• New York Lighthouses on the Internet

 2001-2002
Society Gift

Photo © Bob Scroope

Cold Spring Harbor, New York

Harbour Lights Limited Edition #533

Perched on a perilous shoal 1,500 yards off Centre Island Entrance to Cold Spring Harbor, stood an unassuming sentinel, silently standing guard in the frigid waters. The lighthouse, 44 feet above sea level, flashed its fourth order Fresnel lens from a square pyramidal wood tower, atop the concrete-filled cast iron foundation. Serving mariners from 1890 to 1965, the bright beacon guided mariners from its isolated locale, tended by lightkeepers who served long hours to keep vessels from harm.

This historic lighthouse, previously unknown to many, was recently re-discovered by Sandra Shanklin, an avid lighthouse enthusiast and photographer. She and her husband, Bob, have visited and photographed every known lighthouse in the United States.

After reading a short passage about Cold Spring Harbor in the Harlan Hamilton book, "Lights and Legends," Sandra began her hunt for details about the sentinel. After exhausting all her resources, she was perplexed by the lack of information about the lighthouse. It was almost as though it never existed. Then, on a lighthouse cruise on the Great Lakes, she met another lighthouse photographer who just happened to have brought his photo albums with him. Sure enough, the little beacon's image leaped from the page! Fortunately, the generous lighthouse buff also had the telephone number of the owner.

Sandra and Bob then set out to find the lighthouse and meet its owner. "Lady Glen graciously allowed us to visit the sentinel, now located ashore in a gated community on Long Island. The jovial owner served iced tea, homemade cookies and regaled us with her memorable stories of Cold Spring Harbor. Lady Glen described the soulful music floating across the water from the keeper's piano late at night. She talked about the fond memories she and other residents had of both the piano music, and of the familiar light."

Then the Shanklins asked how the lighthouse became hers. "In 1965, when the Coast Guard decided that there was no longer a need for the beacon, Lady Glen and her husband purchased it and planned to move it by barge to their side of the shore. Midway in the move, the barge went aground on a sandbar and the large metal tow cable snapped, whipping through the air, threatening to thrash at any person it its reach. Fortunately, the barge occupants escaped harm, but the new owners had to wait nearly a year for the water to become deep enough for the barge to float freely again. Eventually the beloved lighthouse settled in its appointed spot on shore and has remained in Lady Glen's skillful care ever since."  

'Lady Glen' has passed away the lighthouse is now in the care of her son. Our sincere thanks to the Shanklins for graciously sharing this story with us!

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* A gift to new and renewing Collectors Society members for the membership  year 2001-2002. Available until March 31, 2002. 

Photography by Paul L. Brady © Harbour Lights 
December 13, 2001