Not Eel Grasso.

This one was tougher than I thought it would be so here is lots of information.

This Light Vessel (LV) as they were called in 1892 when it was built was quite famous at the time for there were quite a few firsts in its construction which represented a technological turning point for lightships throughout out the world.

It was the first with electrical lighting for its lanterns (which were gimbaled to stay horizontal even in bad seas), the first with a steam engine for propulsion, the first constructed of steel, the first built on the Great Lakes for ocean service, etc.

It was in its CT location for 2 years while the electric lighting system was tested with outstanding results. It served at Sandy Hook from 1894 through 1908 when it was then designated as a Relief LV. It eventually returned to its original station off the CT coast. It was on station there on April 24, 1919 when unfortunately it was struck by a Standard Oil Co barge and sank in 8 minutes. The entire crew was able to get into a lifeboat but only the ships log and signal book were saved during the evacuation. Thus the LV has rested on the bottom of Long Island Sound in approximately 190' of water for almost 90 years.

Probably the only good thing that came out of the sinking was the damages paid by Standard Oil Co completely funded the construction of LV 111.

There is an interesting 24 page pamphlet on this LV as well as other lightship information that was published by the Connecticut State Historic Preservation Office. If anyone is interested, I'll post the title.

Hopefully someone can now name the lightship.

mg