Connecticut Unsolved Part 4
The Legend of Ledge Light
This fourth, and potentially final, installment of the Connecticut Unsolved series covers what is quite possibly one of Connecticut’s most haunted establishments, a lighthouse on the Long Island Sound. This lighthouse, built in the year 1909 , has gone by many a name over the years. Originally, it was called the Southwest Ledge light (note the lowercase “l” in “light”), though this name, understandably, led to confusion, as another lighthouse in New Haven, Connecticut was already called Southwest Ledge Light. Afterward, in 1910, its name was officially changed to New London Ledge Lighthouse, but that title is often shortened to either New London Ledge or simply Ledge Light.
The 58 foot tall lighthouse itself sits just off the coast of Groton, Connecticut, where it watches over the Thames River. In 1987, the lighthouse was automated, but, before then, it was home to a long line of head keepers. Ledge Light is unique in many ways. One such example is its architecture, which differs vastly from other lighthouses in the area and relies on a foundation of French architecture for its main aesthetic features. As the story goes, the lighthouse was built in such a style because it was meant to reflect the styles seen in the homes of wealthy homeowners along the New London waterfront. However, by the time the New London Ledge Lighthouse was built, this style had been out of date for nearly half a century, lending the lighthouse a fascinating existence as a sign of changing times and a unique blending of aesthetic qualities.
However, to most, the circumstances of the lighthouse’s establishment are not its most interesting feature. Rather, the lighthouse is said to be home to an earthbound spirit, the ghost of one of those former lighthouse keepers, a man by the name of Ernie, who is thought to have been head keeper throughout the 1920s. It is said that, after a particularly embittered fight with his wife, who was thought to have been cheating on him, Ernie climbed to the top of the lighthouse and took his own life before plummeting into the crashing waves below, thus resigning himself to a miserable afterlife spent tormenting the future lighthouse keepers from the spiritual plane. Many believe that Ernie, though that may not really be his name, is the ghost of one of the former lighthouse keepers. No body was ever recovered from the water, but those that lived and worked in the lighthouse throughout the twentieth century certainly believed it to be haunted.
Even after lighthouse maintenance was taken over by the Coast Guard in the year 1939, crewmates continued to report strange paranormal happenings, including but not limited to unexplained cold spots, disembodied voices, disappearing items, and unexplained footsteps or knocking. Others have reported Ernie to be more of the helpful sort of specter, one who routinely helps tidy the interior rooms of the lighthouse and lends a ghostly hand when it comes to household chores. At least he seems to be a considerate roommate, despite some disembodied voices and cold spots here and there. No one’s perfect, after all. On a more serious note, while it is true that no record exists of a lighthouse keeper by the name of Ernie at Ledge Light, those that have stayed and worked at the lighthouse seem to be convinced that something paranormal inhabits it.
Due to the lighthouse’s close ties with the Connecticut Coast Guard and CT history in general, it comes as no surprise that the Connecticut Digital Archive would house ample information relating to The New London Ledge Lighthouse. Within the Connecticut Digital Archive repository, there exist a multitude of items and documents. Searching up the lighthouse by name, “New London Ledge Lighthouse” produces a total of 939, 105 results, both text and images. Though not all of those images and documents make reference specifically to Ledge Light, there are still a variety of views of that particular lighthouse, including a view from the front as well as a view from the side. To continue, one might want to search the Connecticut Coast Guard as well, as Ledge Light bears close ties to the organization and its history, especially after the Coast Guard took over lighthouse maintenance in the mid twentieth century. Searching keywords “Coast Guard” produces 120,077 objects, such as images of Coast Guard patrol boats. Each of these documents, though few pertain to Ledge Light and its unique history, tell the story of Connecticut’s fascinating maritime history and the establishment of both the Coast Guard and a handful of lighthouses that continue to operate off the Connecticut coast in our modern day.
All in all, regardless of whether one finds the New London Ledge Lighthouse’s aesthetic appeal or its chilling history to be the most interesting aspect of its existence, there is no denying that the structure has left a lasting mark on Connecticut history, specifically in relation to maritime dealings and the involvement of the Coast Guard. The lighthouse most definitely retains an air of mystery from where it sits over the Thames River, especially now that it has become entirely automated. Whether one chooses to believe in Ernie, the endearing, yet somewhat terrifying apparition, there is still a plethora of intriguing history and information surrounding the circumstances of the lighthouse, its establishment, and its eventual automation. What is truly remarkable, though, is that the lighthouse, among other New England lighthouses, still stands today, and is easily visible from either the New London coastline or a short ferry ride across the Long Island Sound. Ledge Light is certainly worth the visit.
Who knows, maybe you’ll even catch a glimpse of the ghastly spectral lighthouse keeper himself. At the very least you will get to see its gorgeous French architecture firsthand!
For more information on the New London Ledge Lighthouse, visit the links below!!
Connecticut Digital Archive Connect is the publication of the Connecticut Digital Archive, a program of the UConn Library. Visit https://ctdigitalarchive.org to learn more.
