2/29/2024 0 Comments Old lighthouse keeper paintingFortunately for this semi-factual account, Charlie Dumigan was a Quayside, maybe twenty-five feet tall and bearing a resemblance to a Chinese Southampton and then they’d be back home to Portaferry, while she sailed theīy four tugboats, the ship approached a curious wooden structure on the At least, they were only delivering this girl to Much to be said for coastal steamers, he thought. Lightly rested on the handrail, and his thoughts strayed back to the AilsaĬraig and the deafening lack of fuss whenever she sailed. Out from the fitting-out jetty, as the crowd cheered excitedly.Īt the delirious scenes ashore, Able Seaman Charlie Dumigan’s 45-year-old hands The restoration project at Little River Light Station was the benefactor of grants from Lands’ End, the Cruise Line Charitable Foundation, New England Lighthouse Lovers, Patrick & Evelyn Finnegan Memorial Fund, Gannett Company, Maine Community Foundation and Machias Savings Bank however, the bulk of the funds raised were obtained from individual contributions to the American Lighthouse Foundation.The morning of April 2 nd, 1912, the ship groaned inwardly and eased The extensive application for ownership to the United States Department of the Interior was compiled on behalf of the organization by ALF President Timothy Harrison (1994-2007). Little River had the distinction of being the first lighthouse in New England, and the third lighthouse in the United States, to have its ownership transferred to a nonprofit group under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000. Dan Smith, Special Assistant to the Director of the National Park Service Tim Harrison, ALF President Commander Hank Haynes, USCG Group Southwest Harbor BMC Kenneth (Sam) Hill, USCG Aids to Navigation Team, Southwest Harbor and Saundra Robbins,General Services Administration, Boston, MA. (L to R at the 2002 ceremony) Bill Collette, ALF Vice-President P. In October 2002 ownership of the 15-acre island and the light station structures (lighthouse, keeper’s house, oil house and boathouse) were transferred to the American Lighthouse Foundation.Ī proud moment…ALF obtained ownership of Little River Light Station from the Federal Government in 2002 through the NHLPA Program. In October 2001, ALF held a relighting ceremony for Little River Lighthouse and dedicated the light tower as a “Beacon of Freedom to the World.” The relighting ceremony was designed to serve as a dual ceremony, honoring those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, as well as honoring the memory of the people of the United States Lighthouse Service and the United States Coast Guard who served at Little River Lighthouse. These achievements met the Coast Guard’s criteria for reestablishing a light in the historic lighthouse, which had been decommissioned in 1975. In 2001, the American Lighthouse Foundation proceeded with the restoration of the light tower, boat ramp and wooden walkway on the island. Thanks to the restoration efforts of ALF, the Coast Guard agreed to reestablish a light back in Little River Lighthouse during 2001. All declined ownership saying the lighthouse would cost too much money to restore and maintain. Over time the lighthouse and the island were also offered to the State of Maine, the National Park Service and U.S. In 1993 the government offered the lighthouse to the Town of Cutler, but they declined the opportunity to assume ownership of the island and the lighthouse. The historic light station structures were then boarded up and abandoned. The whereabouts of the Fresnel lens remains a mystery to this day.Īfter the station was automated the Coast Guard left the island and the government attempted to maintain the station with caretakers, an arrangement they eventually discontinued. In 1975 the classical lens was removed and replaced by a modern optic atop a steel skeletal tower near where the present day foghorn and solar panels are now situated. The lighthouse was originally equipped with a fifth order Fresnel lens as its optic. A view of the fifth order Fresnel lens that was in place at Little River for many years.
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