Poplar Point Light Station

Lighthouse Data

Established:	1831
Deactivated:	Nov 1, 1882
Position:	N 41° 34' 16", W 71° 26' 21" Nautical Chart Wickford Harbor, Wickford, Rhode Island
Characteristic:	F W [Fixed White]
Original Optics:	8 Lamps with 14.5" Reflectors (2)
Present optic:	Removed
Elevation:	48-feet high Focal Plane
Range:	10? nautical miles visible reach at sea
Structure: (Daymark)	26-feet high White with Black trim Octagonal Wood Tower with Black Lantern
Fog signal:	none
First Keeper:	Samuel Thomas, Jr.
Current Use:	Private Residence, Oct 15, 1894 (3)

Notes:
(1) Poplar Point Light marked the entrance to Wickford Harbor.

      Wickford Harbor was the home port of a small fleet of 20 ships when the Lighthouse was built. Narragansett Bay’s West Passage was the direct busiest route to Providence from Rhode Island Sound yet very few ships entered the harbor at night from the West Passage of Narragansett Bay because the harbor is located about 2 miles from the mid-channel of the shipping lane.

(2) Optics Refitted:
      1855: Fifth-order Fresnel Lens, Fixed White

(3) In May 1870, the Wickford Railroad & Steamboat Company began passenger steamboat service between Wickford and Newport. The company provided New York businessmen and vacationers an alternative service to and from resort areas with a shortcut route versus the Long Island steamer travel. Passengers traveled by train from New York to Wickford where they boarded Wagner and Pullman passenger coaches from the Wickford Junction Rail Station to the steamship dock at the Wickford Landing on the end of Poplar Point. From here, they boarded a steamer for a 75-minute ride to Newport.

      By 1882, Lighthouses were needed at Poplar Point and Conanicut Point for the safety of vacationers flocking to the popular summer resort in Newport. To increase the effectiveness of guiding steamers to Wickford Landing, Poplar Point Light was replaced by Wickford Harbor Light located 200 yards offshore Northeast from Poplar Point.

      A eight-room Keeper’s house with an attached White Square Wood-framed Lighthouse was built on Old Gay Rock. The new Lighthouse was First Lit on November 1, 1882 exhibiting a Fixed White Light illuminated by Fifth-order Fresnel lens 52-feet above sea level.

U.S. Coast Guard Photograph of Wickford Harbor Light

Wickford Harbor Light Station

First Lit: Nov 1, 1882; Deactivated: 1930
at Position: N 41° 34' 22", W 71° 26' 12"
Old Gay Rock, Wickford Harbor, Wickford, Rhode Island

Google Map

Public Access:

Characteristic:

Original optic:

Day-mark:

Tower Height:

Height of focal plane:

Fog signal:

First Keeper:

Current Use:

none, Demolished

FW [Fixed White]

Fifth-order Fresnel Lens; Present optic: Removed

White Square Wood Tower with Black Lantern

46? feet

52 feet; Range: 10? nautical miles

Fog Bell struck by machine every 20 seconds

Henry F. Sherman

Lighthouse was Demolished. (4)

From 1870 to World War I, Newport was a popular and world famous summer resort. By 1925, passenger steamboat service had declined as the last Floating Palace, the General, made the last trip from Wickford to Newport.

In 1930, the decreased volume of navigation no longer justified the cost of an attended Lighthouse and Wickford Harbor Light was razed and replaced by an automated beacon on a Skeleton Tower.

(4) Wickford Harbor Light was replaced by a Skeleton Tower Beacon

Aid No. 19135/J0610 at Position: N 41° 34' 22", W 71° 26' 10"

Google Map

Characteristic:

Original optic:

Day-mark:

Tower Height:

Range:

Current Use:

Fl G 6s [Flashing Green every 6 seconds]

375 mm Lens, 390 cp, Flashing White - 1939

SG on a Black Square Skeleton Tower

? feet; Height of focal plane: 40 feet

6 nautical miles

Active aid to navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(5) Directions: From Interstate 95 to Exit 9 onto RI-4 S to Exit 7 (RI-402) towards RI-403/N. Kingston/Quonset Point and keep Left at fork in ramp. Merge onto Davisville Rd / RI-403 S. Turn Slight Left onto RI-403 / Devils Foot Rd. Turn Left onto Namcook Rd. Turn Right onto Newcomb Rd. Turn Right onto Post Rd / US-1. Turn Left onto Camp Ave. Camp Ave becomes Shore Acres Ave.
Sauga Point is at the end of Shore Acres Ave.

The Private Lighthouse is located at:
1 Poplar Avenue, North Kingstown, RI 02852
Please note and respect the Private Residence.