Maine Lighthouses Explorer

Wood Island Light is a wonderfully romantic lighthouse, especially when viewed in solitude from the Audubon Society preserve on Eastern Point at Biddeford Pool. Here the lighthouse is accompanied by crashing surf, an ocean dotted with islands, and a view of Old Orchard Beach. The tower, which is located on the northeast side of Wood Island Harbor and marks the entrance to the Saco River, can also be seen from the shore of Biddeford Pool and Hills Beach.

Wood Island comprises a 49-foot white conical granite block tower and a one and a half story wooden keeper's house. Both were originally erected in 1808, although the original tower was replaced with another, of the same style, in 1858,

The second oldest lighthouse in Maine, Wood Island Light is not without its stories! Legend says the lighhouse is haunted by a murder victim, and the tower is the location of several dramatic rescues at sea. It is said that it was once inhabited by a dog who rang the fog bell, and in the 1870s was home to a pub and distillery that were burnt by drunken revelers. In the 1940s, during World War II, the light station was visited by a surrendering German submarine!

The lighthouse is reached by boat only. While it is closed to the public, tours can be arranged by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, P.O. Box 26, Biddeford Pool, ME 04006.

Year Established: 1808

Year Automated: 1986

Shape: Conical

Height: 49 ft.

Characteristic: Alternating white and green flashes every ten seconds. Fog signal: two blasts every 30 seconds.

Accessibility: The light is accessible only by boat and is closed to the public, although tours can be arranged through the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse. The tower can be viewed along the shore of Biddeford Pool and Hills Beach, as well as from the Audubon Society preserve on East Point at Biddeford Pool.

Copyright 2007 all Rights Reserved

(Photo by gmarlett, copyright 2008, all rights reserved)

The tour schedule for 2008 is from Saturday July 5th through August 30th.

Tours run on:

Wednesdays 4:30 PM & 5:30 PM
Thursdays 5:00 PM & 6:00 PM
Saturdays 1:00 PM & 2:00 PM

A tour to Wood Island Lighthouse is run by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse, an all volunteer, 501(c)(3) nonprofit. The lighthouse is located off the coast of Biddeford Maine and tours leave from Vine's Landing in Biddeford Pool. The guided tour takes about 1 1/2 hours and is subject to Mother Nature and her weather and sea conditions.

You must call 207-286-3229 and make reservations.

Visit the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse Web Site:

http://www.woodislandlighthouse.org/index.html

Note: My wife and I just went on a tour of Wood Island Lighthouse on July 5, 2008. We had a great time, took lots of pictures (alas - no ghosts!). I would highly recommend a visit, the volunteers have done a terrific job in maintaining and restoring this lighthouse and are well informed and gracious tour guides. gmarlett

Seguin Island Light has the distinction of being Maine's second lighthouse, as well as being the lighthouse with the highest elevation at 186 feet above sea level. It is situated in one of the foggiest spots on the coast, and is the location of the book The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife, which was written by keeper Elson Small's wife, Connie Small.

In addition to the cylindrical 53-foot tower is a 1.5-story brick keeper's house, which is inhabited by caretakers during the summer months. Before 1990 the Coast Guard had maintained the light, tower, and lantern room, but the rest of the station had fallen into disrepair. The Friends of Sequin Island Light was formed and restoration began. Today Seguin Island Light is an excellent spot to visit, and the summertime keepers are usually happy to give you a tour of the grounds and tower.

When you are there, watch out for ghosts. Seguin Island Light certainly has its fair share! One legend tells of a 19th century keeper's wife who played the same tune on the piano. The keeper went insane, destroyed the piano, and then killed his wife and himself. It is said that on calm nights you can still hear the tune coming from Seguin Island. Other visitors claim to have seen a young girl running and laughing in the house, supposedly a keeper's daughter who died on the island. Doors are said to open and shut by themselves, and there is an odd coughing noise that no one can explain.

Seguin Light can only be seen by boat, but many tours from Freeport, Bath, and the Boothbay area land there during the summer months so visitors can take a look around. There's a museum on the grounds as well. There is no admission fee, though donations are accepted.

Year Established: 1795

Year Automated: 1985

Shape: Cylindrical

Height: 53 ft.

Characteristic: Fixed white. Fog signal: two blasts every 20 seconds.

Accessibility: The island is open to public boaters, and tour ships from Bath, Freeport, and Popham Beach often land there.

Copyright 2007, All rights reserved.

(Photo courtesy of Flickr)

ON SHORE OPTIONS...
Seguin Island maybe be seen from a number of locations along the coast. At the end of Southport Island, Seguin may be seen at the Town Landing at Newagen at a distance of 6 nautical miles. From Ried State Park in Georgetown, Seguin is 4 nautical miles. The best view of Seguin from the mainland is at Popham Beach State Park. Seguin is at a distance of 2 nautical miles. This is not only the closest place to view the island but, looking at it from this angle, the island is its longest. If you drive a mile past Popham Beach State Park, at the end of the road is Fort Popham, a Civil War fort built to guard the mouth of the river. Seguin is 3 nautical miles in the distance. To the north - upriver- Perkins Island Light can be seen.

Please visit the SEGUIN OFFICE and STORE in Bath, Maine On the Second Floor of 72 Front Street, Suite 3
OPEN: Monday through Thursday, 10 AM to 3 PM.

There are several ways to get to Seguin Island if you wish to take a tour. During the summer, there are resident care takers on the island who can give you a tour. Go to the Seguin Island Web Site for further information and transportation options.

http://www.seguinisland.org/Visit_Seguin.htm

Maine Maritime Museum in Bath, Maine offers a lighthouse lovers cruise which includes Seguin Island:

Lighthouse Lovers Cruise SATURDAYS, 3:30 - 7 PM Members $35/ Non-members $40/ Children 4-12 years $10/Infants $1

See 10 of Maine's finest lighthouses best viewed from a boat! See Doubling Point Light, the Kennebec Range Lights, Squirrel Point Light, Perkins Island & Light, Pond Island & Light, Seguin Island & Light, Cuckholds Light, Ram Island Light, Burnt Island Light, and Hendricks Head Light.

Contact Maine Maritime Museum for further info:

http://www.mainemaritimemuseum.org

One of the earliest lighthouses in the area, Burnt Island Lighthouse is a beautiful, shining, whitewashed tower that sits at the entrance to Boothbay. The 30-foot conical tower is made of brick and covered in rubblestone. Also on the grounds is a quaint wood keeper's cottage that was constructed in 1857.

Originally the lighthouse produced a fixed white light. But in 1888 a dead angle was placed in the lantern room so the light could not be seen west of the rocks called the Cuckolds. Apparently vessels hauled into the harbor as soon as they saw the light, and this caused them to hit the rocks then move closer to the rocky shore.

In 1889 the characteristic of the light was changed from white to red, and this was uniquely achieved by placing red glass panes on the lantern room windows. Today, the characteristic is a flashing red light every six seconds.

Burnt Island Lighthouse was one of the most sought-after posts for keepers with families. The light was not as isolated as many of the others; it was close to the mainland, which meant it was easy to get away for socialization, activities, and to get supplies.

The light can only be seen by boat or air, but there are many sightseeing tours in the Boothbay area that go by it.

Year Established: 1821

Year Automated: 1989

Shape: Conical

Height: 30 ft.

Characteristic: Flashing red every six seconds. Fog signal: two blasts every 10 seconds.

Accessibility: The light is not accessible, but can be viewed by boat or helicopter.

(Picture Burnt Island Light courtesy of Flickr)

A three-hour program is offered in summer Monday through Friday, twice daily at 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

The Novelty, located at Pier 8 in Boothbay Harbor, serves as the ferry to the island. (This is through Balmy Day Cruises - see below)

The Burnt Island Living Lighthouse tour is $20 for adults and $12 for children under 12.

You can call (207) 633-2284 for more information on the tours, which run from mid-July to early September.

Balmy Day Cruises in Boothbay Harbor Offers a ferry service to Burnt Island Lighthouse as follows:

Seasonal Schedule: 2008
The Lighthouse Tour Boat Runs:
June 30th - August 29th (Monday-Friday)

Daily Schedule: 2008
Location Time
Departs Pier 8 on the NOVELTY 1:45 pm
Returns to Pier 8 4:45 pm

Rates
Type Rate
Adult $22
Child (3-11) $12

Reservations please call: (207) 633-2284 or (800) 298-2284
-Captain reserves the right to change or cancel any trip-

http://balmydayscruises.com/

*For the venturesome - you can kayak your way out to the island.

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