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Save
Our Lights!
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American Lighthouse Foundation, Inc.
P.O. Box 565
Rockland,
Maine 04841
Phone: 207-594-4174
info@lighthousefoundation.org
The American Lighthouse Foundation is a
Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization dedicated to the preservation of America's historic lighthouses.
SEARCH ALF WEB
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American Lighthouse Foundation Takes Over
Perkins Island Lighthouse
By Timothy Harrison
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| Under a long-term license from the United
States Coast Guard, Maine’s Perkin’s Island Lighthouse has come under
the care and protection of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
Unfortunately, ALF has only received the tower. The keeper’s house and
other buildings, which are now in a total state of ruin, were given to
the State of Maine many years ago. The State of Maine has not been a
good caretaker as is evident by the |
Photo by Bill Collette
Although Perkins Island Light Station
looks picturesque from the water, the
keeper’s house and other outbuildings
are in a state of ruin. The
keeper’s house
never had electricity. Automated in 1979,
the Fresnel lens was removed from
the
tower and the light now comes from
a modern plastic optic.
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photographs that
accompany this story and by our recent inspection trip to the island.
We found the lighthouse in remarkably good shape, thanks in part to the care
given to it over the years by the United States Coast Guard. The original
woodwork inside the 23-foot tower looks as new as the day it was built in
1898. The lantern room shows typical wear and will need restoration work in
the very near future.
The real shame here is the rest of the station that sits on a 6.9-acre
island. The boathouse, built in 1901 is gone, no one seems to remember |
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Photo by Tony Harrison
The front porch roof of Perkin’s Island
keepers house is collapsing into the
interior as is shown here
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when it was
destroyed or taken down. The keepers house is in extremely bad shape -
it will need a new roof soon if the building is to be saved - the roof
over the front porch has already collapsed into the interior. It will
also probably need a new chimney, the one that’s there is ready to
collapse. The other |
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building, which we assume, must have been a summer kitchen and work/storage
building with attached outhouse is also in extremely bad shape with many
open areas that have allowed animals and vandals to enter. The old fog
signal building is ready to collapse, although State officials have said it
will be restored by the time we go to press. The bell |
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1000-pound bell was removed years ago.
In our estimation it should be considered one of the most
endangered historic properties in the State of Maine. We would encourage
people to write and demand that the State of Maine restore this historic
property. Tell them that you think it’s a shame that they have allowed
this historic property, listed on the National Register of Historic
Places to deteriorate to the point where it may be impossible to save.
Demand that they take action now! Send your letters to Gov. Angus King,
1 State House Station, Augusta, Maine 04333-0001.
This story appeared in the October 2000 edition of
Lighthouse Digest Magazine. All contents copyright © 1995 - 2005 by
Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item may be
reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse
Digest. For contact information,
click here.
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Photo by Tony Harrison
Perkins Island Lighthouse, although a
short tower, it sits majestically on its rocky ledge on the Kennebec
River. The tower is now under the care of the American Lighthouse
Foundation.
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