Perhaps you’ve heard whispers of the Devil’s Stepping Stones. Today, we’re standing before a beacon of hope and history. This is Stepping Stones Light. It marks a reef that’s part of a group of islands and rocks known as the Devil’s Stepping Stones.
Legend says a powerful elemental spirit named Hobbamock clashed with local tribes. The tribes drove him away. Hobbamock, trapped, hurled boulders into the water to escape. These became the Devil’s Stepping Stones. Early colonists equated Hobbamock with their Devil. This gave the rocks their ominous name. Glaciers likely formed the rocks but the legend is much more exciting.
Now, focus on the lighthouse before you. Stepping Stones Light, a Victorian beauty, was built in 1876. Some call it New York City’s cutest lighthouse. It stands just outside the city limits. Its purpose is to warn ships away from the dangerous reefs surrounding it.
Before Stepping Stones Light, ships faced peril navigating the East River. The East River connects Long Island Sound. By 1837, hundreds of ships sailed past this area daily. Execution Rocks Lighthouse was built in 1850 to help but fog often made it useless. Recognizing the danger, Congress approved a lighthouse here.
Initially, they planned to build on Hart Island. Land acquisition proved difficult and costly. So, they chose Stepping Stones. Construction began in 1875. Workers laid stones then concrete. The lighthouse rose 49 feet tall. Its red brick dwelling has a mansard roof. A fifth-order Fresnel lens emitted a fixed red light when it was first lit on March 1, 1877.
Life at Stepping Stones Light was not always easy. Keeper Cornelius Douglass nearly died in 1888. His boat capsized in a storm. He clung to it until rescue. In 1934, a brutal winter storm hit. Waves swept over ships. Cornfield Point Lightship was dragged off course. At Stepping Stones Light, ice surrounded the station. Keeper Charles Rogers and his family ran low on food. He flew the American flag upside down. A tug, the Muppet, saw the distress signal. It delivered supplies.
Stepping Stones Light displayed a fixed red light until 1932. Then, it switched to green. Later, a flashing green light was installed. The light continues to operate. It remains a vital aid to navigation.
The Coast Guard declared the structure excess property in 1966. It was in poor condition. They considered demolition. Fortunately, preservation efforts began. In 2008, the Town of North Hempstead took custody. The Stepping Stones Lighthouse Preservation Society joined the cause. They have raised funds for restoration. The town has allocated funds too. The estimated cost exceeds 4 million dollars.
Stepping Stones Light was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Once restored, Stepping Stones Light will host educational programs and tours. It will promote safe boating. It will also monitor the environmental health of Long Island Sound. So, remember Stepping Stones Light. It is a beacon of hope against the Devil’s Stepping Stones. Its light guides us through history and legend.