The owner of Plumb Products machine tool company in Woodbury, Conn., is the highest bidder on Little Gull Island, a federally-owned island with a historic lighthouse from 1869 that the General Services Administration put up for auction in October.
Newsday reports that Fred Plumb made the high bid of $381,000 for the island, located about eight miles east of Orient Point. GSA spokesman Patrick Sclafani said that the GSA has accepted the bid and anticipates closing on the deal in the next several weeks.
The New London Maritime Society, which also made a bid for the island, thanked those who had helped in their effort. The organization advocated the environmental conservation of wildlife habitats on the island and said it would take stewardship of the lighthouse if it won the bid.
"Private individuals have been great conservationists and preservationists. We hope that is the case here," the post read. "The Maritime Society certainly wishes Mr Plumb and Little Gull Island well, and we offer them our help in whatever way we can."
Read the full Newsday report here.
