Fayerweather Island
Encyclopedia
Fayerweather Island is located in Long Island Sound
, south of Seaside Park
and is a part the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut
. The island is home to the Black Rock Harbor Light
at the mouth of Black Rock Harbor
.
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
, south of Seaside Park
Seaside Park (Connecticut)
Seaside Park, located in Bridgeport, Connecticut, is a long crescent-shaped park bordering Bridgeport Harbor, Long Island Sound, and Black Rock Harbor. The park lies partly within Bridgeport's South End neighborhood.-History:...
and is a part the city of Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. The island is home to the Black Rock Harbor Light
Black Rock Harbor Light
Black Rock Harbor Light is a lighthouse in Bridgeport, Connecticut, United States, on the south end of Fayerweather Island, that marks the entrance to Black Rock Harbor.-History:...
at the mouth of Black Rock Harbor
Black Rock Harbor
Black Rock Harbor is located in Bridgeport, Connecticut on the Long Island Sound. The Black Rock Harbor Light on Fayerweather Island marks the entrance to the harbor on its east, while St. Mary's by the Sea forms its western beachhead. Seaside Park runs along the northeastern part of the harbor....
.
Physical description
- Elevation: ~3 foot (0.9144 m).
- NOAA maintains weather station FWIC3 on the island.
History
- 1807: Island purchased from David Fayerweather by the US Government.
- 1823: Present lighthouse built.
- 1838: A seawallSeawallA seawall is a form of coastal defence constructed where the sea, and associated coastal processes, impact directly upon the landforms of the coast. The purpose of a seawall is to protect areas of human habitation, conservation and leisure activities from the action of tides and waves...
was completed to help maintain the integrity of the lighthouse. - 1894: Dredging project completed, providing 6 feet (1.8 m) channel around the island into the harbor at low tide. Seawall repaired & improved.
- 1911: Island acquired by the city of Bridgeport. A new seawall is begun to connect the island to Seaside Park.
- 1919: New seawall completed.
- 1923: Lighthouse decommissioned.
- 1986: A state-record 17lb 14oz weakfishWeakfishThe weakfish, Cynoscion regalis, is a marine fish of the drum family Sciaenidae.The head and back of this fish are dark brown in color with a greenish tinge. The sides have a faint silvery hue with dusky specks, and the belly is white. The origin of its name is based on the weakness of the mouth...
was caught on the island.