FOR the first time in several years, I made my way south to Tottenville, New York State’s southernmost “town” (actually a neighborhood in NYC), on a very warm 80+-degree afternoon in October 2025, hence the hazy image. While standing on the new Almer G. Russell Pavilion at Ward’s Point (which replaced an earlier one destroyed by Hurricane Sandy) I squinted and saw a lighthouse in Raritan Bay. Straining my zoom to the limit, I captured this image of Great Beds Lighthouse. I have a fascination with lighthouses, since from the shore most appear far out to sea, with details only visible with a spyglass or zoom lens.
Located in Raritan Bay off the coast of Wards Point, Staten Island, Great Beds Lighthouse was constructed to guide bay traffic around the treacherous Great Beds Shoal in 1880. Its conical shape makes it unique among the lighthouses of southern NY Harbor. It’s one of the tallest in the group as well, standing 60 feet tall. It can be sighted (best with a binoculars) from the new pedestrian paths in Staten Island’s Conference House Park. It is technically in New Jersey, and its construction was delayed for 2 years while it was decided what state would claim it.
In the 1880s, two consecutive keepers, George Brennan and John Johnson, died and disappeared, respectively, under mysterious circumstances.
The “Beds” in the name refers to oyster beds, which were plentiful in the waters surrounding the NYC area.
In September 2012, I took a boat tour of the lighthouses surrounding Staten Island. A few weeks later, Hurricane Sandy claimed at least one of them.
My freshened Tottenville FNY page should appear by year’s end. We should get a run of inclement weather, and thus I can step up my writing schedule.
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop. As always, “comment…as you see fit.” I earn a small payment when you click on any ad on the site.
11/5/25
4 comments
Been inside 3 lighthouses,Cape Hatteras,which they had to move inland because
of beach erosion.Jupiter.FL and the G. Washington bridge one,that is,what was
left of it at the time.These days a lot of them have you sign a “I wont sue you”
paper before you can go to the top.Fake ones are great too.There is one on
Camp st. in New Orleans which looks very authentic,part of a office supply co.
The limestone one in a cemetery in new orleans,about 6 ft tall with a light bulb
at the top.Creepy to see at night.Makes you think theres something
still alive in there.And it will be a cold day in hell if they ever let us see the
Roosevelt island light,
Those oyster beds used to be dangerous reefs, serious obstructions to navigation. I read somewhere that the British naval and army raid on Washington and Baltimore in 1814 was less than what they had planned; the British had to scale back their plans because the oyster beds throughout the Chesapeake were so dangerous to their ships and boats.
So THAT”S what it’s called. Thanks.
Looking forward to the refreshed Tottenville page as the town is one of my favorite spots in all of NYC. Hope you got to ride those new R211S cars on the Staten Island Railway. I hopped on them when visiting in August and they were pretty sweet.