Maine Lighthouse Series Set #2 LbNA #44563

*********AND THE LONG AWAITED SEQUEL ARRIVES**********
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Well, we've done it. After another year of planning and dreaming, here it is, the SECOND installment on a series of boxes planted along the Maine coastline. Eventually, all 68 lighthouses in Maine will have a letterbox planted nearby. All 68 stamps have already been carved we're just in the process of placing them. All boxes will be planted in the BEST possible location. For the map, directions and history we are using got to https://www.lhdepot.com/Order.cfm?orderitem=93349
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#12 – Seguin Lighthouse (1795)
Directions~
From US Rte 1 at Bath follow rte 209 south for 13.8 miles to the entrance on the right to Popham Beach State Park. From the Shorefront, the lighthouse is visible 2.5 mi to the southeast. The Park is open mid April through October daily 9-sunset. All other times, just park outside the gate and walk to the shore.

History~
~Maine’s first island lighthouse
~One of only two 18th century lighthouse stations on the coast.
~Situated at summit if Seguin Island off mouth of Kennebec River
~Need for light due to Kennebec being a busy center of waterbourne commerce and focal point of state ship building industry
~First lighthouse dates to 1795; wooden tower lasted until 1819 when it collapsed
~replaced by 21 foot rebel stone structure declared unfit by 1842
~1857 congress authorized $35,000 for granite block tower more than twice as tall
~new tower received the only first order Fresnel lens ever installed in a Maine LH, still in use today
~ sends out a fixed white light 180 ft above sea level visible for 20 mi.

Clues~
Pull into parking lot. Directly across from the gate, you’ll see a path heading down to the beach. Take the path and stop at the picnic area. Walk toward the largest hibachi in the area. Behind the hibachi is a narrow path heading into the trees. As you follow the path, notice on your right a branch resting on the ground. Your box is hidden there; the lighthouse is visible at the beach. While viewing the lighthouse, be careful at high tide, the water comes in close.

#13 – Pond Island Light (1821)
Directions~
From Seguin Light take a right out of the parking area and follow the road to the end.

History~
~First lighthouse est. 1821 supposedly named for small body of fresh water on it although no pond evident since first lighthouse.
~today’s tower built in 1855
~original 13 foot structure strapped with an iron band for more than a decade to keep it from falling down
~Today white stone lighthouse is all that remains of the station
~overlooks west side of Kennebec river
~ the keepers dwelling and various outbuildings demolished after personnel removed in 1963
~Automated: 1960
~ Brick; Height of tower: 20 feet; Height of focal plane: 52 feet
~Earlier optic: Fifth-order Fresnel (1855); Present optic: 250 mm, three seconds white alternating with three seconds darkness


Clues~
you should park in the first small lot on the right, and walk to the top of the first large rock that you find on the right. As you face the ocean, with the lighthouse visible in the distance on your right, notice on your left a Y shaped tree leaning on the rock. The box is hidden under the large charred log in the middle of the Y.


#14 Cuckolds Light (1907)
Directions~
From the southern terminus and jct of rtes 27 and 238 in Cape Newagan Village, turn south onto town landing road. Continue .25 miles to the end. Limited parking, from adjacent dock lighthouse is visible .6 miles to the SE

History~
~The word infers deceit or deception; The Cuckolds are a pair of small rocky islets off the southern end of Southport Island protecting Newagen Harbor, a serious hazard.
~Built to protect mariners, a substantial fog signal station complete with dwelling est. 1892.
~main structure semi circular granite masonry pier supporting brick signal house.
~octagonal tower added in 1907 to roof of house creating secondary seacoast light station
~unmanned in 1974 and abandoned the next year.
~keepers house and service buildings washed away in severe 1978 storm.
~spherical signal house and rooftop tower remain
~visible 59 feet above sea level, range of 12 nautical miles automated 1975

Clues~
Park anywhere. The lighthouse is viewable at the end of the dock if you turn to your left. Back at the beginning of the dock area notice a small gate that says “private”. There’s a split rail fence coming off the gate toward the water. At the 2nd post from the end is a mound of rocks on top of the box.

#15 Perkins Island Light (1898) and #16 Squirrel Point Light (1898)

***if you are following the suggested map guide instead of our directions, please be aware we found it easier to view Perkins island from Squirrel Point than from the suggested pull off. It really was an unsafe roadside location. It can be seen closer if you go according to the map but the box is NOT located according to the map guide. Please follow our directions here. ***

-Directions for both Lighthouses.
~From US Rte 1 in Bath head south on rte 127 at Woolwich. At 4.2mi bear right onto Bald Head Rd. Continue and additional 2.3mi to its end. Park and walk the woods trail to it’s location. (Remember there are two boxes at this location!!)
Follow the trail bearing left after you cross a wooden bridge. The path then heads straight to squirrel point lighthouse

~~Perkins Island~~
History~
~shingled tower built atop a ledge on the west side of Perkins Island 3 miles above the Kennebec River mouth
~Title passed to the State of Maine in 1964; subsequently to the Town of Georgetown in 1973
~dwelling boarded up and fell into disrepair since,
~Friends of Perkins Island trying to restore station since 2002
~Station established: 1898; Present lighthouse built: 1898; Automated: 1959
~Construction material: Wood with brick foundation. Height of tower: 23 feet; Height of focal plane: 41 feet
~Earlier optic: 1898: lens-lantern; 1902: Fifth-order Fresnel lens, Present optic: 250 mm
~Characteristic: Flashing red every 2.5 seconds with two white sectors

~~Squirrel Point Lighthouse~~
History~
~one of chain of similar structures built in 1898 to better mark Kennebec River’s channel
~white octagonal wooden shingle tower; 25 feet above the water, automated 1982
~resident keeper transferred to doubling point range light station further up river.
~ Maine Audubon society took over maintenance of sight
~station privately held 1998 until early 2005 when ownership transferred to government.

Clues for both~
Once you have left the trail, head toward the left most point. Perkins Island is visible in the distance here. (look for the triangular structure as you stand with your back to the shed and lighthouse) As you follow the boardwalk back toward Squirrel Point Lighthouse, stop when you are next to the solar panel. Directly opposite the panel, on the hillside to your right, you’ll see a large rock. The Box is hidden behind the rock and contains both stamps.

#’s 17 & 18 Doubling Point (1898) and Doubling Point Range (1898)

***Doubling Point Range IS NOT visible from the shore at any location see History section to find out why***

Directions~
US 1 in Woolwich turn S onto 127 and proceed 1.8 miles turn right onto gravel surfaced Whitmore’s Landing Rd and continue 0.45 mi, bear left onto Doubling Point Rd and go 0.6 miles to the lighthouse. (You will hit a private road IT IS OK to follow this to the lighthouse, access is allowed. Just follow the lighthouse signs)

~~History Doubling Point~~
~Station established: 1898; Present lighthouse built: 1898; Automated: 1988
~Wood with granite foundation, height of tower: 33 feet; Height of focal plane: 33 feet
~Original lens: Fifth-order Fresnel; Present: 300 mm; flashing white every four seconds
~Other buildings: 1898 keeper's house, 1898 fog bell tower, oil house, storage building
~stands out over the river atop granite and brick pier connected to shore by railed wooden walkway.
~privately owned since 1934, current caretakers are friends of doublings point light access allowed to grounds
~1999 tower lifted for foundation to be repaired.

~~History Doubling Point Range~~
~Station established: 1898; Present lighthouse towers built: 1898; Automated: 1990
~Wood, height of towers: Front range - 21 feet; Rear range - 13 feet 235 yards apart in north/south orientation
~Height of focal plane: Front range - 18 feet; Rear range - 33 feet
~Original lens: Fifth-order Fresnel present lens: 250 mm front range - Quick white flash. Rear range - Three seconds white alternating with three seconds darkness
~Other buildings: 1898 keeper's house, 1898 fuel house, 1901 boathouse, 1902 oil house
~Two individual lights meant to be used together. Visible only in one direction, situated so that when they are aligned one shows directly above the other and they indicate the midpoint of the channel.
~in 1982 location of lights became known as Kennebec rover Light station.
~until 1990, one keeper monitored system of river lighthouses from Perkins to doubling point.

Clues for Both~
Once you’ve explored the area find the stone head in the woods not far from the lighthouse. (hint: coming back from the lighthouse head to your left.) While you are standing foot to face with the head find the red door. The box is located under the stairs leading to that door.


#19 Hendricks Head (1829)
Directions~
From Rte 127 turn west onto Beach Rd (be careful we got lost here. It’s where there’s a large green area in the center of a 3 way intersection.) go 0.45 miles to small parking area at the end of the road.

History~
~Station established: 1829; Present lighthouse built: 1875; discontinued: 1933; Relighted: 1951
~original: rubblestone house with wood tower, current: bricks; height of tower: 39 feet; Height of focal plane: 43 feet
Original lens: Fifth order Fresnel (1875); Present lens: 250 mm; Fixed white with a red sector
~Other buildings still standing: 1875 keeper's house, 1890 fog bell tower, 1895 oil house, barn, two cisterns, storage building, garage

~an 1842 inspection deemed lighthouse unnecessary; however 30 years later, when ruined by fire, lighthouse rebuilt in a more substantial fashion having the light installed in a brick tower separate from the keepers quarters.
~government closed in 1933 and sold to a private party; 1951 Coast Guard re-established the light as an automate aid, however property remains privately owned.

Clues~
Best time to reach this box is at low tide otherwise plan on getting very wet. At the beach head out to the shrub covered rock directly in front of the parking area. Climb to the top. Walk past the shrubbery to a grassy area just beyond the last of the shrubs. Turn around and you should see the box under a rock about 3-4 feet from where you are. Please be as stealth as possible, sometimes this place can be rather busy.

#20 Ram Island (1883)
Directions~
From rte 27 south in BoothBay Harbor turn left onto rte 96 and proceed east and south 5.8 miles to Ocean Point. Roadside turnouts at intervals for the next 0.6 miles allow views of the lighthouse 0.7 miles to the south. (PARK at the small parking area on the left just before you hit the beach, if you’ve done our last set this area should remind you of Lands End and Halfway Rock.)

History~
~There are at least 21 Ram Islands along the Maine Coast. This one was so named because it was used to quarantine rams in efforts to control the breeding of local sheep
~November 1883 a lighthouse and station were established on the north side of the island
~wooden walkway once bridged the distance between the tower and the island
~Automated: 1965; Coast Guard made repairs 1977 after town turned down a lease due to disrepair; tower and lantern refurbished; keepers house closed and catwalk removed
~mid 1980’s a bank took over and further restored the house.
~light shines 39 feet above water.

Clues~
Head down to water, on the left you’ll see a sign for the ocean point walk, head down this path. Walk across the edge of the lawn to the dirt path. At the first pine tree on your right stop and notice a small rock wall at the base of the tree. The Box is here.

#21 Burnt Island (1821)
Directions~
From rte 27 South approaching the central business section of BoothBay Harbor, turn left onto Union St. Proceed 0.3 miles and turn right onto Atlantic Ave. Continue another 0.7 miles and turn left onto Grandview ave. The public road soon becomes private, please observe all posted signs, after an additional 0.7 miles the lighthouse is visible 0.9 miles to the SW. (Although this is a private drive you can drive through to the Hotel at the end of the road and view the lighthouse from there. However, since this is ONLY a roadside view the box was planted just before the private way begins)

History~
~1821 20.5 foot tower built at the south end of the Burnt Isaldn on the West side of Boothbay Harbor then known as Townsend, already one of the busiest ports on the Maine Coast
~white conical tower rebuilt in 1850’s and improved again in the 1860’s. It has kept much of original appearance
~flashes of red light with two white sectors 65 feet above the water.

Clues~
You can drive down to the end of the road and view the light across the bay from the hotel but do not linger as it is a private road, head back to the gate marking this area as a private road. Stop here and notice a small turn around on the right side of the road. The Box is hidden under the large bush in the center of the small garden.

#22 Pemaquid Point (1827)
Directions~
From Business US Rte 1 in Damariscotta village turn south onto rte 130, follow it 14.3 miles to the end. Access to the station is via town operated Pemaquid Point Lighthouse park which includes the lighthouse, the fisherman’s museum located in the former lighthouse keepers building and the nearby Pemaquid Art gallery. There is a fee of $2 a person while the park is open.

History~
~The light is situated high on a rugged promontory granite fieldstone white conical tower located at the southern extremity of Pemaquid neck overlooking the western entrance to Muscongus Bay.
~The original 29 foot lighthouse was replaced in 1835 due to poor construction. That replacement continues to be in operation today, automated in 1934.
~light shine 79 feet above the water.

Clues~
Head around to the left of the lighthouse heading due east. Stop at the drop off and turn right. Take 15 steps and turn left, step down, take 8 steps back, the box is on your left under the ledge.

Hope you enjoyed the second leg as much as we did. Let us know what your favorites are! First Finders prize to whoever finds all 11 boxes. Please contact us with any problems with the boxes. Since they are so far away any help with maintenance is greatly appreciated!