"Oswego Harbor Lighthouse - Oswego, NY" Waymark

Long Description:
A new lighthouse was constructed at the end of the pier in 1934 on the site of the Outer Harbor Light, and still stands today. The tower originally displayed a fourth-order Fresnel lens. In 1942, several Coast Guardsmen lost their lives during a keeper exchange. There are stories that the lighthouse is haunted by these lost seamen. Despite the accident, the light remained manned until 1968.

On December 4 1942, after a brutal winter storm had pounded the area, the relief crew for the lighthouse was underway to Oswego Lighthouse. After swapping out the crews, the 30-foot pickett boat struck the corner of the lighthouse breakwall and stopped the engine. With the wind gusting to 35 knots, the harbor entrance became a violent, confused sea. The disabled boat drifted across the entrance and struck the corner of the east breakwall causing all hands to be thrown into the frigid water. Two of the crewmen managed to swim to the detached breakwall and clung to it. The station sent another boat, which failed in its attempt to evacuate the stranded men and left two more men on the wall. After successful evacuation of the four men, three were hospitalized at Fort Ontario and later released.

The Oswego West Pierhead Light involved in this accident is the same one you see today. It was first lit in 1934 and was automated in 1968. It originally had a fourth order Fresnel lens which is now located at the H. Lee White Maritime Museum in Oswego, NY. The present optic is a VRB-25 that was installed in 1995.

The light is not open to the public but is clearly visible from the end of the pier behind the museum, which is located in the harbor. The Veteran’s Memorial Park is on the way to the museum, along the Oswego River, off West 1st Street, between Bridge Street and Lake Street.

In 1956, the existing Coast Guard building was constructed to house Group Oswego, which encompassed Station Oswego, Stony Point Light, Galloo Island Light and Station Galloo Island. The memory of the 1942 accident lives on in local myth with the reporting of ghost-like happenings at the lighthouse.

Public access?: No public access to the lighthouse is available, however, viewing the lighthouse from several harbor locations are available. the lighthouse can be reached by walking along the breakwall, as several locals walk it on a regular basis, however, it is almost a mile from one end to the other and if the wind is up and the water is choppy, it could be very dangerous. Not recommended except on the best of weather days. Visting hours: not available Website about the location and/or story: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:


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