by Don Uvick

Maine


 
Goat Island
Cape Porpoise Harbor (1860)
Flashing white 6s. Height above sea 38 ft.
The tower is an example of the Federal Revival design. It is of masonry construction, a standard polygonal lantern and not ornamentation. It was automated in 1990.
Hendricks Head
Southport (1829, 1875)
Fixed white (red sector). Height above the water 43 ft.
The 39 foot tall brick Federal Revival has an elevated wooden walkway, an oil house and a pyramidal bell tower. The lighthouse's history includes the rescue of a baby after a storm wrecked a ship. The child had been bundled into two feather beds that were tied together. The station was discontinued in 1933 and sold. In 1951 the USCG returned to the lighthouse because of increased river traffic. The residence is still private.
Kennebeck River
along Kennebeck River near Bath (1982)
This light station was established to control the automated lighthouses along the Kennebec River (from Doubling Point to Perkins Island). Boatswain Mate Karen McLean became the Coast Guard's first female lighthouse keeper. The station was automated in 1990.
Lubec Channel
west side of Lubec Channel (1889)
Flashing green 6s. Height above water 53 ft.
This light, "Old Spark Plug," was built after the Lubec Channel was dredged due to the thriving river ports of Calais, Eastport and Lubec on the St. Croix River. It is a conical cast-iron and brick-lined tower, resting on a circular concrete-filled casisson. In 1989 the U.S. Coast Guard, lacking the funds to fully restore the station, announced plans to abandon the tower and move the lantern to shore. Lubec's citizens sent engine spark plugs to their government officals with pleas to "Save the Spark Plug." In 1992 restoration began and much work was done to save the structure.
Marshall Point
Port Clyde Harbor, Penobscot Bay (1831,1857)
This lighthouse, which resembles the Ram Island station, was fitted with a fifth-order Fresnel lens with a fixed white light, visible for about 10 miles. The station has been restored, for more information go to the Marshall Point Lighthouse Museum.
Owls Head
Rockland
Quincy Adams authorized the building of Owls Head Light in 1825. Although this lighthouse has a short towe, only 30 feet tall, its lantern is 100 feet above sea level. The last Keeper, Augustus B. Hamor, had a springer spaniel named Spot who learned to pull the rope that rang the fog bell with his teeth, a ritual he repeated for every approaching vessel. One stormy night a boat almost ran aground at Owls Head. It was Spot's loud barking that warned the captain just in time and enabled him to steer clear of the rocks. Spot is buried on the side of the hill near the former site of the fog bell.
Pemaquid Point
Bristol (1827, 1835)
The tower stands on thirty feet above the sea and the iron lantern housing the light is another 48 feet high. Dividing the west entrance to Muscongus Bay, from the east, the entrance to John's Bay, Pemaquid Point has a Fourth-Order light, its white light flashes every six seconds with a range of visibility of 14 nautical miles. The Keepers former home is now the Fisherman's Museum.
Perkin's Island
eastern side of Kennebec River
Flashing red 2.5s (2 white sectors). Height above water 41 feet.
This lighthouse now belongs to the Town of Georgetown, the station's old 1,000 fogbell is located on the grounds of the Georgetown High School.
Pond Island
west of Kennebec River mouth, off Popham (1821, 1855)
Equal interval white 6s. Height above water 52 ft.
This is the first of the Kennebec River lights, needed for those going to Bath. The keepers were removed in 1963, and later the dwelling and the oil, fog signal and boathouses were also removed. The station was automated in 1982. The island is now a migratory bird refuge.
Portland Breakwater
(aka Petroleum Docks or Bug Light)
Portland (1855)
Because of extensive damage to Portland Harbor due to a 1831 storm, in 1833 construction began on a breakwater. Although the half-mile barrier provided protection, it was considered to be both an eyesore and a navigational hazard by mariners. In 1855 a wooden, octagonal, pyramidal lighthouse was built. But controversy over the breakwater continued. It wasn't until 1886 when the barrier was extended to the original 2500 foot length and capped with coursed granite blocks by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The tower was only two feet above water, and the constant washing of sea water damaged wood and iron. The present lighthouse resembles a 4th century B.C. Choragic Monument. The 13-foot cast-iron tower is lined with brick for more strength. The light was discontinued in 1942.
Portland Head
Cape Elizabeth (1791)
Flashing white 4s. Height above water 101 ft.
One of the most photographed lights in the world, Portland Head lighthouse was not only the first light to be completed under the direction of the newly form government of the United States, it was also Maine's first. It was automated on August 9, 1989 to celebrate the bicentennial of the US lighthouse system.
Prospect Harbor
east side of inner harbor near Corea (1850, 1891)
Flashing red 6s (2 white sectors). Height above water 42 feet.
This light has a 38 foot tall wood framed tower with a ten-sided lantern and the usual polygonal roof and ventilator ball. The station was deactivated in 1859 because the harbor was not used as anchorage during storms, but was reopened in 1870. The light is open to the general public on Memorial Day weekends.
Pumpkin Island
northern end of Eggemoggin Reach (1854)
In 1852 Congress approved the building of a light station on what was once known as Tent Island. Pumpkin Islands owner deeded the island only after the Federal government agreed to make him the first keeper. The lighthouse is 28 feet tall and had a 5th-order Fresnel lens. In 1930 the light was automated. This lighthouse has been a private residence since 1934. It is at the northern end of Eggemoggin Reach off Little Deer Island. The island is about a quarter of a mile off shore.
Ram Island Lighthouse
Boothbay Harbor (1883)
Equal interval red 6s. Height above water 36 ft.
The lighthouse is composed of a granite ashlar (building stone squared and finished) base, atop which sits the brick tower. The keeper's dwelling is inland. The light was automated in 1965, the station unmanned and in 1975 its 1881 Fresnel lens stolen. Luckily it was later recovered. The U.S. Coast Guard restored the lighthouse in 1977 but the house remained boarded up. The Grand Banks Schooner Museum Trust took title in 1985 and has repaired, repainted and the interior of the keeper's house has been restored.
Ram Island Ledge
north side Portland Harbor (1905)
Group flashing white 6s. Height above water 77 ft.
This lighthouse is a gray granite conical tower at the north side entrance to Portland harbor in ME. It is built on a base of 4-ton granite blocks quarried from Vinalhaven Island, visible only at low tide. The light was electrified in 1958. The next year it was automated and unmanned.
Rockland Breakwater
Rockland (1888, 1902)
This lighthouse is located on a stone jetty which extends southward to Jameson Point off Rockland Harbor. The first light in that area was built in 1827, an oil lamp placed on a wooden tripod. By the mid-1800's the volume of shipping increased and breakwaters were built to provide protection for the harbor. The tripod with the lamp followed the end of the northern breakwater (the southern one never was never built as planned) until the structure was finished in 1899. Then the present lighthouse was built. The brick tower is lined with ceramic tile (only one other lighthouse on the Atlantic Coast has a tiled interior: Whitlocks Mills). The light was automated in 1964 and is unmanned. The heavy traffic in Rockland Harbor makes this light and its foghorn an important guardian along the Maine coastline. The nearby Shore Village Musuem is an important storehouse of lighthouse history.
Rockland Harbor
Owls Head (1987/88)
USLHS Keeper Bruce Woolett built his own lighthouse. It's a 40 foot high structure in his backyard overlooking Rockland Harbor. Woolett constructed the edifice from used lumber for about $13,000. He obtained permission from the US Coast Guard to operate the light and was assigned a signal. He must maintain the signal at all times or lose the right to operate the structure as a lighthouse.
Sequin Island
Georgetown (1797, 1820, 1857)
Fixed light. Height above water 180 ft.
The light is located just south at the mouth of the Kennebec River. This was the second lighthouse built in Maine by order of President George Washington. Seguin Island has Maine's only operating tramway. The foghorn at this location is so strong that it has blown seagulls out of the sky!
Spring Point Ledge
South Portland (1897)
Flashing white 6s (2 red sectors). Height above water 54 ft.
This light is located in South Portland in the vicinity of old Fort Preble. It is on a 900 foot breakwater on the west side of the main channel to Portland Harbor. The design was popular in the late 19th century since the pre-fabricated cast iron structure was less expensive.
Squirrel Point
Arrowsic (1898-1906)
This light is at the southwest end of Arrowsic Island. It consists of a 35 foot octagonal tower. The light was automated in 1982, the Fresnel lens removed and the station was declared surplus property. Although the Maine Audubon Society holds an extended lease, the Coast Guard almost certainly will dispose of the property.
West Quoddy
Lubec (1807, 1858)
It is located on the easternmost point of the US. The "West" name is derived from its location to the East Quoddy Head light of Canada. The tower is 49 feet tall and its light is 83 feet above sea level. In 1990 the US Postal Service depicted this lighthouse as one of 5 in a stamp booklet of lighthouses.
Whitlocks Mill
Calais (1892, 1910)
This light is on the south bank of the St. Croix River in the village of Calais, ME. The conical tower was equipped with a Fresnel 4th order lens and a clockwork operated fogbell. The station also had a gambrel-roofed keeper's house, a brick oil house, a pyramidal bell tower and a shed. In 1909 the lighthouse was rebuilt in the Federal Revival style. A LePaute 4th order optic was placed in the new tower in 1910 where it remained until 1968 when the USCG automated the light and removed the classical lens. In 1976 the property was declared surplus and is now privately owned. This light is the northernmost light in the US.
Winter Harbor
Mark Island (1856)
The lighthouse is on Mark Island across Frenchman Bay from Bar Harbor, ME. It has been a private residence since 1934.
Whaleback
outer entrance to Portsmouth harbor (1831, 1872)
Group flashing white 10s. Height above water 59 ft.
The lighthouse is a gray conical tower. It is located on the northeast side, outer entrance to Portsmouth, NH harbor. It can be seen from Fort Foster near Kittery ME. In 1991 the USCG lowered the volume of the fog signal because the sound vibrations were causing structural damage to the tower walls.



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Maine Lighthouses, A - F


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Copyright © 1999-2005 Donald K. Uvick. The photographs on this and other pages are protected under copyright laws. They may not be reproduced, stored, manipulated, and/or digitized without the written permission of Donald K. Uvick.

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