Lighthouse Point Park

Lighthouse Point Park was a famous attraction for locals and out-of-towners alike. Boasting a beautiful beach, carrousel, and the famous lighthouse, it was a diamond in the rough. Nestled in the small fishing village of Morris Cove, the park only became truly popular when the electric trolley line connected it to downtown New Haven. Purchased and developed by the Connecticut Company looking to increase riders. Lighthouse Point quickly grew in popularity as it offered the common man a way to vacation for mere pennies. People living in the city’s downtown flocked to the park as a natural escape from the pollution of industry. Built in 1916, the Carousel building was constructed in a Renaissance Revival style. Roughly 150 feet by 90 feet the building was comprised of two sections: a square pavilion housing the carousel and a lower section housing concessions and other attractions.  In 1925, the New Haven Parks Commission purchased the park. Not wanting to compete with other amusement parks they chose to focus on other aspects of the park but continued to let the carousel run. In 1938, the carousel was damaged from a hurricane and for a time was almost closed. Fortunately, the carousel survived. At one time carousels of its kind numbered upwards of 10,000, today only around 100 remain.

From Lighthouse Point Park, a destination for New Haveners seeking respite from the summer heat in cool sea breezes, let's now turn to some grittier industrial sites central to the operations of the city's trolley system. The next stop is the Grand Avenue Repair Barn. To get there from Lighthouse Point Park, proceed north on Lighthouse Point Road. Turn left on Townshend Avenue. Proceed over Interstate 95 and make an immediate left onto US 1. Turn right on East Street and make your next right on Chapel Street. Turn left on James Street and follow James to Grand Avenue. Turn left on Grand and park near the intersection with Haven Street. This stop and the next are a short walk from each other. If using GPS, the address is 424 Grand Avenue, New Haven, CT.

Research Courtesy of New Haven Museum and US Department of the Interior "National Register of Historic Places Inventory"