Yesterday close to 80 members of the New Jersey Lighthouse Society crammed into 3 mini buses for a day long tour of the lights around Staten Island. Our first stop and meeting place to start the day was Ft. Wadsworth. Joe Esposito gave us a nice history of the light and then a park ranger escourted us to the top of the fort for a close up view of the lighthouse. This light is in phase 3 of its restoration and currently does not have a floor inside thus no one was allowed in. The plan is to have this light relit sometime next year.



Our second stop was to be the Lighthouse Depot to see the Nantucket Lightship but since it has been moved to Long Island for the time being we didn't stop there. We did drive by so we did get to see the site.

So our second stop ended up being the Staten Island Ferry terminal where we could get a distant shot of Robbin's Reef. As is was terribly windy and cold yesterday this was a quick, get your photos and hop back on the bus stop. My digital camera does not do well with telephoto shots so when I get my prints back I'll have to scan in one and share that with you. Until then here is a shot so you get an idea of the sceen.



New Dorp Light was up next. As this is a private residence we could only shoot this one from the street.



The gem of the day was the Staten Island light. It will be this light that those of us on the trip will most remember. So, when we arrive to meet up with our Coast Guard escourts who would be letting us in the tower 8O the Wicked Witch of the West shows up from her house next door, yelling and screaming about the fact that all of us were there and no one bothered to tell her about the tour that had been arranged for us. She eventually calmed down a bit but it was quite the show she put on for us. Now on to the light. How exciting to get to climb this light that is never opened! It could use some work up in the lantern room and maybe some work to clean up the rusty stairs but...wow, what a beautiful light! Here are some photos




The view from the top.

Half of the lens. The back portion is made of reflecting prisms.

WELL DONE! Shirin, I don't know where you find the time and especailly the energy to do all that you do. Your pictures in both threads are fabulous. Thanks so much for sharing them as you so readily do.

When the CC-USLHS when to Staten Island several years ago, we didn't enter the Staten Island lighthouse but we were permitted to enter the front yard of the gentleman who owns New Dorp Rear Range light.

Mini buses are the way to go. Our full size bus had a difficult time leaving from New Dorp.

Robert

I bet you have much better pictures than I do Robert! Next time I'd really like to get a decent shot without all of the trees!

Next time bring a chainsaw....just kidding, lol!

But look at it this way:

IT STILL COUNTS ON YOUR LIGHTLIST!

Very true Greg. I didn't add any new lights while on this trip though. I'd seen all of the Staten Island lights almost 3 years ago to the day. Never hurts to revisit though.

Thanks for sharing the pics, Shirin. Those are lights I've never seen.

Bob

Ahhhhh ..... that's wahat New Dorp looks like with the leaves removed.

Nice shot .... thanks.

Dan