Photo by Chris Bosak Greens Ledge Lighthouse off the coast of Rowayton is seen in this file photo.
NORWALK — A piece of maritime history may soon become Rowayton property.
Several weeks ago, the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) contacted local officials to see if the idea of owning the Greens Ledge Lighthouse would be an appealing one to them.
The answer, as of now is yes.
Barbis said the issue was discussed with fellow commissioners at the July 8 monthly meeting of the Sixth District, where the pros and cons were weighed.
Greens Ledge Lighthouse, which replaced the Sheffield Island Lighthouse, was completed in 1902 by the Philadelphia Construction Company.
Located on the southwest end of the Norwalk Islands, the lighthouse is west of Norwalk Harbor, one mile south of the entrance to Five Mile River in Rowayton.
Towering 52 feet, the lighthouse is made up of four stories with a lantern that stands seven feet tall.
On May 29, 1990, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places and was declared excess by the United States Coast Guard in May of this year.
Because of that, the lighthouse was made available to eligible organizations through the National Historic Preservation Act of 2000.
In the event an organization fails to step forward, the lighthouse(s) will be offered up for auction, which is the case of the Peck Ledge Lighthouse.
Located just north of Goose Island among the Norwalk Islands on Long Island Sound, the lighthouse was built in 1906 and stands 54-feet high.
The three-story cast-iron structure is still a working lighthouse operated by the United States Coast Guard and is accessible only by boat.
Currently up for auction — at www.realestatesales.gov and type in Peck Ledge — the lighthouse has a current bid of $25,000.
Prior to entering the auction stage, the lighthouse was offered to Norwalk city officials to mull over, but was ultimately declined.
Westmoreland said the offer, while somewhat appealing, appeared daunting to the commission and was not feasible.
After passing on the offer, Westmoreland said he contacted the Seaport Association, which also declined to take ownership of the lighthouse.
Calls placed to the GSA were not immediately returned as of press time Friday.