Ida Lewis Light
Encyclopedia
Ida Lewis Lighthouse, which was formerly the Lime Rock Lighthouse, is in the Newport
harbor in Rhode Island
. It is name after Ida Lewis
, who was the lighthouse keeper from 1879 until her death in 1911. She was celebrated for many acts of bravery in saving lives.
in Newport Harbor
. Lime Rock is a limestone ledge about 220 yds (200 m) from the shore. The original lighthouse was a short stone tower with a 6th order Fresnel lens
and an oil-burning lantern. The light was commissioned in 1854. In the beginning, the lighthouse keeper rowed from the shore daily to tend the light. In case of foul weather, the lighthouse keeper could stay in a small wooden shanty.
The first lighthouse keeper was James Stockbridge Lewis, who had assisted in its construction. After six months, Hosea Lewis, who was the father of James Lewis and a retired pilot, was appointed keeper. In 1857, a two-story house was built for the lighthouse keeper. Lewis and his family moved to the small island in 1857.
A few months after he moved to the island, he suffered a stroke. His wife, Ida Zordia Lewis and her children tended the light. Their eldest daughter, who was also named Ida Lewis
, did much of the work. After her mother died, she was officially appointed lighthouse keeper from 1879 to 1911. The island and the lighthouse were named for Ida Lewis in 1924.
The last lighthouse keeper was Evard Jansen. He remained until the light was automated in 1927.
The original light was replaced with an automated, acetylene light on a skeleton tower. It was deactivated in 1963.
The original Fresnel lens is on display at the Museum of Newport History. The lighthouse is maintained as the clubhouse of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. They have a light as a private aid during part of the year.
The Ida Lewis Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places
, No. 87001700.
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
harbor in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
. It is name after Ida Lewis
Ida Lewis (lighthouse keeper)
Idawalley Zorada Lewis was an American lighthouse keeper noted for her heroism.-Biography:...
, who was the lighthouse keeper from 1879 until her death in 1911. She was celebrated for many acts of bravery in saving lives.
History
In 1853, Congress authorized the construction of a lighthouse on Lime RockLime Rock (island)
Lime Rock is an island in Newport Harbor, in Narragansett Bay, in the state of Rhode Island. It was made famous by Ida Lewis, who was the lighthouse keeper of the tower built on it which is now known as Ida Lewis Light.- References :...
in Newport Harbor
Newport Harbor
- Geography :* Newport Beach, California* Newport Harbor High School, in Newport Beach, Orange County, California* Newport Harbor Light, in Newport, Rhode Island* Newport, Rhode Island* Newport, Pembrokeshire...
. Lime Rock is a limestone ledge about 220 yds (200 m) from the shore. The original lighthouse was a short stone tower with a 6th order Fresnel lens
Fresnel lens
A Fresnel lens is a type of lens originally developed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel for lighthouses.The design allows the construction of lenses of large aperture and short focal length without the mass and volume of material that would be required by a lens of conventional design...
and an oil-burning lantern. The light was commissioned in 1854. In the beginning, the lighthouse keeper rowed from the shore daily to tend the light. In case of foul weather, the lighthouse keeper could stay in a small wooden shanty.
The first lighthouse keeper was James Stockbridge Lewis, who had assisted in its construction. After six months, Hosea Lewis, who was the father of James Lewis and a retired pilot, was appointed keeper. In 1857, a two-story house was built for the lighthouse keeper. Lewis and his family moved to the small island in 1857.
Ida Lewis (lighthouse keeper)
Idawalley Zorada Lewis was an American lighthouse keeper noted for her heroism.-Biography:...
, did much of the work. After her mother died, she was officially appointed lighthouse keeper from 1879 to 1911. The island and the lighthouse were named for Ida Lewis in 1924.
The last lighthouse keeper was Evard Jansen. He remained until the light was automated in 1927.
The original light was replaced with an automated, acetylene light on a skeleton tower. It was deactivated in 1963.
The original Fresnel lens is on display at the Museum of Newport History. The lighthouse is maintained as the clubhouse of the Ida Lewis Yacht Club. They have a light as a private aid during part of the year.
The Ida Lewis Lighthouse is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, No. 87001700.