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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
Fax: 207-596-1091
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the
preservation of America's historic
lighthouses & lightships and
their heritage.
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Worshipers Gather At
Little River Lighthouse
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On Sunday August 26, 2007, the Little River Lighthouse
hosted a Sunday morning worship service for the parishioners and guests
of the Cutler United Methodist Church.
As people gathered on the shore awaiting the trip to the
island, the weather looked like it might not cooperate in the early
morning hours |
Photo by Kathleen Finnegan
Worshipers of the Cutler United Methodist
Church gather for a Sunday morning service at Little River Lighthouse on
August 26, 2007.
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as a think layer of fog blanketed the harbor. In addition, the weather
forecast called for a better than 30% chance of rain or brief thunderstorms.
A little over an hour before the service was scheduled, as the sun appeared
to be breaking through the fog, the decision was made when someone hollered,
“It’s A Go.” This left volunteers scrambling to the island to set up the
sound system, dry off picnic tables, and get the coffee and donuts to the
island. The church service began a half hour earlier than usual to allow
time for people to get back to the mainland for the annual Blessing of the
Fleet in Cutler’s harbor.
Over 75 people along with lighthouse volunteers were ferried out to the
island in three different vessels by local volunteers Stephen Cates, Andy
Patterson, and Hal Biering. Among those attending were Neil Corbett and |
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Photo by Kathleen Finnegan
Descendants of U. S. Lighthouse Service
keeper Willie W. Corbett pose for a group
photo while attending the church service
at Little River Lighthouse. All of them are members of the local Cutler
United Methodist Church. Willie W Corbett served as the keeper at Little
River Lighthouse from 1921 through August of 1939.
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his brother Purcell, the last surviving children of
Willie W. Corbett who was the last lighthouse keeper of the U. S.
Lighthouse Service to serve at the island from 1921 to 1939. In fact, a
large contingent of the attendees were descendants of Willie W. Corbett
and at the conclusion of the service they posed for a group photo.
Also in attendence with members of his family was Terry
Rowden, who |
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was a Coast Guard
light keeper on the island in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. Rowden also
loaned his sound system and portable keyboard for the service.
Many of the parishioners of the church all voiced the same sentiments as the
sky turned a bright blue and the threat of the storm blew over saying how
they felt God was watching over their church, the small fishing community,
and its wonderful lighthouse.
The theme of the church service’s sermon, given by, lighthouse volunteer and
Cutler United Methodist Church member, Timothy Harrison, centered on the
relationship of religion and its spiritual connection with the lighthouse.
The church service had its share of music, appropriately opening with the
singing of the old hymn, “Shall We Gather At The River.” Other hymns sung
were “The Lighthouse,” “Keepers of Tomorrow,” and “This Little Light of
Mine.” The service ended with a thunderous singing of “The Legend of the
Lighthouse,” which is sung to the tune of America the Beautiful and was
written by Judi Kearney for the American Lighthouse Foundation, the
nonprofit group that owns the island and the lighthouse.
This is the second time that the Cutler United Methodist Church held a
service on the island; the first one was held on the island last year, and |
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the church and the lighthouse volunteers hope this will
now be an annual event.
People were given a tour of the now restored and
furnished lighthouse by volunteer Hal Biering, now 80 years old, who has
come from Alabama for five straight summers to work on the restoration.
Biering, president of the newly formed Friends of Little River
Lighthouse group, which is a chapter of the American Lighthouse
Foundation, proudly announced that his job was now done and that the
ongoing care and actual maintenance of the buildings would be
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Photo by Kathleen Finnegan
Little River Lighthouse witnessed its
first
ever U. S. Army General with the visit of
One Star General DeWayne Schwanke (U. S. Army Retired). The general is
shown here 2nd from the right with his wife Millie on the far left,
then lighthouse volunteer Hal Biering, 2nd
from the left, and on the far right, Tim
Harrison of the American Lighthouse
Foundation. General Schwanke and his
wife, who are personal friends of
Hal &
Betty Biering, traveled from their
retirement home in Minnesota to attend the church
service at Little River Lighthouse.
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given to other volunteers under the direction of Dave Corbett, vice
president of the newly formed group. Biering said if he comes back next
year, it would be to simply rest in a hammock on the island and read a few
good books and perhaps give a few tours.
Members of the Cutler United Methodist Church, who are very active in
community affairs, hope that events like this will help draw new people to
the church, as well as the lighthouse. They all expressed a deep sense of
gratitude to the many volunteers of the Coast Guard and American Lighthouse
Foundation who stepped forward to help save their remote island lighthouse.
Posted: 8/29/2007 |
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