| Long Island Sound is historically a summer playground. | | | | out of rocks, he ordered the keeper to move into a |
| Its history also includes several haunted lighthouses | | | | cold drafty wood frame house, so he could transfer |
| whose atmosphere speaks of murder, revenge, | | | | the rocks from the stone house to the lighthouse. |
| insanity and heartbreak. | | | | The keeper had a child with serious breathing |
| Skull Bound Ghosts | | | | problems, and fearing the dampness of the wood |
| Execution Rocks-New York | | | | frame house would further damage his child's lungs, |
| Execution Rocks remains one of the most grisly in | | | | begged the project supervisor to allow them to |
| haunted lighthouse history. According to legend, when | | | | continue living in the warm stone house. The supervisor |
| America was a British colony with a growing | | | | refused, and when December's cold and ferocious |
| revolutionary spirit, the occupying British force, trying to | | | | winds attacked the island, the child became gravely ill. |
| avoid further inflaming the rebels, took condemned | | | | Keeper Smith frantically summoned a doctor from the |
| prisoners to Execution Rocks. The soldiers chained the | | | | mainland, climbing the tower stairs every hour to free |
| prisoners to the rocks at low tide, and then watched | | | | the light from the snow and wait for the doctor who |
| as the tide rose to carry out the death penalty. While | | | | never came. |
| awaiting their fate, the terrified prisoners were forced | | | | Many people reported hearing footsteps and moaning, |
| to look at the skulls of those who went before them. | | | | and seeing falling plaster. They believe Keeper Smith |
| The executed prisoners exacted their revenge when | | | | still climbs the stairs and waits for the doctor. |
| British soldiers, pursuing George Washington hit a reef | | | | Suicidal Assistant |
| and perished. | | | | Stratford Shoals Lighthouse - New York |
| The legend of Execution Rocks was so horrifying that | | | | Stratford Shoals light is nothing more than a 60-foot |
| keepers assigned to this post did not have to sign a | | | | granite structure perched above an ocean reef, just |
| contract, and could request and receive an immediate | | | | off Long Island. |
| transfer whenever they felt overwhelmed. | | | | The head keeper left first assistant Morrell Hulse, and |
| There were many whispered stories of ghostly | | | | second assistant Julius Koster in charge of tending the |
| specters, yet the last keeper denied seeing anything, | | | | light while he went ashore. Sometime later, |
| although fire struck the engine room twice on his | | | | newspapers reported that Julius, in a fit of rage |
| watch. The first time, when the fog signal slowed, the | | | | attacked Morrell with a razor. Morrell, forced to defend |
| keeper met with a wall of flames while going to | | | | himself finally calmed a very disturbed Julius. |
| investigate. The second time the roof caught fire | | | | Soon after the incident, Julius took an ax, locked |
| ostensibly from an overhead pipe. | | | | himself in the lantern room where he stopped the |
| Some believe the ghosts of the condemned prisoners | | | | rotating light, making it impossible to warn mariners of |
| continue taking their revenge. | | | | impending danger. Morrell's calm head prevailed and |
| The Long Wait | | | | after several hours, he convinced Julius to leave the |
| Fire Island - New York | | | | lantern room. Julius, still in a disturbed frame of mind, |
| There are two stories surrounding this light. The first | | | | jumped into the ocean, and again Morrell bravely |
| tells of one keeper forcing his wife and child to haul | | | | saved him. This time, Morrell bound Julius in ropes and |
| him up to the tower from outside. The keeper refused | | | | held him captive until help arrived two days later. Julius |
| to climb the tower to check on the light where a | | | | was taken to New York where he finally succeeded in |
| predecessor reportedly hung himself. Some say they | | | | killing himself. |
| can hear footsteps and music in the rooms. | | | | Some believe that his spirit returned to Stratford |
| The second involves Keeper Smith and his family who | | | | Shoals light, and doors can be heard slamming, chairs |
| lived in a snug, comfortable stone house while the new | | | | crashing against walls, and pans of hot water |
| light was being built. When the project supervisor ran | | | | reportedly thrown from the stove. |