Goat Island Light

Picture perfect. a wikipedia photo of Goat Island Light

  Located just outside the harbor of Cape Porpoise, a village in the Town of Kennebunkport, the light was established in 1833.  A fifth order Fresnel Lens was installed in 1859.
  The Light was automated in 1990, the property is now owned by the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust, it is a very well cared for place.
  During the term of George Herbert Walker Bush the Secret Service often had agents on the island which has a great view of Walkers Point, the summer home of President Bush.
  During a bad storm in 1947 Coast Guard Keeper Joseph Bakken, who lived there with his wife and children, reported that waves washed over the island and destroyed the covered walkway and the boat slip.  In all of the confusion and hurry they forgot about their dog and her new puppies.  After the storm the Keeper went to the flooded basement, floating on the water was a box with the dog and her puppies.  I guess Coast Guard dogs are Semper Paratus (Always Prepared) just like the rest of the United States Coast Guard.

An 1835 photo shows the old tower

an 1859 Coast Guard photo shows the new (present) tower - make sure
you enlarge this photo it's very detailed and clear

The Bell Town reconstructed by The Kennebunkport Conservation Society
www.thekennebunkportconservationsociety.org