When lighthouses became automated, it was no longer cost effective for the Coast Guard to maintain extensive grounds and keepers homes. The Coast Guard therefore separated New London Harbor Lighthouse from the keeper's house and sold the house and most of the surrounding land to my great grandmother in 1928. The Coast Guard retained the tower, an area of rocks and sand around it, and a deeded right of way from the rocks to Pequot Avenue. My family gained a home for six generations so far. In 2008, the Coast Guard deeded their remaining land at the site to the Maritime Society.

The society has been using our tiny side yard, which is not in their deeded right of way, to transport visitors and volunteers to the lighthouse. While my aunt was bedridden, strangers peered in her windows. While the estate went through the probate process after her death in 2013, a large granite structure was erected in our yard without city permits. The society also rebuilt a wall across their right of way.

Last summer we were barred from using our yard. We documented for society lawyers that they had no legal right to our yard and that we would block public access there.

Reports that we are taking public land and denying the Society's right of way or Coast Guard access are completely unfounded, “New London Maritime Society pushes harder for dock as it faces another property dispute,” (June 22). 

Elizabeth Ring

New London