Wood Island Light

All is peaceful in the Wikipedia photo - click

  Wood Island sits just east of the mouth of the Saco River in Biddeford Pool.  The Light was built in 1806 and started operation the following year.  The first tower was made of wood and lasted until 1839 when the rubblestone tower replaced it, the keepers house was also replaced.  In 1858 the tower had some maintenance work done and a fifth-order Fresnel Lens was installed and then the keepers house was replaced with the current building, which has seen numerous improvement over the years.
  In 1972 the Lantern was remove from the tower and replaced with a rotating beacon, a loud public outcry about the headless lighthouse was cause for an aluminum lantern to be place on the tower, so it looked like a lighthouse should.
  This is number 67 in this series, and the final lighthouse story.  Tune in tomorrow for a new series about some other things in Maine.  And thanks for reading all this stuff too.

In the 1860's there were more buildings. U S Coast Guard photo

An early postcard.  www.mainememory.net

A more current photo from the American Lighthouse Foundation www.lighthousefoundation.org

Winter Harbor Light

A nice photo www.scenicusa.net

  Winter Harbor is on the west side of the Schoodic Peninsula and has been used as a "safe harbor" by fishermen and others seeking shelter from stormy waters.
  The Light is on a small (4 acres depending on the tide) island, Mark Island; and is sometime called the Mark Island Light. 
  Winter Harbor Light started operation on January 1, 1857 and since that time the keepers house has been replaced.  The Light was discontinued in 1934 and the whole property was sold at auction for $552.00!  It was sold again for $2,000.00 by the Richmond Family, professors at UMaine.  Bernice Richmond wrote the book Our Island Lighthouse.  The current owner is unlisted.
  You can view the Light from the entrance road to the Schoodic part of Acadia National Park, or some of the tour boats out of Bar Harbor.

I took this photo while going to Schoodic last early fall.

An undated Coast Guard photo

NOTE: There is one more lighthouse to write about (tomorrow).  If anyone has any ideas for a new subject leave a comment on this blog (see the little envelope at the bottom).  Myself, I am running out of ideas.

Whitlocks Mill Light

An old postcard www.americanhistory.si.edu

  The Saint Croix River between Calais and Eastport was a busy place in 1832.  Maine's first railroad, the Calais Railroad, would bring lumber from upstream to Calais where it would be loaded aboard steamers bound for Eastport to be shipped.  The Town/City would hang a red lantern on a tree to mark the American side of the "narrows".  That light was needed to help the steamers make the tight turn in the river.  By 1914 local leaders had convinced Congress and the new Light opened with a fourth order Fresnel Lens.
  Automated in 1969 with an optic lens the station was leases to the Washington County Community College.  Under the Light for Maine Program the ownership was transferred to the Saint Croix Historical Society.  The keepers house is now privately owned and the Light itself is not open to the public.  The Light can be viewed from the Saint Croix River Rest Area on Route 1, leaves obscure the view in summer.
  While in the Calais area try the Calais Rail Line walking path.  The rail bed of that first Maine railroad is now a trail.  The trail is 1.4 miles long and follows the river through the city center, but does not reach as far south as the rest area.

An undated Coast Guard photo.

A color photo

Try the trail, I will next spring/summer

The rest area is just south of the golf course, the trail is intown.

 

Whitehead Light

Nice enough! www.us-lighthouses.com

  Add this one to the list I talked about yesterday, Whitehead Light is another one in that area.  The Light sits on Whitehead Island, a granite base high above the water lever and 70 acres in size. Whitehead marks the southwestern entrance to the Muscle Ridge Channel of Penobscot Bay.  Owls Head Light is the northwestern marker.
  Built in 1804-1807 the 30 foot tower (lantern base) is block granite lined with brick.  The keepers house was located 60 to 70 feet from the tower. 
  The first keeper Ellis Dolph caused a scandal when he sold the spermaceti (whale) oil he ordered for the light, he would order extra and sell it, he was found out and fired.
  In 1933 the light was made electric, instead of oil, and the two steam boilers that powered the fog horns were replace by two internal combustion engines that ran an air compressor, there were two horns, one face the Muscle Ridge Channel and the other faced in the opposite direction.
  The Light became solar powered in 2001, the keepers house is long gone, but the other buildings remain.  The Island is owned by the Swan Family who run the Pine Island Camp on the 70 acres.

1852 http.lighthouse.cc

About 1870 www.wikipedia.com

A view from the top. http://lighthouse.cc

Two Bush Island Light

Squared away! www.knox.villagesoup.com

  Two Bush island was named for the two small trees which were used as an aid before this Light was built.  Built in 1897 the Light marks the entrance to the Two Bush Channel in Penobscot Bay.
  By my quick count I think we've covered 7 lighthouses now within an easy driving distance of each other, IF you could drive on water; start with Rockland Breakwater and try to see how many you can find.
  The first hero of this remote island was Smut.  Smut was a Newfoundland Shepherd cross and known to be a smart dog.  His owner, keeper Altiverd Norton (the first keeper) reports that a fishing boat, the Clara Bella, was starting to break up in a storm near the island.  The two men on board were in a dory trying to find land when Smuts' barking led them to safety.  Yes, he knew, you see he hardly ever barked.
  As stated the Island is remote, four miles offshore it sits.  In January 1923 there were 21 snowstorms and it was below zero for 18 days in a row.  Rough stuff with no other buildings and no trees to break the wind, chilly indeed.
  Two Bush Light was automated in 1964 and the buildings, other than the Light, were demolished by the U S Army Green Berets as an exercise in 1970.  Solar power was added in 2000.

A Coast Guard aerial view of the Light and keepers quarters.

An early look with the natural brick tower.

Same picture as above but colored for this postcard.
www.americanhistory.si.com

Drive to the nearest land, what others could you see?

Tenants Harbor Light

Just right. www.lighthousefriends.com photo

  This Light on Southern Island in the village of Tenants Harbor makes a pretty picture.  Tenants Harbor is a part of the Town of Saint George at the southwest edge of Penobscot Bay.  The Light was built in 1854.  The 27 foot tall brick tower is attached to a wooden house, the tower was painted white and the house was painted brown.  The fog house and oil house were also built.
  The Light was discontinued in 1933 and declared surplus.  The Town sold the lighthouse and buildings to private owners.  Eventually it was owned by artist Andrew Wyeth and his wife Betsy; they have made there home here along with Jamie Wyeth the house remains in the family and has been included in paintings by both artists.
  The studio is in the base of the bell tower, front and to the right in the above photo.

An old postcard for sale on Ebay

A Coast Guard photo from the 1870's, the house was still that ugly brown.
Nice rock wall too.

Saint Croix River Light

The first St. Croix River Light

  This Light is on Saint Croix Island, in the river of the same name, it is reached from Calais, Maine.  In 1604 Samuel de Champlain landed on the Island, some of the pioneers with him stayed on the Island, 35 or the 79 people died of scurvy; the remaining people moved on to Nova Scotia.  The St. Croix River separates Maine from New Brunswick, Canada.
  The first Light on St. Croix was built in 1857 to aid the navigation of local fishing fleets, some cargo was handled in Calais also.  The Light was replaced in 1901 and was not too different than the first.
  In 1941 following the entry of the USA into WW2, the first White House Christmas tree came for Saint Croix Island.
  The Light was automated in 1954, and in 1976 some boys built a campfire at the base of the fog house.  Heavy wind quickly spread the fire and destroyed all of the buildings with the exception of the boat house.
  A Museum recalling the Saint Croix settlement and the lighthouse is in Calais.

The second Light.

Fresh milk for the family. Keeper Small milks his cow.
Courtesy of Connie Small (his daughter)

The boat house. All that remains.

Seguin Island Light

The Woodhaven Historical Society presents this photo - click

  The first Europeans people use of the Island was in 1607 when the Popham Colony anchored there while working on the mainland.  Champlain named the Island Seguin in 1612 because it looks like a tortoise.
  In 1793 President George Washington approved the building of a lighthouse and the purchase of property.  The commission called on Gen. Benjamin Lincoln, the Customs Collector and Overseer of Lighthouses for the State of Massachusetts (Maine was a part of Massachusetts until 1820) picked the spot in 1794 and construction could begin.  In 1796 the buildings were complete, the first keeper was Major John Polereczky, a Hungarian Hussar and Count, his family had been a member of nobility since 1613.  It was a result of his fighting for us during the Revolutionary War.
  The Light was automated in 1985, the last keeper Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Edward T. Brown stated he would love to stay on the Island.  A crew of Coast Guardsmen were sent to collect the furnishings and stayed overnight after packing the materials.  During the night the Officer in Charge woke up to a figure standing over his bed, the figure said "please don't take my furniture, leave my home alone".  The crew loaded the furnishings on the boat and made ready to leave, suddenly the chain holding the boat broke, the engine stopped and the boat and furniture sank.
     For more information: http://lighthouse.cc

There for all to see.

A view from the top.

An older Coast Guard photo shows the buildings

Saddleback Ledge Light

Saddleback Ledge. www.roadtripteam.com - click

  Saddleback Ledge is named for its shape.  It stands out of the water a mere 25 to 30 feet and is located at the Eastern entrance to Penobscot Bay.
  In 1836 the ship Royal Tar loaded with circus performers and animals hit the ledge, caught fire and sank, all were lost.  Only then did Congress approve funding for the Light; it was a large expense.  In the early days the boathouse was in the bottom "floor" of the tower, and the keeper had two rooms on the second level for him and his family; one keeper had a wife and seven children.  The family had a living room, a cook stove and two bedrooms put together on the next level.  There was on cistern, rain water was collected in barrels, in all the setup was quite primitive.  A boathouse and keepers cottage were added in 1868 much to the relief of keepers.  Storms in 1947 and 1951 practically demolished the out buildings.  The Light was automated in 1954 and it still shows, with an optic lens, a white flash every 6 seconds and the fog horn give a blast every 10 seconds.

The boat house and slips. Library of Congress

A visitor is hoisted ashore with a boom which was located onshore, see her swinging at
the end of the line.  I guess it was all a part of the trip.

An early Coast Guard photo of the location.

A visitor gets a hand from a Coast Guard Keeper, I don't think
it was a door to door salesman, probably an inspector.

Rockland Harbor Southwest Light

Nice setting shown from mainelighthousesandbeyond blog - click

  Dr. Bruce Woolett, a Rockland area dentist loved lighthouses; so when he built his new house in Owls Head, Maine he decided to add a lighthouse too.
  Between 1981 and 1987 he built the house and light, the Light is equiped with an electric marine lens.  The Rockland Shore Village Museum helped get the Coast Guard to recognize his Light as a valid aid to navigation.  The light flashes yellow every 2.5 seconds.
  The home is now owned by the Gazzola family.  The Light is accesable by car, BUT remember it is a private residence.

The lens. http://lighthouse.cc

A different view. http://lighthouse.cc

Ram Island Light

Standing out.  www.uslhs.org

  This Ram Island, named for the many sheep that were there, is near Boothbay Harbor.  The Light was established in the late-1800's to benefit the local mariners.
  Many ghost stories persist about the island, the light (before this), and the people who came there.  The earliest "light" was a dory near the present Light, the last fisherman in each day lit a lantern in the bow to warn others away from the rocks.
  The Light was built like others at Isle au Haut and Marshall Point, the tower has a granite base with a brick top and a walkway to the house.  It's quite attractive and a popular visit, by boat, for some of the tourist who come through the Boothbay Region.

A photo from wikipedia shows the entire Light and other buildings..

This photo from the collection of the Grand Banks Schooner Museum Trust
shows the tower and a work-boat.

A NOTE:  The Light from yesterday (Prospect Harbor) appears at the beginning of a new ad for "Red Lobster", Portland Head Light appears at the end.  I must have stayed awake to see that!

Here is what the ocean looks like this morning with the temp at 16 degrees.

Prospect Harbor Point Light

What a view! wikimedia - click

    The first Light was built in 1850, that was deactivated in 1854 and replaced in 1870 with the present Light.  Prospect Harbor is located east of Mount Desert Island, and just east of the Schoodic Point part of Acadia National Park.  The original granite house was replaced by the current wooden house seen above.  The land is owned by the United States Navy, the tower and lantern are property of the Coast Guard.  The house "Gull Cottage" serves as a guest house for the Navy.  Prospect Harbor was also home the the last sardine packing plant in the United States, when this light was built there were 122 plants up and down the Maine coast.

The first Light and house.  USCG

Lights operate in all weather. www.downeast.com

A side view. www.scenicusa.net

Pond Island Light

Pond Island Light, Sequin Island Light in left rear www.uslhs.org - click

  Pond Island, all ten acres of it, sit near the mouth of the Kennebec River, soldiers were stationed there in 1812 to stop a British invasion from entering the River.  In about 1819 people began asking for help with navigation on, what was then, a busy river.  In 1821 work started on Pond Island to augment to Light on Sequin Island.
  The tower and dwellings were each built or re-built at least three times.  The Light remains an active aid to navigation, all of the buildings except the Light have been destroyed and the Island is used as a bird refuge by the U S Fish and Wildlife Service.

An early photo

An aerial view is provided in this Coast Guard photo

A more recent photo. www.uslhs.org