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WHITEHEAD ISLAND LIGHT

State: MAINE
Location: WHITEHEAD ISLAND / PENOBSCOT BAY SOUTHERN ENTRANCE
Nearest City: TENANTS HARBOR
County: KNOX
U.S.C.G. District: 1
Year Station Established: 1807

 Whitehead Island Light
1998 photo by David Gamage
Existing Historic Tower:
  • Year Light First Lit: 1852
  • Is the Light Operational? YES
  • Date Deactivated: N/A
  • Automated: 1982
  • Foundation Materials: NATURAL/EMPLACED
  • Construction Materials: GRANITE/ASPHALT
  • Markings/Patterns: NATURAL
  • Shape: CONICAL ATTACHED TO SERVICE ROOM
  • Relationship to Other Structures: SEPARATE
  • Tower Height: 41
  • Original Optic: THIRD ORDER FIXED, FRESNEL
  • Year Original Lens Installed: 1855
  • Present Optic: 300 MM
  • Year Present Lens Installed: 1982
  • Height of Focal Plane: 75
  • Fresnel Lens Disposition: ORIGINAL LENS AT SHORE VILLAGE MUSEUM, ROCKLAND
  • Has tower been moved? NO
Previous Tower(s):
  • 1. Construction Date: 1807
  • Description: STONE
  • Fate/Disposition:
  • 2. Construction Date: 1830
  • Description: GRANITE
  • Fate/Disposition: RAZED 1852 UPON COMPLETION OF EXISTING TOWER
Modern Tower? NO

Existing Sound Signal Building? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1888
  • Construction Materials: BRICK
  • Architectural Style: 1-STORY SQUARE W/HIP ROOF
  • Fog Signal Type: ELG 300-2/ORIG. BELL (1830), STEAM WHISTLE (1869), HORN (1933)
Existing Keepers Quarters? YES
  • Year Constructed: 1891
  • Number of Stories: 1.5
  • Architectural Style: T-SHAPED DUPLEX
  • Construction Materials: WOOD FRAME
Other Structures: OIL HOUSE (1891), GARAGE, BOATHOUSE WITH LAUNCHWAY, SCHOOL HOUSE (1891), FOUNDATION OF 1899 KEEPERS DWELLING, GRANITE WHARF (1871) (BRIDGE TO SHORE DEMOLISHED IN STORM), RAIN SHED FOUNDATION (1876)

Current Use: ACTIVE AID TO NAVIGATION/UNDER RESTORATION FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND MUSEUM

Owner/Manager: PINE ISLAND CAMP W/USCG ACCESS TO OPTIC

Open to the Public? NO

Web Site:

National Register Status: LISTED; Reference #88000154
Name of Listing: WHITEHEAD LIGHT STATION
On State List/Inventory? NO; Year Listed:

HABS/HAER Documentation? YES, ME-211 (MARO)

Miscellaneous:
HARNESSED WAVE POWER TO RING BELL (1837); USED TO TEST FOG SIGNALS AND AS COALING STATION FOR LIGHTHOUSE TENDERS; UNDERGOING 4-YEAR RESTORATION



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Last Modified: Wed, Apr 17 2002 1:32:02 pm EDT
JMP


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