Celebrate Oysters and More with the Norwalk Seaport Association June 8, 2024 @ Norm Bloom and Sons Dock

The Norwalk Seaport Association’s signature event, Docktails and Oysters, hosted by Norm Bloom and Sons, a fourth-generation oyster farm in Norwalk, is taking place on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The proceeds from this sell-out event will be used to refurbish the lighthouse to its golden years in the 19th century when it guided ships safely through Norwalk Harbor. 

This Sheffield Island-inspired party is casual and fun where you will see old friends and make new ones as you listen to live music, sip beer or wine, and slurp the freshest oysters you will ever taste! “It’s a chance for people to celebrate the Seaport Association’s mission of preserving the Sheffield Island Lighthouse for future generations and have a little fun at an authentic oyster farm,” said Mike Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. 

Oysters have a long history in Norwalk that started with the Native Americans. Today, the techniques and processes used to farm Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom and Sons have been used for centuries, making them an extra special treat. If you have never had oysters, literally fresh off the boat, this is your chance to eat your fill of them - so make sure you come hungry! It's fun to watch the pros shuck the oysters right before your eyes (they make it look so easy) and set them on trays with lemons and an assortment of delicious sauces. The food and fun doesn't stop there, as guests can snack on passed and stationed appetizers such as bite-sized cheeseburgers, mini chicken biscuits, southern fried chicken, Jimmy’s fried clams, grilled shrimp skewers, truffle mac and cheese tarts, and a scrumptious charcuterie and crudité table catered by Seaside Sliders. 

A highlight of the event is its location -- right on the water at Norm Bloom and Sons dock. Guests are invited to tour the Oyster Museum and learn how oysters are grown and harvested here and then shipped all over the world. The oyster beds are incubated under the dock where this event takes place. Part of the charm is to see how small oysters actually are when they are young! As soon as they are big enough, the oysters are "planted" on the sandy bottom of the Sound that surrounds the docks. This time-honored system of growing oysters makes them some of the best that you will ever taste; they are prized the world over for their sweet briny flavor and plump meat. Best of all, this is your chance to eat your fill of them for a good cause!

Tickets to this event are limited to 200 people and are $85 online. It is highly recommended to reserve your tickets in advance because this popular event sells out every year. For tickets https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-docktails-oysters-tickets-888586806057?aff=ebdsoporgprofile, if you have questions, please call 203-838-9444. 

About the Norwalk 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.

Tour Two Historic Lighthouses in Norwalk June 8 and July 13

The Norwalk Seaport Association and the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society have teamed up to offer a five-hour exclusive cruise that includes an hour-and-a-half stop at both Sheffield Island Lighthouse and the recently opened Greens Ledge Lighthouse on Saturday, June 8, and July 13. The boat will depart the Seaport's new dock at 70 Water Street at 10 a.m. and return at 3 p.m. This tour is open to the public and offers the rare opportunity to visit two architecturally unique lighthouses that have guided ships with welcoming beacons through Norwalk Harbor for hundreds of years. Tickets are available online at http://www.seaport.org.

This fascinating cruise begins as the Seaport's vessel wends its way through Norwalk Harbor passing a necklace of habited and uninhabited islands, to its first stop, Greens Ledge Lighthouse. This recently refurbished Spark Plug Lighthouse sits on a reef named after Pirate Green, who sailed with the infamous Captain Kidd. Local legend has it that Pirate Green was tied in chains to Greens Ledge as a warning to deter the dastardly deeds of marauding buccaneers. 

Greens Ledge, on the National Register, is only one of 33 remaining spark plug lighthouses in existence in the United States. Named sparkplug because of their unique shape and water-tight structure made of metal, Greens Ledge construction was completed in 1902, for $60,000 ($2.5 million in 2024 dollars) to help mariners through the rocky shoals at the west entrance of Norwalk Harbor. Today its 90-foot tower remains an active aid to navigation with its automated light and foghorn maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard. This lighthouse, whose Rip Rap was added from the Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Center excavation in 1932 is thought to be the inspiration for the legendary “Green Light” in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel, The Great Gatsby. It was occupied by lightkeepers for 70 years and is owned by a non-profit that restored it for 2.5 million in 2023.

Visitors on this cruise will be able to tour both the inside of the Lighthouse as well as the outside pad and lower decks. The indoor tour includes the Trombos Research Center, the Pettee Family Gallery, the Bunkroom, Kleeman Keeper Quarters, the Maclean Watch Room, DeChellis Lookout, and the Beacon Room with its automated light. Afterward, passengers can relax at the picnic tables and in Adirondack chairs located on the deck. 

Located at the southern end of the outer harbor, Sheffield Island Lighthouse, on the National Register, is the final stop on this maritime excursion. Constructed in the Victorian style in 1868 of limestone masonry, Sheffield is a classic lighthouse replete with a distinctive metal octagonal light tower in the gable that offers views of the Manhattan skyline. 

This lighthouse has a fascinating history of industrious lighthouse keepers before being decommissioned in 1902 by the opening of Greens Ledge. After it closed, the island became a haven for rumrunners during prohibition, a sanctuary for mothers and children during the cholera epidemic, and the location for a country club, before the Norwalk Seaport Association saved it in 1978. Visitors can climb the tower that affords splendid views and tour the many rooms of the lighthouse that are being reinterpreted to the way lightkeepers would have lived here in the 19th century. Afterward, there will be enough time to picnic in the wooden pavilion, walk along the beach, use the telescope, and explore the adjacent Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, a birding hot spot.

It is suggested that you pack a picnic lunch and beverages for this excursion in coolers or carry-ons that can fit beneath the seats of the vessel (18-20 inches). It is best to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled departure. If the trip is canceled due to weather conditions, you will be notified by email. For safety reasons, wear closed-toe shoes and pack plenty of sunscreen, and don't forget to bring your sense of fun and adventure to this extraordinary experience. 

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.

Lighthouse Lore - America's First Lighthouse

Sheffield Island Lighthouse off the coast of Norwalk, Connecticut shares a proud history with lighthouses around the world. Although, not an active lighthouse, it is on the National Register of Historic Places and is still a beacon for boaters and visitors who cruise with us every summer to tour it and enjoy our private island. In our continuing winter series of Lighthouse Lore, we are featuring America's first lighthouse. 

Today, active lighthouses are overseen by the United States Coast Guard, which is responsible for the upkeep, and maintenance of all lighthouses and light vessels in the United States. It wasn't always that way, and the evolution of the control of lighthouses and the story of America's first publically funded lighthouse is interesting.

Two Historic Lighthouses at Chesapeake Bay

The story begins in New York City's Federal Hall in 1789  during the first session of the First United States Congress. During this historic session, the U.S. Treasury was founded, George Washington was inaugurated as the nation's first President, and the United States Lighthouse Establishment was created. It was also at this session that Jacob Wray asked Alexander Hamilton, the newly appointed Secretary of the Treasury to build a lighthouse on the shoreline of Cape Henry, which had already claimed 57 maritime vessels. There was a great deal of public pressure for safe waterways and navigation, so Hamilton contracted designer John McComb Jr., the designer of the planned residence of the President to construct a lighthouse and light up the shoreline of Chesapeake Bay.

Cape Henry Lighthouse - America's First

At this juncture, all U.S. lighthouse ownership was transferred to the Federal Government and the newly formed General Lighthouse Authority. In 1792, the first federally funded public works construction project authorized by George Washington and overseen by Alexander Hamilton began with the construction of the Cape Henry Lighthouse at the entrance to Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. This location was considered strategic because of the large volume of shipping traffic that was headed into the bay. The vital ports of Norfolk, Newport News, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. are all accessed through Chesapeake Bay. 

The Octagonal Structure of Cape Henry Lighthouse, a classic!

The lighthouse is an octagonal structure that is 26 feet wide and rises 90 feet to the tower with three windows in the east and four in the west. Like much of Washington D.C. at that time, the  Cape Henry Lighthouse was built of Aquia and Rappahannock sandstone. It was completed in October of 1792 for $17,700.  After its completion, George Washington himself asked for applications for the lighthouse keeper who was selected by him. The first keeper, Laban Goffigan, of Norfolk, Virginia was hired in late October 1792. The lighthouse lit the bay with lamps that burned fish oil. The Cresset was one of the earliest types of lamps used in a lighthouse that burned fish oil. It consisted of a bowl hollowed out of stone which was filled with fish oil with one or more small rope wicks.  

Cape Henrys Lighthouses are located near where English settlers first arrived 

Adding to its storied past, during the American Civil War, the Cape Henry Lighthouse was damaged by Confederate forces, but repaired in 1863 by Union forces. They depended on its light for navigation and merchant ships depended on it to deliver their supplies. Unfortunately, in the 1870s a lightning strike caused large cracks in the Cape Henry Lighthouse and its stability came into question.  Congress was made aware of this and decided to build a second lighthouse here because of its strategic location. The second lighthouse, which is much taller and made of metal plates with a distinctive black and white stripe was constructed in 1881. It was built a mere 350 feet away from the original lighthouse and remains in use today. The original Cape Henry Lighthouse remains standing acting as a daylight marker for triangulation. 

In 1930, the lighthouse was acquired by Preservation Virginia. Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1970 and as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark in 2002, today it welcomes visitors to tour this historic edifice that played a role in guiding ships to their destination safely for well over 100 years.

Did You Know...

The Cape Henry Lighthouse is the fourth lighthouse built in the United States and the first publically funded lighthouse that was built by the government.

The Cape Henry Lighthouse is located near the spot where English settlers first landed and made their way to settle in Jamestown. 

The second lighthouse at Cape Henry was built for $75,000 in 1881 and made of cast-iron plates bolted together making it the tallest cast-iron fully enclosed lighthouse in the United States.