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Sassafras Point Light

Coordinates: 41°48′1.55″N 71°23′31.41″W / 41.8004306°N 71.3920583°W / 41.8004306; -71.3920583
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Sassafras Point Light
postcard image of light
Map
LocationProvidence River off Sassafras Point
Coordinates41°48′1.55″N 71°23′31.41″W / 41.8004306°N 71.3920583°W / 41.8004306; -71.3920583[1]
Tower
Foundationgranite pier[4]
ConstructionWood[4]
Height14 feet (4.3 m)[3]
Shapehexagonal pyramidal tower[4]
Light
First lit1872[2]
Deactivated1912[2]
Focal height25 feet (7.6 m)[2]
Lenssixth order Fresnel lens[2]
CharacteristicF R Edit this on Wikidata

The Sassafras Point Light was a lighthouse that stood in the Providence, Rhode Island harbor approaches. It was deactivated in 1912 and no longer exists.

History

[edit]

This light was paired with the Fuller Rock Light from the beginning: it was approved in the same bill, built according to the same design, and tended by the same keepers.[5] Sassafras Point jutted out north into the Providence River, and the light thus marked this obstruction. The short wooden pyramidal tower sat upon a granite pier and was provided with a sixth order Fresnel lens; it was first lit in 1872.[3]

This light was unmanned and was visited from shore by boat; a keeper's dwelling was originally planned but although funds were appropriated in 1874 the lighthouse service was never able to acquire a property on which to erect a house, and keepers lived in their own homes in town. Staffing was difficult due to the low pay.[6]

The light was removed in 1912 as part of a channel-widening project.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Church, Earl (1920). Triangulation in Rhode Island. Government Printing Office. p. 40. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  2. ^ a b c d "Sassafras Point Lighthouse". Jeremy D'Entremont. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  3. ^ a b "Sassafras Point Lighthouse". R. Holmes. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  4. ^ a b c Geake, Robert A. (2013). A History of the Providence River. History Press. p. 80. ISBN 9781609499020. Retrieved 2014-01-14.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "History of Fuller Rock Light, East Providence, Rhode Island". Jeremy D'Entremont. Retrieved 2014-01-14.
  6. ^ a b "History of Sassafras Point Light, East Providence, Rhode Island". Jeremy D'Entremont. Retrieved 2014-01-14.