeable guide.  

Also happening in May, Sunset Cruises begin on May 22 and run from Wednesday – Sunday departing at 6:30 p.m. and returning at 8:30 p.m. throughout the season. This is the perfect way to unwind on the Sound. Pack a snack, BYOB, and sit back and watch the sunset over the water, it is like a mini vacation. 

If you are looking for a memorable way to celebrate Memorial Day Weekend, the Seaport Association is offering its first cruises of the season to Sheffield Island on Saturday, May 25, and Sunday, May 26 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. This three-hour excursion includes a narrated tour of the Norwalk Harbor and three historic lighthouses ending with a one-hour stop on Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Take a tour of the lighthouse, pack a picnic lunch to enjoy on the beach or in our pavilion, and walk the trails of the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge looking for birds. 

About the Seaport Association 

The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.  

Brewing Up April Fun with the Seaport Association @ SpaceCat Brewery

 

The Norwalk Seaport Association is hosting an event sure to cure "what ales" you at the SpaceCat Brewery located at 57 Chestnut Street in Norwalk on Monday, April 15 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Get ready to discover one of the finest craft breweries in Connecticut located right here in Norwalk. This is a night to be remembered with the artful fusion of small-batch brews and hard cider with chef-driven appetizers by Ripkas Beach Café that will complement each sip. SpaceCat brews range from robust IPAs to crisp lagers sure to please the most discerning palate. Part of the fun is to find out how SpaceCat Brewer’s creative touch brings out the best in their diverse range of beer by using the finest grains, hops, and yeasts sustainably. Guests are sure to savour the diverse tapestry of flavors of beer at this event which is a fundraiser for Norwalk’s Sheffield Island Lighthouse. 

At this fun and relaxed event, guests will also enjoy learning about what the Seaport Association has planned for 2024 from the cruise schedule and new renovations at the Lighthouse to the 2024 Norwalk Oyster Festival, and new membership levels. This is the perfect opportunity to find out about how to volunteer for this established non-profit organization that has been around since 1978.

Tickets include two vouchers and appetizers, all for a good cause. Tickets are $35 per person and are limited to the first 100 people. Tickets are available online by clicking here or by calling the Seaport Office at 203-838-9444, so get them today so you don’t miss out on the fun. Proceeds from this event will be used for the maintenance of Sheffield Island Lighthouse, Connecticut’s Maritime Icon. 

About the Seaport Association 

The Seaport Association in Norwalk was founded in 1978 by a group of local citizens who had the vision to revitalize South Norwalk and preserve Norwalk’s maritime heritage. The Seaport Association offers a cultural, environmental, and historical journey to the Norwalk Islands. The Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the Light Keeper’s Cottage provide a unique historical and educational venue that strives to increase awareness, appreciation, and consideration for the environment and how the preservation of historic buildings contributes to our quality of life. The combination of the Lighthouse and the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge offers an unparalleled opportunity to educate children of all ages and adults about the importance of preserving Long Island Sound, our environment, and our maritime heritage.

Ghosts and Spirits of Sheffield Island

According to the popular magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, in 2023, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, along with the Mark Twain House, in Hartford were listed as supposedly  the "spookiest and most paranormal activity sites in Connecticut!" We were amazed at that revelation...but happy to be in the legendary company of the esteemed Mark Twain!  We had to delve deep... and thought of one of Twain's quotes..."Truth is stranger than fiction, but it is because Fiction is obliged to stick to possibilities; Truth isn't."

We think urban legends surrounding the 1868 Sheffield Island Lighthouse are fun. So many tales float on the tide and in the sea breeze about the ghosts and spirits that linger on the island... too bad they didn't leave buried treasure to help us with our mission! At the end of the day, we understand their love of Sheffield Island... our summer guests have told us for years how much they enjoy the island and how hard it is to leave.  Quite frankly, we agree and are grateful to everyone who has helped us keep Sheffield Island Lighthouse an icon of the New England coastline.

 Conde Nast Traveler noted in their article that in 1972, the lighthouse's original keeper died suddenly while watching passing ships with a spyglass; his death was never fully explained!  Not to be a spoiler but Sheffield Island Lighthouse was decommissioned in 1902 - so it is impossible that the "last lightkeeper" was even on the island in 1972! Sheffield Island Lighthouse was put out of official Coast Guard service because it was a bit too far away from the ledges it was designed to warn ships against. Sheffield Island Lighthouse's duties were replaced by Green Ledge Light.

Another tale, according to Conde Nast Traveler, involves an archeologist in the 1990s who heard strangely chanting music, and a foghorn when heading to the island by boat (not ours). Spoiler alert, once again, there is no fog horn on Sheffield Island! But as you all know, we love music, which is why we have so many nationally recognized entertainers at the Norwalk Oyster Festival! 

All urban tales aside, Sheffield Island and Lighthouse has been a top destination for families and lovers of lighthouse lore, legends, and tales for years. We love welcoming people, from near and far to the island and sharing its fascinating history, and the legacy of Connecticut's maritime heritage that continues to thrive. 

The Last Lighthouse Keeper in U.S. Steps Down

The historic Boston Light on Little Brewster Island overlooking Boston Harbor was constructed before the Revolutionary War. The original lighthouse, constructed in 1716 stood 60 feet high and was circular in shape with a tapering tower made of rubblestone. On the grounds of the tower, a keeper's house, barn, and wharf were built and, a fog horn cannon was installed in 1719. 

1879 / Morning off Boston Light / by C Drew. 

When the American Revolution came, the islands in Boston’s harbor were the site of several skirmishes between patriots and British soldiers and sailors. The British took over Boston Light in 1774. In July of 1775, local Massachusetts patriots decided to destroy the lighthouse to prevent the British from benefitting from its use. The British rebuilt the lighthouse within a matter of days! The most significant damage happened as the British were leaving the harbor ---- they blew up the Boston Light for good in 1776 -- or so they thought!

The new lighthouse wasn't built until 1783. It was similar to the first lighthouse because it was circular in structure and made of rubblestone. The difference was the height as the new lighthouse was 75 feet tall. Another difference was that this lighthouse didn't use candles, it had four fish oil lamps as its beacon. In 1811, a revolving mechanism was installed to create a flashing light, and in 1859, a second-order Fresnel lens was installed to replace the chandelier of oil lamps and reflectors. At this time, the height of the lighthouse was increased to 89 feet. 

Over the years, many improvements were made to the Boston Light.  For example, fog signals were upgraded several times, and other buildings, some still standing, were constructed; others were reused for different purposes. In 1948, the Boston Light was electrified and in 1957 a cable was run from Windmill Point to drive the rotating mechanism of the Frensel lense, so the keepers didn't have to wind it every four hours! This modernization however didn't affect one important duty of the keeper. Every day, at sunrise and again at sunset, the keeper had to climb the steep iron staircase to turn the switches on or off for the light and rotating gear. 

Steep and treacherous the climb to the top

In 1959, the Boston Light was changed from a family-operated to a male-only station under the auspices of the Coast Guard. In 1964, Boston Light became a National Historic Landmark and in 1987, it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 1989, a bill sponsored by Senator Kennedy required that the Boston Light remain permanently manned, making this lighthouse the only legislatively manned lighthouse in the United States. The island's light became fully automated in 1998, ending the keeper's climb to the top twice a day. The site was officially opened to the public in 1999.

A lovely view of Boston Light

A new chapter in the story of the Boston Light occurred in 2003 when Sally Snowman,  was appointed as light keeper. Snowman was not only the first woman to attain this role in the long history of the Boston Light, but she was also the first civilian appointed since 1941. 

Sally Snowman, keeper of Boston Lighthouse, lowers the American flag, Monday, Aug. 8, 2016, on Little Brewster Island in Boston Harbor. Boston Light is the last permanently manned Coast Guard lighthouse in the country, and 2016 marks its tricentennial. 

After a twenty-year stint beginning in 2003, in December 2023, Sally Snowman, the only remaining lighthouse keeper in the United States retired. Snowman has not only served as the keeper, she is also a historian of this 307-year-old icon that overlooks Boston's rocky shoreline. She enjoyed regaling the tales of the lighthouse with the visiting public and hopes this tradition continues. Dressed in 18th-century inspired clothes that would have been worn by a lightkeeper's wife or in a Coast Guard uniform she ascended the 76 spiraling steps to clean the windows and polish the lens that acts as a beacon of warning to keep mariners from smashing into the rocks. She also mowed the lawn and maintained the six additional buildings on the grounds of the island. A professor by profession, it was her fantasy to become a lighthouse keeper since she visited the island at age 10. As the lightkeeper for 20 years, Snowman told NPR, " “It’s sort of a metaphysical type of thing that – I felt something so deeply in my heart and in my cells and the space between the cells that it came into fruition. It’s a fairy tale come true."

The Sunset of an Era

For much of her time as a lighthouse keeper, she lived on the island. In 2018, due to a portable water problem, the public could no longer visit the island, and Snowman could no longer live there.  Tenacious as ever, Snowman decided to commute to the island from her home in North Weymouth. This commute could take up to an hour and a half one way over open water in her six-foot skiff.  Until she retired in December 2023, Snowman's visits were dictated by weather and tidal cycles, resulting in stays of up to an hour or so, or not at all, when storms kept her away. Snowman, now 72,  plans on spending her retirement researching historical documents and making presentations. Reflecting on her time as lightkeeper, Snowman told WBUR, "I believe we are all beacons of light. We are all lighthouses from our heart space. So for me to be out there for 20 years, my energy is going to be out there. It's there."

The lighthouse is now being sold to a private owner. The arrangement with the new owner is that the site must be preserved. Let's hope that the new owners and their staff will do a good job of maintaining the traditions of the lighthouse keepers around the world and preserving the history of this historic site.