New London Ledge Lighthouse:

New London Ledge Lighthouse was built in 1909 on the Southwest Ledge. It was originally called the Southwest Ledge light, but it was felt this could be confused with another lighthouse in New Haven, the Southwest Ledge Light, so in 1910 the lighthouse was renamed to New London Ledge Light.

The United States Coast Guard took over in 1939 upon its merger with the Lighthouse Service and the light was automated in 1987.

The original fourth order Fresnel lens was removed and was later put on display in the Custom House Maritime Museum. Built 1906-1909, it is a rare example of a turn-of-the-century, water-bound lighthouse with a masonry, domestic design. While most contemporary lighthouses were constructed with pre-fabricated cast-iron, New London Ledge Lighthouse reflects an earlier period of construction with use of a heavy, more difficult to construct masonry structural system.

New London Ledge is locally famous for the ghost of an early keeper, nicknamed "Ernie," who allegedly haunts the lighthouse. The Coast Guard  crew on duty at the lighthouse, not automated until 1987, reported unexplained knockings taking place at night, as well as doors opening and closing repeatedly, the television turning on and off by itself sporadically, and the unexplained removal of sheets from beds. 

In the crew's log, on the last night before the automated light system was installed, the unknown author, a Coast Guard officer, wrote the following: "Rock of slow torture. Ernie's domain. Hell on earth – may New London Ledge’s light shine on forever because I’m through. I will watch it from afar while drinking a brew."

Location:  Long Island Sound,  New London
City: Groton
State: Connecticut