Cape Elizabeth Light

Edward Hopper painting of the East Light - click

  Cape Elizabeth Light is actually two lights the East and West towers. Navigation was, and is, tricky into and out of Portland Harbor/South Portland Oil Terminal.  There are six lighthouses in the area, not all still in service - but that's a bunch.
  Local mariners started asking for a beacon in 1628 (Americans have been critical of government actions for a long time, I guess).  At the time the area was a part of Falmouth, which has since been spilt up into Falmouth, Portland, South Portland and Cape Elizabeth.  After many shipwrecks and close calls a light was funded in 1828 (what's 200 years between friends?), and work began on the West Light, the East Light followed soon after.  These lights were replaced in 1874 with identical cast iron towers.
 
After its military use in World War II, the west tower passed into private ownership. It was sold to the highest bidder in 1959 along with several buildings and 10.5 acres of land. In 1971, it was purchased by actor Gary Merrill (Bette Davis' ex-husband) for $28,000. During his time at Cape Elizabeth, Merrill was regarded as an eccentric. Among other things, he gained attention by putting a donkey in the back of his Cadillac convertible and driving through town. He later ran unsuccessfully for the Maine state legislature. The west light was sold twice in the 1980s. (lighthouse.cc)

  The East tower was automated in the 1960's, and the house is in private hands.  Both are still standing, two of the best examples of cast iron towers on the east coast, both are visible from Two Lights State Parks, and a few other places.

The East light today.

From the top of the Left tower looking right to the East.

The West tower today