Name and Location

The North Dumpling Lighthouse, also known as the North Dumpling Light, is located on a privately owned island in Fishers Island Sound, approximately 0.4 mile north-northeast of Fishers Island, Southold Town, Suffolk County, New York, USA. The coordinates are 41°17′16″ N, 72°01′09″ W (41.2878227, –72.0191637).

2. Construction and History

The lighthouse was erected in the mid-19th century and first lit in 1854. It originally had a fifth-order Fresnel lens and was operated by keepers until it was automated in 1959. The light was discontinued briefly in 1959, but reactivated in 1986 under a private maintenance agreement.

3. Architecture and Materials

The lighthouse is constructed with dressed granite blocks on a ledge foundation, with a brick masonry tower attached to the keeper's dwelling. The exterior finish is white-painted brick, with a black lantern room at the top. The tower height is 27 ft (8.2 m), with a focal height of 35 ft (10.7 m) above mean high water.

4. Light and Navigation

The original lens was a fifth-order Fresnel lens installed in 1854, which was replaced by a modern solar-powered beacon reactivated in 1986. The light characteristic is flashing white every 6 seconds (Fl W 6s), with a nominal range of 10 nautical miles.

5. Accessibility and Visiting

The lighthouse is privately owned and not open to the public. It is best viewed from a boat or the Fishers Island shoreline, but please note that anchoring near the ledge is discouraged for safety and environmental protection.

6. Notable Views and Landscape

North Dumpling Island is a small, rocky outcrop heavily vegetated with scrub oak and bayberry, offering panoramic views of Fishers Island Sound. On clear days, it is possible to see Block Island to the east. The marine habitat supports seabirds, occasional seals, and rich intertidal life.

7. Anecdotes and Folklore

In 1912, Keeper Charles Goodrich famously rescued two drowning sailors in rough seas off Flat Hammock Point. Following deactivation in 1959, the light stood dark until owner-initiated restoration led to reactivation in 1986 under a private maintenance agreement.

8. Technical and Operational Details

The lighthouse is fully automated and monitored by the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. It uses photovoltaic solar cells feeding an LED lantern and has no radar or AIS transceivers installed on the structure.

9. Further Information

Further reading can be found in NOAA's "List of Lights and Fog Signals" Volume I (Atlantic Coast), 2023 edition, Robert L. Stevens' "Lighthouses of Long Island Sound," 1998, and the U.S. Lighthouse Society archives (north-dumpling-light).