One of the most thrilling episodes in the history of the lighthouse occurred on January 28, 1885, when Keeper Marcus A. Hanna saved two crew members of the schooner Australia which had grounded on the ledge near the fog signal station. The two men had taken to the rigging and were coated with ice, unable to move. The captain was drowned as a huge comber washed the deck. Keeper Hanna, securing a heavy iron weight to the end of a stout line, attempted time and again to reach the men with it. Suddenly a towering wave struck the schooner and smashed her against the rocks, putting her on her beam ends.

Keeper Hanna again threw his line and watched it land on the schooner. One of the seamen managed to reach it and bent it around his waist. Then he jumped into the sea and the keeper, with great effort, pulled him up over the rocky ledge. The keeper now heaved the line a second time and finally it reached the second seaman who wound it around his icy body. Then he too jumped into the ocean. Just as the keeper’s strength was exhausted in trying to haul ashore the second man, help came in the shape of the keeper’s assistant and two neighbors, who helped haul the man to safety.

In the 1920’s the west tower of Cape Elizabeth Light was dismantled.The use of multiple lights in a given site was discontinued in 1924. The western light was removed from service, and eventually sold to a private party in the 1970’s. The eastern tower remains in service as “Cape Elizabeth Light.”

The light, at the south entrance to Portland Harbor, is equipped with a 1,800,000 candlepower light visible for 17 miles. The white conical tower is 67 feet above ground and 129 feet above water.

The second-order Fresnel lens from the Cape Elizabeth Lighthouse was manufactured in Paris in 1874. The lens was removed from the tower in 1995 and is now on display at the Cape Elizabeth Town Hall. In May of 2000, the Coast Guard leased the east tower to the American Lighthouse Foundation, who is now responsible for its upkeep. The west tower is located approx. 300 yards from the east tower.

The keeper’s house is privately owned. Niether the lighthouse or the grounds are open to the public. Views are available from the parking lot near the a seasonal restaurant called the Lobster Shack.

Simply click a thumbnail for a larger view.

Another two lighthouses were built in 1838, and after one was destroyed, it was decided not to rebuild it. These towers served as range lights and they were built on movable foundations so their positions could be moved easily as the sandbars around Plum Island shifted. At the time, the lighthouses were only accessible by boat.

Over time, the remaining tower was too far inland because of the shifting sands and a new tower (which is the current lighthouse) was built in 1898 and the lens moved from the old tower to the new tower.

The lighthouses on Plum Island were originally fueled by whale oil, then kerosene before being electrified. The Plum Island Lighthouse that you see today was first lighted on September 20, 1898.

The Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse is occasionally open during the summer for tours. Please see New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide by Jeremy D’Entremont for more information.

The following are photographs of the Newburyport Harbor Lighthouse I took when my wife and I visited the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge on November 5th, 2006 for some birding. You may view my article on the birding trip at Birding In Maine.

Simply click a thumbnail for a larger view.

Technorati Tags: Massachusetts, keeper, lighthouses, Plum Island, lighthouse, photographs, Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, birding

These photos were taken when we lived in Pennsylvania, during the summer and fall of 2002. Since moving to Maine, we always find time to return to the Keystone State to visit family and these magnificent lighthouses.

These lighthouse photographs were taken with an older camera, the Canon Powershot A20, which we no longer own.

Lighthouses include Presque Isle Lighthouse, Erie Land Light, Erie Peirhead Light and the Erie Yacht Club Light. Simply click on a thumbnail for a larger view. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: lighthouses, Pennsylvania, Maine, lighthouse, photographs, Erie

We are now the proud owners of a Canon Rebel XTI DSLR camera. This new camera will be put to good use getting some fantastic pictures of lighthouses nationwide!

These photos were taken during our trip to the Outer Banks of North Carolina during the summer of 2004.

These lighthouse photographs were taken with an older camera, the Canon Powershot A20, which we no longer own.

Lighthouses include Cape Hatteras, Bodie Island and Ocracoke. Simply click on a thumbnail for a larger view. Enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Canon Rebel XTI, DSLR, Outer Banks, North Carolina, lighthouse, photographs, Canon

While Maine was still part of the colony of Massachusetts, George Washington employed two masons from the town of Portland in 1787 and instructed them to take charge of the construction of a lighthouse on Portland Head. The masons names were Jonathan Bryant and John Nichols. George Washington reminded them that the colonial government was poor and that the materials used to build the lighthouse should be taken from the fields and shores. Washington said they could be handled nicely when hauled by oxen on a drag.

Washington gave the masons 4 years to build the tower. While it was under construction, the federal government was formed in 1789 and it looked for a while as though the lighthouse would not be finished. But the first congress made an appropriation and authorized Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of the Treasury, to set up a Lighthouse Establishment, and they appropriated $1,500 to complete the construction of the Portland Head lighthouse. Hamilton then informed the masons that they could go on with the completion of the tower. The tower was completed during the year 1790 and first lit on January 10, 1791.

The old tower, built of rubble stone, still stands as one of the four colonial lighthouses that have never been rebuilt.

During the Civil War, raids on shipping in and out of Portland Harbor became common place, and because of the necessity for ships at sea to sight Portland Head Light as soon as possible, the tower was raised 8 feet. Today Portland Head Light stands 80 feet above ground and 101 feet above water, its white conical tower being connected with a dwelling. The 200,000 candlepower, second-order electric light, is visible for 16 miles.

The Portland Head lighthouse is within the grounds of Fort Williams State Park. On the grounds of the park are the keeper’s house and an oil house that were constructed in 1891, a fog signal building that was built in 1975, and a garage that has been converted to a gift shop. There is a museum in the keeper’s house.

Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse lies just offshore from the Portland Head Lighthouse and can be seen in the photo of the USCG Cutter below.

These photos were taken on the morning of September 30th, 2006. The sun was just beginning to rise and the air was cold for the end of September. The sunrise was unforgettable! We also visited the Portland Breakwater Lighthouse and a photo of it is included below. Click on a thumbnail for a larger view.

Technorati Tags: Portland Head Lighthouse, George Washington, Fresnel lens, Maine, Massachusetts, lighthouse, Lighthouse Establishment, colonial lighthouses, Civil War, Portland Harbor, USCG, sunrise

The town of Islesboro owns the lighthouse and the buildings surrounding it. The keeper’s house is the Sailor’s Memorial Museum. The lighthouse is located on the west side of Islesboro Island and can be easily reached by a ferry from Lincolnville, Maine. If you just want to view the lighthouse, no car is needed. It is a very short walk from the ferry terminal. This lighthouse cannot be seen from the mainland. The Maine State Ferry Service has a ferry schedule on their website.

When my wife and I visited the island, we brought our car along and did some sightseeing and birding. I have an article over at Birding In Maine that tells of our birding experience on the island and pictures of a Bald Eagle we saw.

Isleboro is a summer home to a few celebrities including John Travolta and Kirstie Alley.

The following are pictures we took of Grindle Point Lighthouse when we visited the island on October 7th, 2006. Simply click the thumbnail for a full size image.

Technorati Tags: Lighthouse, keeper, Maine, birding, island, Bald Eagle, John Travolta, Kirstie Alley

Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (FPHL) volunteers, Kaye and Pat Heffernan, donated $16,000 for the project. The new walkway was reconstructed in September by Ricci Construction Company of Portsmouth, NH, who also restored New Hampshire’s White Island Lighthouse last year. The money was donated in memory of Kaye Heffernan’s aunt, Josephine Pauk.

The new walkway is situated like the previous one, but is made of more durable materials. The planks are made of Trex decking, a modern composite of recycled wood and plastic that will hold up well for many decades. The posts and railings are made of pressure-treated wood, which will be stained to match the decking this spring by FPHL volunteers.

Guest speakers included Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse president Jeremy D’Entremont, volunteer Kaye Heffernan, New Castle Selectwoman Gene Doherty, and Senior Chief Will Lindsay, OIC Coast Guard Station Portsmouth Harbor.

Entertainment was provided by Shannachie, who sang Irish songs and sea shanties. Refreshments included a cake with a picture of the light station, made of icing, on it.

The following photos are by the author of the Lighthouse Gazette, John Briggs. Simply click on the thumbnail for a full-sized view.

Technorati Tags: Lighthouse, Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse, Portsmouth, NH, New Hampshire, Trex decking, Coast Guard, Irish songs, sea shanties

This changed happened for several reasons, but the main reason is that we were hacked. I am now using WordPress, which is a lot more secure than the other blogging software that I used.

You will notice that all previous posts have been lost, thanks to the hacker. This will teach me a lesson as to back-up my database more often.

Stay tuned for new and unique features here at the Lighthouse Gazette.