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September 28, 2006 - Lighthouse makes its debut• The Suffolk Times • September 28, 20jLLighth,ouse makes 1*ts debut AHE LONG - AWAITED DAY to V1SIt Little Gull Island was upon us, and the best part of it was the day ahead looked like it couldn't be better — warm and sunny with a calm sea. We would travel from Orient by the Sea in two party boats, Prime Time and the Orient Star. Our trip to the island would take about an hour. Few people realize just how far outhold extends to the east. Most think Orient is the end of Sotith- FOC U S old's boundary, a O N few more know Plum Island is NATURE Part of the town, but the town ex- by Paul tends far beyond Stoutenburgh Plum Island to Great Gull Is- I { land, which, dur- ing the nesting season, becomes home to thousands of terns, those small, deli- cate white birds we see in our Sound and bays. Helen Hays from the Mu- seum of Natural History in New York has had a research program about the, health and welfare of these terns for years. Staffed by volunteer college stu- dents, this island has gathered reams of valuable information about the nesting habits of these lovely sea birds. After Big Gull Island, farther to the east is Little Gull Island, the island we are heading for. And then at the eastern end of the town is Fishers Island. As we approached Plum Island we passed close by the Orient Point Light house and then through the notorious Plum Gut with its deep water and Left: This was the scene at Little Gull, where 68 eager citizens were waiting to ex- plore and climb to the top of the lighthouse. Little Gull lies between Plum and Fish- ers islands in the area called the "Race." Below: Looking down from the top of Little Gull Lighthouse you could see the landing craft that act ed as a go- between for the two party boats that brought the first visitors ever to be allowed on the island. Suffolk Times photos Paul and Barbara Stoutenburgh ist- running tides. This is one of the reat bluefish and striper spots, where many fishermen go to hopefully get iat "big one." With my binoculars I could make ut the cement bunkers of World War 1. Here was an outpost that guarded he entrance to Long Island Sound. couring the rocks that we passed, we ould see a few terns resting, and all long our way we would see cormo- ants diving for unknowns. Leaving Plum Island on our left, we ame to the area where rock outcrop - )ings showed their ominous side. No vonder the lighthouse we were head - ng for is so important. Without its ,uiding beacon and horn, disaster was ust around the corner. *, It wasn't long before we could see our destination rising out of a light fog For a moment we thought we were go- ing to be fogged in, but we were lucky; it drifted away as we moved eastward. The occasion for this special trip was to celebrate the 200th i sary of Little Gull Light. annver- East End Lighthouses, an organization that hosts cruises to the vari- ous lighthouses along our coast, sponsored th trip. Our trip would be. the first time the public had been invited to this 81 -foot- ig granite lighthouse. The lighthouse was commissioned in 1806, with its first lighthouse keeper Israel Rogers. The lighthouse has gone through many changes in its 200 years. It was first illuminated by 15 oil lamps, with a 13 I/4 -inch reflector. In 1978 the light keeper's house was taken down and today automation has taken over. Our group was the first ever to visit the island. Prior to our arrival an old World War II landing craft had arrived and was made secure to act as a plat- form for us to get ashore. Once secure, we all walked the gangplank to solid ground. The Little Gull Island Lighthouse is quite im- pressive when you stand alongside it. Right nearby is a large rack of solar panels, which now supply the energy to the horn, and the nine -foot -high, 41/2- foot -di- ameter Fresnel lens that was installed in 1869. There was a very.impressive ceremo- ny starting with a 40mm -gun salute off- shore from the Navy Sub Base Saluting Battery.Then there was the raising of the flag at the top of the lighthouse by smartly dressed Naw ROTC students, while Colin Van Tuyl played "Callao the Colors," followed by the Rev. Ann VanCleef singing the national anthem. Merlon Wiggin, who did a tremen- dous job of putting the whole affair together and just this month published the "History of Little Gull Light Sta- tion," gave a short talk on the history of Little Gull Light. United States Coast Guard officials also spoke to the group and allowed them to visit the lighthouse and walk to the top, where we enjoyed views from Montauk to vew London. Amer our visit to the lighthouse we returned on the boats to Orient by the Sea Restaurant for a delightful lunch, speeches by local dignitaries and a raffle of a paintir(g of the HMS Ramil- lies at Little Gull by Richard Fiedler. It was a wonderful day spent by an interested group of people who were privileged to be the first ever to visit this 200 -vear -old lighthouse_ The Little Gull Island Lighthouse is quite impressive when you stand alongside it. kbove: Looking west from the top of Little Gull Lighthouse we see Big Gull sland, now a research center that for. the past 30 years or so has monitored me of the largest tern colonies on the East Coast, all under the auspices )f the Museum of Natural History. Beyond is Plum Island and then Orient. light: Two Navy ROTC students raised the flag in an impressive ceremony ommemorating the 200th anniversary of this rugged granite lighthouse, ituated in the deep, fast - moving waters of the Race.