Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Norwalk, Connecticut
Built in 1826
Photo Gallery Sheffield Island Light
Location:
The lighthouse is on Sheffield Island in Long Island Sound. The Norwalk Seaport Association provides excursions to Sheffield Island to tour the lighthouse and for picnicking on the grounds during the summer months.
| Latitude: 41° 02' 55" N Longitude: -73° 25' 09" W |
Historic Stories:
Norwalk was a major oyster manufacturing center in the nineteenth century with a need for a lighthouse near the city’s harbor. It had one of the largest concentration of oyster beds and claimed to one of the largest oyster suppliers in the world. Sheffield Island lighthouse was built in 1826 to mark the dangerous ledges at the entrance to Norwalk’s harbor.
Sheffield Island’s first Keeper was Gershom Smith who also owned the island and deeded the lighthouse site to the government. He built a barn for farm animals and tended crops on the island. During low tide the cows would cross over to nearby islands and then get stranded. Smith would then cross over to those islands to milk the cows. In 1845 Smith was removed as Keeper because he did not support the newly elected President, John Tyler. In those days Keeper appointments were made along political ties.
Since 1986, the Norwalk Seaport Association has owned and maintained Sheffield Island Lighthouse. Norwalk is still one of the largest oyster suppliers in the world.
In 1991, an archeologist was working on the island when she heard strange music without a source to determine its origin, she also heard a faint foghorn, and distant cries for help with no one in sight. Other strange sounds have been heard by others who maintain the island over the years.
Note: For stories of famous lighthouse events and folklore, check out the Lighthouse Stories section of this website. There you'll also find info on my book “New England Lighthouses: Famous Shipwrecks, Rescues, and Other Tales” with over 40 detailed stories and plenty of images, which you can purchase from Schiffer Books. In the book you'll find detailed accounts of Connecticut's haunted lighthouses, the steamship Lexington fire, which became the worst maritime disaster in Connecticut's history, and of one of the most colorful and talented lighthouse keepers in Connecticut, Oliver Brooks. |
 |
Places to Visit Nearby:
The Norwalk Seaport Association provides excursions to Sheffield Island to tour the lighthouse and for picnicking on the grounds. The island contains a scenic nature trail as part of the Stewart B. McKinney Wildlife Refuge. The Seaport Association’s ferry arrives daily on the island during the summer season, with clambakes on the island on Thursdays.
The Norwalk Seaport Association is working in conjunction with Downunder Kayaking during the summer season to offer visitors to the island the opportunity to try sit-on-top kayaking, explore the island coastline and enjoy the island from a different vantage point.
In early September, enjoy the annual "Oyster Festival" on the island.
Directions to the Ferry
-
From the West: Take US I-95 North, then take exit 14 to South Norwalk for about a quarter mile.
-
Turn right onto Fairfield Avenue for about half a mile where Fairfield Avenue becomes West Washington Street and continue for another half-mile.
-
Turn right onto Water Street or Route 136.
-
Take the ferry to Sheffield Island Lighthouse
Contact Info:
Norwalk Seaport Association
132 Water Street,
Norwalk, CT 06854
Phone: (203) 838-9444
Fax: (203) 855-1017
E-mail: info@seaport.org
Local Boat Cruise and Ferry to Sheffield Island
Norwalk Seaport Association
Provides ferry access to Sheffield Island from Norwalk to the lighthouse.
132 Water St # 3
Norwalk, CT 06854
(203) 838-9444
Sound Navigation
Sound Navigation offers a variety of informative lighthouse tours underway on Long Island Sound, which includes the southwestern portion of Connecticut's coastline and the north shore of Long Island Sound. They also provide special sunset cruises and private charters. You'll enjoy up-close and personal views with Captain Barry of the many "Castles of Long Island Sound" from the deck of the Seaport Express.
Phone (203) 219-3688
Email Captain Barry: info@soundnavigation.com