Cutler, Maine’s Friends of Little River Lighthouse, a
chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation, recently received a
donation of a Seagull, 16-foot Nautico, catamaran style, dual-hulled
boat. The donated boat also included a boat trailer and 50-horsepower
outboard engine, all in near-mint condition. The boat has a center
console, automatic engine lift, depth finder,
FLRL Photo
Mac McCullough (l) along with Hal
Biering,
of the Friends of Little River
Lighthouse,
with the boat that McCullough donated
to the group for use at the
lighthouse.
lights, and it even came with a
nearly full tank of gas.
In making the donation, Mac McCullough, said, “Having helped
on the restoration of the lighthouse a few years ago, I knew how much they
needed a bigger boat, as well as an extra boat, especially now that they are
getting ready to open the lighthouse for overnight visits.”
Little River Lighthouse is located on a 15-acre island off
the coast of Cutler, Maine. Listed as one of Maine’s ten most endangered
historic properties, the darkened lighthouse was relit by the Coast Guard
after the American Lighthouse Foundation restored the tower under a license
agreement in 2000. In July of the following year the group obtained
ownership of the lighthouse and the island under the National Historic
Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Since then they have been busy raising
money and working on the restoration. Last year the Friends of Little River
Lighthouse was formed as a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation for
the long-term care and management of the island and the lighthouse.
Although McCullough was unable to come back to help with the
restoration for the past few years, he had built up a close friendship with
head volunteer Hal Biering, and was impressed by the dedication of Tim
Harrison, who has spearheaded the project. McCullough had also been
following the progress in stories that appeared in Lighthouse Digest
Magazine and has kept in touch with Biering and Harrison on a regular basis.
He felt that now was the time to step forward with the donation.
Biering, who, along with Harrison, serves as co-chair of the
Friends group, said, “Mac told me he wanted to donate the boat ahead of time
and we got the approval of the entire group to accept the donation.”
However, said Harrison, “We really had no idea what to expect and were
amazed when we saw Mac pull into my driveway with such a beautiful boat. We
felt like we were kids on Christmas morning.”
“We are delighted that there are people out there like Mac
who have helped us make a difference,” said Biering. However, McCullough was
quick to quip back, saying it was Biering’s dedication, by coming from
Alabama to Maine, each year for the past five summers, to work on the
lighthouse, which really shows dedication.
The Friends are now raising money for a permanent dock at the
lighthouse and hope to have the money raised soon, so it can be installed
next year. However, they have a long way to go. “We still need to raise
$40,000, said Harrison.
To learn more about or to make a donation for Little River
Lighthouse go to
or contact them at P.O. Box 671, East Machias,
Maine 04630. You can also call them at 207-259-3833.
