Maine
Preservation recently announced that they have declared Maine’s Halfway
Rock Lighthouse as one of state’s “2004 Ten Most Endangered Historic
Properties.” Halfway Rock Lighthouse, located on an outcropping 10 miles
out from Portland Head Light, was automated in 1975 when its last
keepers were removed. Subsequent storms destroyed the buildings on the
island and today, only the 1869 tower remains.
Although the
lighthouse is still used as an active aid to navigation, the Coast Guard
only maintains the modern optic in the lantern room and not the tower
itself. The Coast Guard, which
Photo By Tom Dutton, USCG
Although Halfway Rock Lighthouse looks
good from this photo, looks are deceiving. The lighthouse is in serious
need of repairs and restoration.
must devote its
resources to law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental concerns and
Homeland Security, does not have the funds to maintain and restore historic
lighthouses.
Judy Barrington, a
trustee of Maine Preservation said Halfway Rock Lighthouse was nominated to
the most endangered list because of its inaccessibility and because no one
came forward to be its steward under the Maine Lights Program, which turned
over a number of Maine lighthouses to nonprofits, communities and other
government entities.
At a press
conference hosted by Maine Preservation, and held at the old
Newcastle-Damariscotta Railroad Station, in Damariscotta, Maine, which has
also been declared one of Maine’s ten most endangered properties, the
American Lighthouse Foundation displayed an exhibit showing the
Photo By Tom Dutton, USCG
Interior stairway shows signs of
deterioration and peeling paint.
deteriorating
condition of Halfway Rock Lighthouse. Although the photographs showed
that the exterior of the lighthouse appears to be in good condition, the
interior photos clearly show the tower is in a severe state of
deterioration.
Tim Harrison,
president of the Wells-based nonprofit American
Lighthouse
Foundation, said, “The reason no one adopted the lighthouse under the Maine
Lights Program is because of its remote location, which makes restoration
difficult, expensive and dangerous.” Harrison went on to say, “Having a
distinguished organization as Maine Preservation declare Halfway Rock
Lighthouse as one of our state’s most endangered historic properties adds a
lot of creditability to our efforts to draw public attention to the plight
of our lighthouses. Most people see them or hear about them and perhaps
visit the restored ones that are tourist attractions but very few people are
aware that many of Maine’s lighthouses are in serious danger of being lost
forever. We constantly need as much help as possible to draw this to the
attention of the general public, which we hope, in turn, will generate
donations. Without financial support, we will not be able to save these
lighthouses.”
Maine
Preservation’s “Most Endangered Historic Properties” program has grown to
include 64 sites since 1996, including six statewide thematic
categories of
Downtowns, Historic Neighborhood Schools, Grange Halls, Barns and, as of
this year, Steeples and Towers. Several years ago Maine Preservation
declared Little River Lighthouse in Cutler as one of the state’s most
endangered properties. Shortly afterwards, the American Lighthouse
Foundation was awarded ownership of the Little
Photo By Tom Dutton, USCG
Snow on the floor of what remains of
the lighthouse keeper’s office at
Halfway Rock Lighthouse
River Lighthouse
under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act and restoration is
now one-third complete. However, the restoration project has slowed because
of a shortfall in donations.
Unfortunately,
“Endangered” status does not ensure the protection of a site or provide
funding but does help raise awareness that often leads to rescue. The Coast
Guard has now licensed Halfway Lighthouse to the American Lighthouse
Foundation, which has included the structure in its $1.2 million campaign to
save and restore nine of Maine’s lighthouses.
Photo Courtesy
Tom Dutton, USCG
Halfway Rock Lighthouse as it appeared in
the 1940’s. Much of the history of
lighthouse seems to have disappeared in the dusty
pages of time. The American Lighthouse
Foundation is looking for old photos,
newspaper stories, recorded memories
and other historical information
concerning the lighthouse.
These include
Little River Light Station in Cutler, Prospect Harbor Light in Prospect
Harbor, Boon Island Light in York, Rockland Breakwater Light Station in
Rockland, the tower at Pemaquid Point Lighthouse in Bristol, the east
tower at Cape Elizabeth Light in Cape Elizabeth, Perkins Island Light on
the Kennebec River, and Wood Island Light Station in Biddeford Pool.
Harrison said,
“Volunteers can only do
so much, however,
it takes a financial commitment of concerned people to actually save
lighthouses. After all, lighthouses were built for one purpose only, to save
lives. Now, it’s our turn to save the lighthouses.”
