New Dorp Lighthouse, Staten Island New York
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- New York
- Lighthouse
A simple structure and a rare remaining example of a design once common to many lighthouses in New York State, the New Dorp Light, also known as the Moravian Light, ranks as a local landmark for its long history as a navigational beacon overlooking Verrazano Narrows and New York Bay. It is also a rare remaining example of lighthouses in New York, built during the earlier years of the 19th century when an economy-minded federal government kept designs simple and expenses to a minimum.
Built around 1854, under the jurisdiction of the Federal Lighthouse Service, New Dorp Light is an example of an unusual lighthouse design. Instead of conforming to the typical tall cylindrical design, the tower of this lighthouse is a rectangular shaft rising above the roof of the house itself. The tower is relatively short, as it is sited high, commanding a view of the Verrazano Narrows, far down lower New York Bay. The beam was steady, not a flashing signal.
The frame structure is composed of a house and a tower, enabling the lighthouse keeper to live as close as possible to the beacon in order to keep it in operation at all times. A small addition contains a screened porch, providing a covered entrance to the building. The cantilevered balcony around the tower room provided an excellent vantage point for viewing the ocean.
In 1939, the Light was acquired by the United States Coast Guard, and was operated by that organization until 1964 when it passed out of active use.
Site Description
Situated on high ground on New Dorp Heights, where it commands a view of the Verrazano Narrows, the Light once penetrated far down lower New York Bay. Rugged in character, the severely plain, utilitarian structure is composed of a rectangular, clapboarded frame dwelling erected upon a brick foundation and dominated by the square light tower which rises from the center of the structure's gable roof.
The dwelling is served by two interior end chimneys. The double-hung windows are unadorned. A distinctive feature is the cantilevered balcony or captain's walk that extends around the top of the tower at the level of a tower room. The walk is enclosed by a railing of unusually good proportions with plain corner posts and spindles capped by a handsome handrail. A low-pitched pyramidal roof, surmounted by the fixed beam light beacon, crowns the tower room. At ground level, a wing was added with porch to provide a covered entrance. Its architectural character and the scale of the wing blend with the main house. The simple interior rooms serve the needs of the lighthouse keeper.
