Fairhaven Bridge Light
Encyclopedia
Fairhaven Bridge Light was a lighthouse
on the bridge from New Bedford
to Fairhaven
, Massachusetts, at the north end of New Bedford Harbor. From 1888 to 1891 it served as the rear light of a range
to guide ships past Butler Flats on the west side of the harbor entrance. The front light of the range was Palmer Island Light
. It was also known as "Fairhaven Bridge Range Light".
Although the Coast Guard historical site says that it was discontinued when the Butler Flats Light
was built, there had been a lighthouse on Butler Flats since 1804 and the current tower was not built there until 1898. The structure and the wooden bridge shown under it in the photo no longer exist.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on the bridge from New Bedford
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
to Fairhaven
Fairhaven, Massachusetts
Fairhaven is a town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located on the south coast of Massachusetts where the Acushnet River flows into Buzzards Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean...
, Massachusetts, at the north end of New Bedford Harbor. From 1888 to 1891 it served as the rear light of a range
Leading lights
Leading lights are a pair of light beacons, used in navigation to indicate a safe passage for vessels entering a shallow or dangerous channel; and may also be used for position fixing. At night, the lights are a form of leading line that can be used for safe navigation...
to guide ships past Butler Flats on the west side of the harbor entrance. The front light of the range was Palmer Island Light
Palmer Island Light
Palmer Island Light Station is a historic lighthouse in New Bedford Harbor in New Bedford, Massachusetts, USA. The lighthouse was built in 1849 out of stone rubble...
. It was also known as "Fairhaven Bridge Range Light".
Although the Coast Guard historical site says that it was discontinued when the Butler Flats Light
Butler Flats Light
Butler Flats Light, New Bedford, Massachusetts is a sparkplug lighthouse located in the New Bedford outer harbor, at the mouth of the Acushnet River. It is currently operated by the City of New Bedford...
was built, there had been a lighthouse on Butler Flats since 1804 and the current tower was not built there until 1898. The structure and the wooden bridge shown under it in the photo no longer exist.