unofficial
“Friends” group, without any formal officers or committees.
The newly elected officers are: Hal Biering, Chairman; David Corbett, 1st
Vice Chair; Marilyn Murdock, 2nd Vice Chair; Karen Staake,
Treasurer; and Kathleen Finnegan and Judy Corbett as Co Secretaries.
Biering, the newly elected Chairman said that holding the first official
meeting on August 7 was of historical importance because it was on August 7,
1789 when the First Congress of the United States created the U. S.
Lighthouse Service.
Marilyn Murdock, the newly elected 2nd Vice Chair, said that it
was also especially important to form the group now, because it honors the
160th year of when the first lighthouse was built on the island
in 1847.
“We are excited about this positive step forward for the long term care of
this lighthouse which has such strong ties to the community of Cutler,” said
Karen Staake, the new Treasurer of the group.
Others at the community meeting voiced similar statements. However they
admitted that although the lighthouse keeper’s house has been restored they
have lots of work ahead of them.
The tower, which was relit in 2001 after being dark for 26 years, is again
in need of major work, plus the group needs to obtain the necessary permits
and raise money for a pier at the island. Biering said they also
desperately need a larger boat and engine.
At the conclusion of the meeting members appointed both Neil Corbett and
Purcell Corbett, the last surviving children of Little River Lighthouse
keeper Willie Corbett, as Honorary Chairmen. Willie Corbett served at a
number of Maine lighthouses, finishing his career at Little River Lighthouse
where he was the last keeper of the United States Lighthouse Service on the
island from 1921 to 1939 when the Lighthouse Service was merged into the
Coast Guard. Also, Neil and Purcell’s grandfather, Roscoe Johnson was the
lighthouse keeper at Little River from 1891 to 1898.
Newly elected officers Dave Corbett and Judy Corbett also have family ties
to the island lighthouse. Judy is a daughter-in law of Neil Corbett, and
Dave is the son of Myron Corbett who was Neil and Purcell’s brother.
Although the newly elected officers have no term limits, they will hold
another election of officers again in November and each November thereafter,
as is required by the formal chapter agreement with the American Lighthouse
Foundation, which owns the island and the lighthouse.
The group is already busy planning fundraisers and events. They will be
hosting a community invited Cutler United Methodist Church Service on the
island on August 26 at 9:30 am weather permitting and a Boy Scout encampment
will be on the island from August 16 to 20. They will also have a booth at
Wild Blueberry Festival.
So far this year, as well as local volunteers, people have come from
California, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Alabama, Illinois,
and other parts of Maine to help work on the island. “A lot has been done
this year,” said Biering. He continued by saying, “We installed a bladder in
the cistern, repaired what was left of the floating dock that was severely
damaged in the April storm, and accomplished a major clean up of parts of
the island. Volunteers have begun decorating the keeper’s house and also
brought out more furniture, including a heavy sofa sleeper for the living
room.”
“But, we’ve had our share of problems this year, especially when the old
switch transformer blew out causing the island to lose electrical power. The
bill for the repair came in at just over $1,100. 00, which was much less
that we originally figured, but it’s still a lot of money for an unexpected
expense for a small group to raise” he said.
To learn more about Little River Lighthouse and the American Lighthouse
Foundation you can visit their web site at
www.LighthouseFoundation.org or to contribute to the group to help them
in their efforts, donations can be sent to Friends of Little River
Lighthouse, P.O. Box 671, East Machias, ME, 04630 or call 259-3638.
