The lighthouse was just the third to be built in what is now the state of maine. First keeper, joseph greenleaf, was appointed by george washington in a signed letter. His wife, connie, later wrote the book the lighthouse keeper s wife, in which she painted a vivid portrait of life on seguin. Seguincaretakers blog lighthouse keepers on an island in. Maintained by the friends of seguin lighthouse this is worth the boat ride.
Cyndy and i are once again back on the island, thanks to friends of seguin island light station fosils, spending a week with the new summer caretakers mitchell thorpe and patty sullivan to do what we can to help them settle in and find their way and take over this coming memorial day weekend. The light station is located at the island s highest point, and includes the lighthouse itself, the keepers house, fog signal building, a small oilhouse, and a tramway for bringing supplies from the shore to the site. My husband and i recently visited the seguin island lighthouse. Friends of seguin get license the keepers log, summer 1989. History of seguin island light, near georgetown, maine. In addition to the book, i left the island with a brochure for friends of seguin island. The annual report of the lighthouse board for 1873 notes that a teninch steamwhistle fog signal had been established at the station, giving eightsecond blasts every minute. Lighthouse books, photographs, pictures, pics, photos, note cards, and lighthouse cd book, flipbooks. Seguin island and lighthouse bath 2021 all you need to know. The most interesting story about the seguin island lighthouses is a ghost story involving a 19 th century keepers wife. Lighthouse service provided civilian keepers for the countrys.
Ida lewis becomes rhode islands most famous keeper. For nearly a hundred years, a copy of the book was kept in the pond island lightho. Three years later, the annual report recorded that a frame building had been built to provide housing for an assistant keeper and to shelter a backup fog signal. Herbert spinney served as a keeper on seguin island from 1893 until 1907, starting as second assistant and making his way up to head keeper in 1903. We took a picnic lunch along and enjoyed eating it overlooking the cove. His wife, connie, later wrote the book the lighthouse keepers wife, in which she painted a vivid. His wife connie small wrote the book, the lighthouse keepers wife. The lighthouse is listed on the national register of historic sites. Sequin island, located at the mouth of the kennebec river and nearly 2.
According to the website haunted lighthouses, seguin island lighthouse is famous for a number of things, including being the only lighthouse in maine to have a first order fresnel. Lighthouse near me every maine lighthouse ranked down east. Maine has one lighthouse that was outfitted with a first order fresnel lens pictured on the right seguin island. The history of seguin island light station is filled with strange and tragic stories. The light station stands on the island s highest point, and includes the lighthouse itself, the keeper s house, fog signal building, a small oil house, and a 1006. A lighthouse keeper s life was a lonely one, and one. Seguin island light station maines midcoast regions. Today a pianoplaying ghost is said to haunt seguin lighthouse. The volunteer lighthouse keeper gives a tour of the lighthouse, and you can climb to the top and walk around the outside on the platform. Keepers of burnt island light 200 year anniversary. The 1st order fresnel lens was installed on seguin island in 1857. Phippsburg i went out to seguin island lighthouse for the first.
Her husband, pond island lighthouse keeper alton dude brown, had. A lighthouse keeper s life was a lonely one, and one keeper s wife was very depressed, so he arranged for a piano to be shipped out to the island to occupy his wifes time. Seguin island lighthouse, two miles farther out to sea, had been built in 1796. Perhaps the most disturbing and fascinating of maines collection of ghost stories is the tale of what happened on seguin island near the cuckold islands.
The light station stands on the island s highest point, and includes the lighthouse itself, the keeper s house, fog signal building, a small oil house, and a 1006 foot. Thomas day, keeper at seguin island in 1880, wrote to the inspector over a rumor he had heard. Its the tallest lighthouse in maine and is open today for tours were you can see an incredibly rare lens which can never be replaced. Tour the island s trails, the keeper s house and museum, and climb the light tower to see the first order fresnel lens and breathtaking views. You can come by your own boat or book a trip with capt. Her parents raised thirteen children while her father served as the patos island lighthouse keeper from 1905 19. Seguin island lighthouse hdr maine lighthouses, island. Lighthouse keepers, the ultimate social distancers new. This lens, which was installed in the seguin island lighthouse during 1857, remains an active aid to navigation. Maines highest lighthouse cant open for the season due to. Our mission is to distinguish seguin island light station as part of maines maritime. Jul 16, 2019 at fort popham youll board the boat for a stunning cruise to seguin island where youll be rowed to shore to begin your island exploration. Seguin is located a few miles off the coast at the mouth of the kennebec river in maine.
The boat ride passes directly by pond island lighthouse. Oct 24, 2017 this seems to be true of seguin lighthouse, maines secondoldest, which was approved by george washington in 1795. Weve included a link to his presentation below in case you missed it. Nov 20, 2017 seguin lighthouse is located on seguin island, in the gulf of maine south of the mouth of the kennebec river. It is best known for the mysterious disappearance of its keepers in 1900. In 1607, thirteen years before the mayflower arrived at plymouth rock, the ships gift of god and mary and john, commanded by captain george popham and captain raleigh gilbert and carrying over one hundred people, arrived in rough waters and set up a colony at what is today known as popham beach. Seguin island just days before volunteers are set begin preparing seguin island light station for another season of visitors, the power is out on the island. The isolation of the phippsburg, maine, lighthouse, for example, drove the lighthouse keeper to madness and murder. Helene reminisces about the adventure and heartbreak experienced on a beautiful but remote island where smugglers, old timers, and god weave in and out of their lives.
John lowell, the lights first keeper, remained at the station for twentythree years and nearly saw the erection of the island s second lighthouse, which was built by ezekiel d. The seguin island light station was commissioned by george washington in 1795. Over a period of 31 years, the station was foggy 15 percent of the time. To distinguish seguin island light station as part of maines maritime heritage through education and preservation to. Seguin island lighthouse cruise maine maritime museum. Colorful magnets with photos or drawings of the scenic lighthouse. The future looks bright for maines lighthouses the boston.
Seguin island is a place of marine and environmental history, with unique flora and abundant fauna. The seguin island lighthouse was commissioned by george washington in the year of 1795. The most interesting story about the seguin island lighthouses is a ghost story involving a 19 th century keeper s wife. Friends of seguin island newsletters, fall 1997 present. Island overview friends of seguin island light station. Now imagine that the island is haunted by the ghosts involved in a gruesome axe murder. Connie small, author of the lightkeepers wife, is a 96year old, articulate and spirited woman, with many stories about life in a lighthouse. I understand that the keeper of boon island light is removed for. Therefore, maines oldest original tower will return to its glory in time to celebrate its 200th anniversary in 2021.
Whaleback ligh t is an historic lighthouse constructed in 1872. Sep 28, 2020 one, the seguin lighthouse, is in the gulf of maine on seguin island, south of the kennebec river. Located in georgetown, maine, the lighthouse underwent two major reconstructions, first in 1819, then again in 1857. The keeper was eventually driven insane and destroyed the piano with an axe, then killed his wife and himself. His wife, connie, later wrote the book the lighthouse keepers wife, in which she painted a vivid portrait of life on seguin. Lighthouses with overnight accommodations new england. The book documented her time spent at the lighthouse. The light station is located at the island s highest point, and includes the lighthouse itself, the keeper s house, fog signal building, a small oilhouse, and a tramway for bringing supplies from the shore to the site.
Aug 17, 2020 welcome to the seguin island light station seguin island is 2. Light hearted ep 67 cyndy carney, friends of seguin island. On top of the highest point on the island, at 186 feet above sea level, it is also the highest lighthouse in the state. The ghost of a young girl who died while living in the lighthouse is said to haunt the grounds. It is an australian novel full of descriptive passages, set in modern day hobart5. The lighthouse keepers wife, out of print and only 6 left. Friends of portsmouth harbor lighthouses home facebook. Jun 22, 2020 the lighthouse on maines seguin island was approved by president george washington in may 1793. A visit to sequin island is a journey to a place where time stands still.
Investigate seguin islands isolated lighthouse haunted by. Bruce bay cottages and lighthouse resort stay in the 1907 mckay island lighthouse, across from the historic town of bruce mines, ontario, canada. The tower had to be rebuilt in 1819, and then again in 1857. Ghosts of seguin island light portland press herald. Seguin island lightstation, also located in georgetown, sits three miles off the.
Although the seguin island lighthouse wouldnt be operational until the fall of 1796, keeper polereczky was allowed to start in march to give him time to cultivate the soil on the island. Goat island light, off cape porpoise, was maines last and the countrys secondtolast lighthouse to be automated, in 1990. Seguin island is a 64acre 26 ha island located about two nautical miles south of fort popham in southernmost phippsburg. Oct 26, 2018 seguin light is home to the famous piano playing ghost. Centuries before the film so i married an axe murderer became a cult classic, a lighthouse had been built on seguin island in 1795. The story goes that the lighthouse keeper in the mid1850s bought his wife a piano to keep her from getting bored. Sorry, there are no tours or activities available to book online for the dates you selected. Seguin island is located near one of the first places in north america to be settled by europeans. The lighthouses of kingstonguiding ships through the graveyard of lake ontario, 1828 to 1914. Imagine, if you will, being stranded on a small island in the middle of nowhere. Plan your visit friends of seguin island light station. There are many stories about the various light keepers that lived at this lighthouse, but two specific tales are particularly. The point lookout lighthouse, built in 1830, is known as one of the most.
Historic seguin island lighthouse and nearby attractions. In june 1811, general lincoln recommended a lighthouse on boon island. Sep 02, 2020 the volunteer lighthouse keeper gives a tour of the lighthouse, and you can climb to the top and walk around the outside on the platform. Jul, 2014 the ultimate destination for todays maine lighthouse buffs is 2. Flannan isles lighthouse is a lighthouse near the highest point on eilean mor, one of the flannan isles in the outer hebrides off the west coast of mainland scotland. The tower, completed by that winter, exhibited a fixed light 32 feet above the water. Seguin island and lighthouse bath 2021 all you need to. Jan 10, 2017 while the lighthouse keepers wife might be the most famous spirit on seguin island, shes not the only one. The second oldest light in maine and ordered by george washington in 1795, it is also in one of the foggiest locations on the coast. The smallest phantom might be the daughter of a nineteenthcentury lighthouse keeper. Seguin island is one of the foggiest places in the country one year, the fog signal blew for almost onethird of the entire year, a total of 2,734 hours.
Marc seguin, of save our lighthouse canada was guest speaker of the kingston history society on march 3, 2021. Lawrence in quebec can accommodate twelve persons in double occupancy. Maines highest lighthouse is only a boat ride away maintained by the friends of seguin lighthouse this is worth the boat ride. As the story goes, a lighthouse keeper at seguin in the mid1800s nobody seems to know who he was had a bored wife on his hands. Investigate seguin islands isolated lighthouse haunted by an. The light station was commissioned by george washington in 1795 and was placed on. Auberge carlton the former keepers house at pointe carlton lighthouse in parc national danticosti in the gulf of st. The first keeper, after witnessing the vulnerability of the low island 14 feet above sea level at its highest point to storms, left after only a few weeks.
There have been sightings of a ghost who has been named the old captain. It is a fully functional, aid to navigation and is one of maines most memorable places. Only open late may to early october visitors are treated to a personal tour and history by the summer caretakers. Its maines tallest and second oldest light station. Keeper polereczky, a veteran of the revolutionary war, was appointed months before the station was ready so he could make preparations for farming and. This large, powerful light, which stands 180 feet above the water, contrasts strikingly with the modest, red brick keepers quarters. Top 5 haunted new england lighthouses new england boating. For some asocial keepers, lighthouses were an introverts heaven. One is that of the first lightkeeper who died penniless and boatless on the island. Welcome to the seguin island light station seguin island is 2. Portsmouth harbor lighthouse in new castle, new hampshire and whaleback lighthouse in kittery, maine, are.
Keepers spoke of furniture moving on its own and doors slamming themselves. A popular tale concerns a nineteenthcentury keepers wife who played the same tune over and over on her piano. Seguin island light station includes a lighthouse and a fog signal house. Bracey keeper on seguin, the concussion has put out an oil lantern set on the.
Sales of a photo or book of lighthouses, provide lighthouse. The keeper had been driven insane by his wife who played the same piano tune over and over. Lighthouse keeper elson small served from 1926 to 1930. Investigate an isolated lighthouse haunted by a bloody axe murder. Seguin island lighthouse s ghosts connecticuts noisy ghost light keepers ghost keepers assisting mariners block island s female ghost and ghost ship first female keeper visits keeper stays on duty with a sense of humor appendix a. May 03, 2019 the lens of seguin island light is 180 feet above sea level, making the lighthouse the highest on maines coast.
As befits a remote lighthouse location, seguin island has ghost stories galore. Seguin island lighthouse georgetown 2021 all you need to. Comissoned by george washington in 1795, it is the secondoldest of maines coastal lighthouses, and the only lighthouse in the state housing a firstorder fresnel lens. Visit the northeast to explore these historic light stations along the coast. The lighthouse has always either been ran by general workers or at one time the coast guard for over 70 years. Historic seguin island lighthouse and nearby attractions in maine. George washington gave the order to build the first tower made of wood in 1795, which lasted for about 25 years. Oct 22, 2016 the seguin lighthouse is in the gulf of maine, on seguin island, south of the kennebec river. A history of seguin island light station friends of. In her book, connie small recalled spirited singalongs and wrestling matches between the keepers and visiting work crews.
Along with the piano, the woman was given only one piece of sheet music, a popular song that she quickly mastered. Lighthouses mentioned in stories you can view by boat glossary of some mariner terms selected bibliography. There is a museum in the lighthouse, including many pictures from past lighthouse keepers, and a small gift shop. According to legend, a keeper in the mid1800s bought his bored wife a piano to help her pass the lonely hours at the island lighthouse. Seguin island lighthouse is maines second oldest lighthouse. Be sure to visit the museum and gift shop next to the keepers quarters. This book contains over 40 highly researched stories of famous events involving shipwrecks.
Established in 1795, it is the secondoldest of maines coastal lighthouses. There is a restroom at the island, and then there are several different hiking trails, one of which leads to the lighthouse. Seguin island light bibliography new england lighthouses. You can see this light from popham beach or visit the lighthouse grounds and museum from memorial day to labor day. Lighthouse digest, museum to open at maines highest light above water. Friends of portsmouth harbor lighthouses, portsmouth, nh. Some say his ghost has haunted the keepers who came after him. Also in 1857, a new ninefoottall firstorder fresnel lens was installed, and that lens remains in operation today. Mar 29, 2017 the original seguin island lighthouse was constructed in 1795 by order of george washington himself. Coast guard cuts power to popular seguin island lighthouse. During the migration season, birds would sometimes gather around the lantern room on dark, overcast nights until they were as thick as snowflakes. Grounds and museum are open to the public, and lighthouse tours are provided during the summer months. In his book lighthouses of new england 17161973, edward rowe. As the story goes, a lighthouse keeper at seguin in the mid1800s nobody seems.
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