While lighthouses themselves serve as physical markers of perilous locations—or in this case, live-saving aid—it was their keepers who routinely risked their lives to rescue sailors in distress. Leroy Loughborough was left alone to maintain the fog and light signal engines at Greens Ledge in 1910. His supplies were running out. In his book, Jeremy D’Entremont writes that “during a 72-hour period, there was constant fog and one of the engine failed.” Lighthouses of Connecticut. “He tried in vain to fix the engine and the light went out. The assistant keeper, with his dog by his side, was found on the floor next to the engine, nearly unconscious, when the tender crew arrived. Loughborough stated later that he had shared his last cookie with the dog.
From 1902 to 1972, Loughborough and other brave keepers kept Greens Ledge’s light shining until an automated rotating light replaced the prism-like Fresnel. The US government took over the maintenance of the weather-prone and hard-to reach properties as the jobs of the human caretakers at hundreds of lighthouses disappeared simultaneously due to automation. Greens Ledge eventually fell into disrepair as a result. As I grew older, the building deteriorated as well.
In 1990, it was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. This officially classified the lighthouse’s condition as “deteriorated”. The United States has hundreds of lighthouses. United States Similar fates befell other lighthouses. Thanks to the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act 2000, the US Government began selling lighthouses it no longer needed at auction to the public. Since then, more than 151 have been sold, or transferred from federal ownership.
In 2016, the US General Service Administration sold Greens Ledge Lighthouse for $150,000. In 2023, the residents formed a nonprofit to fundraise $2.2M for its restoration. The seven levels of the interior, which are arranged around a winding staircase, have been completely remodeled. They now include two bedrooms, including a bunkroom and “keeper’s quarters”, a TV lounge and an education center.
Tim Pettee is the president of the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society. He says, “I would like to say that this restored Greens Ledge reflects us as a community.” “The red paint just sparkles—even the white paint gleams for miles across the sound.”
The restoration and maintenance of an offshore lighthouse like this isn’t easy—or cheap. In the US, dozens historic lighthouses have become private property over the past 10 years. Overnight stays can be booked on platforms such as Airbnb. AirbnbThey have become an increasingly popular source of funding. Greens Ledge charges $3,500 for an overnight stay of up to six guests. The price helps fund the conservation and outreach programs.
