Over the years, Neil shared many of his memories and family photographs with
the Friends group of his life at the lighthouse and served as a consultant
on the restoration of the 1876 light station that was established on the
island in 1847. He served as one of the principle speakers at the relighting
ceremony of the lighthouse in October 2001 and at the Change of Ownership
Ceremony in July of 2002 when the Coast Guard turned over ownership of the
lighthouse and the island to the American Lighthouse Foundation.
Neil’s father, Willie W. Corbett, was the last lighthouse keeper of the old
United States Lighthouse Service to have served at Little River Lighthouse
from 1921 until 1939 when the Lighthouse Service was dissolved and merged
into the Coast Guard. His father had previously served as a lighthouse
keeper at Saddleback Ledge, Tenants Harbor and Monhegan lighthouses.
As well as being the son of a lighthouse keeper, Neil was the grandson of a
lighthouse keeper. His maternal grandfather, Roscoe G. Johnson also served
as a lighthouse keeper at Little River Lighthouse from 1896 to 1898 and
other lighthouses including Libby Island at the entrance to Machias Bay.
Neil also shared the memories of his mother, Velma, of her lighthouse life
stories that had been passed down to him.
Although Neil was proud of his family’s lighthouse history, he was no fan of
island life and as a youngster he took every opportunity he could to get off
the island. He often recounted the story of telling his father, when he left
the island to join the army, that while island life might have been good
enough for his father, island life wasn’t for him and he would not go back.
However, a couple of years ago, Neil changed his mind and, finally after
many years, returned to the island light station where he delighted in
recounting his memories to others while touring the restored keeper’s
house.
As an active and long time member of the Cutler United Methodist Church in
Cutler, he attended the historic, first-ever, church services that were held
on the island in 2006 and 2007. Last year he chuckled how he now needed a
ride across the island from the boat house to the keeper’s house, recalling
as a young man that he made hundreds of walks from one side of the island to
other, often times, carrying supplies or bags of coal over his shoulder or
in pushing a wheelbarrow. “We didn’t have the luxury of a tractor in those
days,” he said.
His brothers, Myron and Lester and sisters, Florence Armstrong, Ruth Farris,
Emily Keaton and Kathleen Johnson, preceded Neil in death. His brother,
Purcell, who lives in Cutler, is now the last remaining child of lighthouse
keepers Willie and Velma Corbett.
After life at the lighthouse, Neil joined the U. S. Army in World War II and
became a Sergeant and saw active duty in the South Pacific. After the war,
he returned to Cutler where he and his wife Allie ran a lobster business and
raised a family. During this time he was active in community affairs,
holding public office and was a member of the Grange, American Legion,
Masonic Lodge, and other groups.
Neil had a passion for baseball and for many years, in the glory days of
Maine baseball, he served as a coach and player for the Cutler Cardinals and
as an umpire and the Commissioner of the Quoddy Baseball League for 20
years. In 2002 he was inducted into the Maine Baseball Hall of Fame, an
honor that he was proud to accept. It is believed that he is the only
lighthouse person in the United States to have been bestowed such an honor.
He was always happy to talk with lighthouse historians and aficionados and
was interviewed several times for TV programs including the History Channel
special on American Lighthouses and Bill Green’s Maine. He was elated that
the keeper’s house where his family lived was being restored and that his
family’s lighthouse heritage would be carried forward for future
generations.
Tim Harrison who served as the past president of the American Lighthouse
Foundation for 13 years and now cochairman of the Friends of Little River
Lighthouse, recalled his first meeting with Neil Corbett; “In was 1998 and
we were in Cutler to assess the condition of the lighthouse, which had just
been declared by Maine Preservation as one of the “Ten Most Endangered
Historic Properties,” in the state. “My good friend, Ken Black, founder of
the Maine Lighthouse Museum, was with us. Many years ago, Ken was Commander
of Coast Guard Group Quoddy Head, and in those days, Little River Lighthouse
was one of the lighthouses that had been under his command.”
Harrison continued, “As we approached the community of Cutler, Ken said,
‘Before we do anything, we need to look up Neil Corbett.’ As we walked
toward the pier that day, Neil was looking down at some work he was doing
and then glanced up. (It’s important to remember that Neil hadn’t seen Ken
in many years and they originally met each other long after Neil’s younger
days of living at the lighthouse.) Neil immediately smiled and with a
twinkle in his eye, said, ‘Commander Black! What brings you back to God’s
country?’ After brief introductions to us, the two men spent the next hour
reminiscing about the good old days, while laughing all the time. The rest
of us just stood there in awe; enjoying the great stories. After the two of
them were done reminiscing, Neil started to tell us many of his memories of
life at the lighthouse.” At that point, said Harrison, “I knew in my heart
that Neil Corbett would be our inspiration to save a lighthouse station that
many said was beyond being saved.”
Today, Neil’s family lighthouse heritage is being carried on at Little River
Lighthouse. As well as the many community members who helped work on the
restoration of the lighthouse, many Corbett family members have lent a
helping hand in numerous ways. Today, Neil’s daughter-in-law, Judy Corbett
serves as the co-secretary of the Friends of Little River Lighthouse, and
nephew Dave Corbett serves as vice president of the group.
As well as being survived by his brother Purcell, Neil is survived by his
wife of 63 years, Allie, and son Bill Corbett and daughters Sue Corbett and
Joani Barber as well as a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Just as Neil Corbett was a light unto his family, community and his friends,
the light from the tower at Little River Lighthouse will always shine on to
remind us of Neil Corbett, his family and their maritime heritage to the
downeast coast of Maine.
Donations in Neil’s memory can be made to the Cutler United Methodist
Church, P. O. Box 233, Cutler, Maine 04626.
Posted: 2/6/2008
