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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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Granite Marker Commemorates
West Quoddy Head Light Station’s Easternmost
Location
By Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Though all
lighthouses in America today continue to stand sentry over our nation’s
waterways, one beacon alone has the distinction of “standing further
out” along the Atlantic seaboard than any other. West Quoddy Head
Lighthouse in Lubec, Maine, not only greets the dawn of |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
West Quoddy Head Light Station
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each new day
first, it also sends out its piercing beam through calm, storm and fog from
the easternmost point of the United States.
To commemorate
this great distinction, the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association and
the Maine Department of Conservation – owners of the historic light station
property, teamed up to establish a granite stone marker to depict “The
Easternmost Point of the U.S.A.” The 3,000-pound marker has been placed
adjacent to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse and former keeper’s dwelling, which
now serves as a visitor center.
Samuel Adams Drake
once wrote, “The passage through all the rocky galleries of the Pine Tree
Coast culminates at Quoddy Bay in a masterpiece.” Drake’s assessment of this
gorgeous region could not |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
The granite stone marker placed adjacent
to West Quoddy Head Lighthouse marking
“The Easternmost Point of the
U.S.A.”
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have sparkled
more than on July 30, 2005. A clear, sun-splashed day enhanced the
vibrancy of greens and blues on the seascape as the familiar red and
white, candy-striped West Quoddy Lighthouse stood sentinel in
magnificent splendor during the dedication ceremony.
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West Quoddy Head
Light Keepers Association member Ron Pesha presided over the dedication as
Master of Ceremonies where he had the honor of introducing the event’s
special guests – a list that included, Maine State Senator Kevin Raye,
R-Perry; Maine State Representative Ian Emery, R-Cutler; Tim Harrison,
president of the American Lighthouse Foundation; Tim Hall, Regional Manger
of the Maine Department of Conservation and Deane Hutchins, president of the
West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association.
Senator Raye led
off the speaker remarks by saying that West Quoddy Lighthouse “is a beloved
icon of our region and is truly an enduring |
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symbol of our
Downeast heritage.” The undeniable beauty and the rich history
associated with the light station at West Quoddy was not lost on the
Senator Raye as he talked about the significance of the granite marker
at the lighthouse, saying, “what a marvelous addition this is to an
already spectacular site.”
Representative
Emery followed Senator Raye and immediately brought attention to the
fact that Mother Nature knows West Quoddy Head well by making a
reference to the stiff breeze present during the ceremony that |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Maine State Senator
Kevin Raye, R-Perry
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periodically
doused the warming affects of the sun each time passing clouds concealed its
glow. “This is the minimum-sized stone you would want to ensure that it will
stay,” said Emery, referring to the strong winds that can buffet the
location. Representative Emery also conveyed to the crowd that West Quoddy
Lighthouse is more than simply a historic site, saying, “As a mariner and
fisherman, I am familiar with this site as it is near and dear to my heart.”
The West Quoddy
Lighthouse possesses an iconic standing not only in the State of Maine but
throughout America as well. The light’s distinctive daymark of alternating
red and white stripes makes it one of the most recognizable and sought-out
beacons in the nation. Tim Harrison, president of the American Lighthouse
Foundation made |
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
Maine State Representative
Ian Emery, R-Cutler
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reference to
this fact by stating, “As I stand here today and look at West Quoddy
Light, I’m reminded more than ever of a phrase coined by Ken Black,
Maine’s very own, “Mr. Lighthouse,” when he said, “Lighthouses are like
people, they come in many different sizes, shapes and colors.” And while
that is true, none are as colorful as the red and white striped West
Quoddy Head Light.”
Harrison went
on to say, “West Quoddy Head Light is one of the most recognizable
lighthouses in Maine, and even in the world. It has appeared on a U. S.
Postage |
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Stamp, and on
countless magazine covers and numerous paintings. This has given it an
advantage. However, even with this advantage, this historic lighthouse
would not have been saved and opened to the public with its great museum and
interpretative center if it had not been for the dedicated people in this
community who came forward - people who were willing to work hard and never
lose sight of the light at the beginning of America’s day.”
Moving his
attention from the majestic lighthouse to the granite marker commemorating
the “Easternmost Point of the U.S.A.,” Harrison |
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commented,
“After all, future generations will judge us by not want we have built,
but, by what we have saved. In fact, if it were not for the foresight of
some, this marker could have stated, “This is the eastern most point of
land, where a lighthouse once stood.” Fortunately, for all us, this is
not the case.”
Harrison went
on to say, “Through the foresight of today’s modern keepers, such as the
volunteers of the West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association, who have
taken the initiative with this monument to mark this spot as the eastern
most point of land, where |
Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
American Lighthouse Foundation President
Tim Harrison
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America starts
each and every day is historic in another way. This marker will directly
help to insure the future care of this historic lighthouse into the future.”
In addition to the
dedication of the granite marker, the historic moment was further preserved
for posterity through the burial of a time capsule at the marker that is
schedule to be unearthed 53 years into the future in 2058. The year 2058 was
chosen because it represents 200 years from the time the lightkeeper’s
dwelling was first constructed. Today, the former keeper’s dwelling serves
as a visitor’s center. The time capsule contained a variety of items
relevant to the present day, including a dozen drawings of the lighthouse by
students from the Lubec School District.
The United States
Coast Guard played an important role in the dedication ceremony at West
Quoddy Head as well. BMC Charles |
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
DC3 Sean Maring of U.S. Coast Guard ANT
Southwest Harbor was one of two Coastguardsmen conducting tours at West
Quoddy Head Lighthouse
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Petronis,
Officer in Charge at U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Team Southwest
Harbor, graciously authorized the light tower to be opened for tours to
the general public – a rare treat that enabled visitors to view both the
spectacular third order Fresnel lens that adorns the lantern room of the lighthouse
as well as the sparkling seascapes from a perch 83-feet above sea level.
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To Read ALF President Tim Harrison's remarks during the dedication
ceremony...Click
Here
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More Photos...
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West Quoddy Light Keepers Association
member Ron Pesha served as Master of Ceremonies for the dedication
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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A close-up view of the time capsule that
will remain buried until the year 2058
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(L to R) ALF Executive Director Bob
Trapani, Representative Ian Emery, R-Cutler, & ALF President Tim
Harrison
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
WQHLKA president Deane
Hutchins (right) receives help in
lowering the time capsule into
the ground
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
WQHLKA members & dignataries who helped
toss spades of soil on top of the
time capsule gather
as a group
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BMC Charles Petronis of USCG ANT
Southwest Harbor (civilian clothes with shovel) tosses a spade of soil
on top of the
time capsule
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Photo by Ann-Marie Trapani
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Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.
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ALF President Tim Harrison and ALF
Treasurer Kathleen Finnegan stand next to the gorgeous third order
Fresnel lens inside West Quoddy Head Light
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