Morgan Point Lighthouse
Noank (Groton), Connecticut
Built in 1831
Location:
West side of the mouth of the Mystic River. Privately Owned.
| Latitude: 41° 19' 00" N |
| Longitude: 71° 59' 22" W |
Historic Stories:
To help mariners enter the Mystic River and the harbor, the Morgan Point lighthouse was built in 1823.
The first keeper was Ezra Daboll, who stayed until his death in 1838. His position was then given to his wife Eliza, who became quite busy tending the lighthouse and raising six children on her own. She reportedly kept the 25-foot granite tower and its separate stone house "in great neatness" and and sing out loudly during violent storms to keep her courage up, and to keep the kids from being scared. She maintained the lighthouse until her death in 1854.
Silas Spicer, who became keeper in the 1850s, observed a burning vessel offshore. He launched his rowboat and came upon a vessel in flames. He successfully rescued the captain, along with his wife and child, and brought them safely back to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse was rebuilt in 1867, utilizing the same stone design as Great Captain Island and Sheffield Island Lights. The local native who supervised the construction, Henry Davis, later became the Assistant Superintendent of Lifesaving Stations in the United States.
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These specially designed lighthouses of stone are known as the "Castles of the Sound" for their locations along the busy Long Island Sound. |
Morgan Point had two women who were lighthouse Keepers when their husbands passed away. One of the female Keepers, Frances McDonald, who served from 1869 to 1871, passed her duties to her brother, Thaddeus Pecor, who went on to become one of the longest-serving keepers in history, with 48 years of service until 1919 when he retired at the age of 75.
The lighthouse was sold to Henry Hewitt in 1922. Hewitt’s lighthouse became quite a helpful refuge during the Hurricane of 1938, where local residents reportedly were brought inside the base of the tower during the hurricane, as it was one of the safest places to be during that historic storm.
Jason Pilalas became the third owner of the beacon in 1991, which had no lantern room at this time, and was in deteriorating condition. He had the lantern room reconstructed, and the interior gutted out. As a private residence it remains an important visual landmark for mariners.
Places to Visit Nearby:
In Noank, visit the Noank Historical Society Museum exhibiting maritime artifacts including early photos of Morgan Point.
Morgan Point lighthouse is a private residence and the beacon can only be viewed by boat.
| Mystic Seaport is also nearby, and is an outdoor recreated 19th century working preservation shipyard, with four ships as National Historic Landmarks. | 
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A replica lighthouse that is constructed familiar to Brant Point light on Nantucket Island in Massachusetts is also found there.
The Mystic Aquarium provides educational and up close exhibits of marine life that include sharks, jelly fish, eels, and barracuda.
Contact Info:
Noank Historical Society Museum
P.O. Box 9454
17 Sylvan Street
Noank, Connecticut 06340
Local Boat Tours
Cross Sound Cruises
Provdes lighthouse cruises between southeast Connecticut and Long Island Sound. These include: The Classic Lighthouse Tour, The Long Island Lights Tour, and the Lights and Sights Cruise.
2 Ferry St, PO Box 33, New London, CT 06320
OR
41270 Main Road, Orient Point, NY 11957
Phone: (860) 444-4620
Email: info@longislandferry.com
Argia Mystic Sailing Cruises
The Argia is an wooden two-masted schooner sailing ship. They offer Day Sails or Sunset Cruises that explore the seafaring village of Mystic CT, and the surrounding islands, in protected waters. Sailing cruises to see lighthouses are provided usually on Morning (9:30 am), Noon, or Afternoon (3:00 pm) cruises, depending on wind conditions.
The vessel may pass quite close to Morgan Point Lighthouse at the mouth of the Mystic River. Depending on what way the wind and current take you, you may also see North Dumpling Island Lighthouse (NY) and/or Latimer Reef Lighthouse (NY).
Schooner Wharf
12 Steamboat Wharf
Mystic, CT 06355
Phone: (860) 536-0416
Books to Explore
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Southern New England: This 300-page book provides special human interest stories from each of the 92 lighthouses, along with plenty of indoor and outdoor coastal attractions, cruises, and tours you can explore. Check it Out! |
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Available from bookstores in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed globally by IngramSpark. |
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were the ten original six-masted coal schooners and one colossal seven-masted vessel, built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies, and measured longer than a football field! This book, balanced with plenty of color and vintage images, showcases the historical accounts that followed these mighty ships. |
