Marla Rogers spent her childhood as a lightkeeper’s daughter. When Marla was seven years old, her father – Archford “Ted” Vernon Haskins, was appointed keeper of Owls Head Light Station. Keeper Haskins and his family served at Owls Head Light from 1947 to 1953. Marla (1940-2014), who later in life volunteered at Owls Head Lighthouse […]
A Star on Our Vest
The following poem was written by lighthouse keeper Ralph C. Norwood while stationed at Maine’s Ram Island Light Station. Mr. Norwood served as a keeper at Great Point Light, MA (1929), Boston Light, MA (1929-41), Ram Island Light, ME (1945-50) and Spring Point Ledge Light, ME (1951-54). A Star on Our Vest By Ralph C. […]
On the Doorstep of Safe Refuge and Still Wrecked at Little River Light
When storm winds blew and the seas grew large during the age of sail, schooners and fishing boats would often run for the nearest harbor of refuge to ride out the tempest. One such sought-after place was Cutler Harbor in Downeast Maine, whose entrance has been marked by the guiding gleams of Little River Lighthouse […]
Keeper of Light Hero in Rescue
Newspaper Article from the Past… Newspaper article from: The Portsmouth Herald, Friday, June 19, 1931 “Parker Head, Me., June 19 – Caught in the swift-running cross tides at Parker Head, Linwood E. Libby, 64, suddenly lost his balance while out in his boat, fell into the water and was saved from death by Eugene Osgood, […]
Keeper Joshua Card – A True Lighthouse Legend
During his illustrious career as a lighthouse keeper, Joshua Card was universally respected for his dedicated service and longevity – a total of forty-two years spent serving at Maine’s Boon Island (1867 to 1874) and New Hampshire’s Portsmouth Harbor (1874 to 1909). In 1908, the following account was published in the Genealogical and Personal Memoirs, […]
We Remember – Heroic Rescue by Lighthouse Keeper on August 7, 1881
The date of August 7th is special throughout the annals of our nation’s lighthouse history. It was on this day in 1789, that Congress approved an Act for the establishment and support of lighthouse, beacons, buoys and public piers. In Celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the signing of the Act and the commissioning of […]
Sailor the Fog Bell Ringing Dog at Wood Island
Newspaper Article from the Past Wood Island Lighthouse in Maine was once home to a famous dog named Sailor. According to lighthouse author and historian, Jeremy D’Entremont, “Keeper Thomas Orcutt’s dog, Sailor, a mostly-black mongrel (described as a Scotch Collie in one article), was taken to the island as a two-month-old puppy and went on […]
Keeper of Pemaquid Point Light Commended for Rescue
Newspaper Article from the Past… This is one of the more dramatic accounts in the history of Maine’s Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. In 1930, Keeper Elwell risked his own personal safety to come to the aid of three teenagers whose boat had capsized off the light station. Anyone who has visited Pemaquid Point Lighthouse knows all […]
Times when Browns Head Lighthouse was Extinguished
The Fox Island Thoroughfare is a gorgeous inshore passage approximately seven miles in length, which leads from the east to west side of Penobscot Bay, between North Haven and Vinalhaven islands. Today, this protected passageway is a favorite for Maine windjammers and pleasure craft alike to leisurely traverse or drop anchor in one of its […]
Narrow Escape from Drowning at Pomham Rocks Lighthouse
A Newspaper Article from the Past… C.H. Salisbury, the first keeper of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse (1871 to 1893), was no doubt faithful to his duties based on his long tenure (22 years) at the offshore sentinel, but he also appears to have been proficient at helping save lives along the Providence River as well. According […]
A False Beacon at Race Point Light
Newspaper Articles from the Past… Throughout the history of lighthouses, there are those occasions when mariners mistook a guiding light for another in the vicinity – a mistake that almost always resulted in a shipwreck. There were also times – though much rarer, when either light station equipment malfunctioned or dereliction of duty by the […]
Wood Island Lighthouse Poem by a Keeper’s Wife
The following poem was penned by Elmenia P. Lurvey, wife of Wood Island lightkeeper W. F. Lurvey (1917-1923). The poem appeared in the Bar Harbor Times on February 14, 1923. Lines from a Lighthouse I am sitting beside this billowy ocean, And gazing on naught, but the sea and the sky; The crystal waves roll […]
