Portland Head has been protecting the City of Portland and the surrounding towns for a long time. The people who lived in Cape Elizabeth were patriots and strong supporters of the American Revolution. In 1776, the new Town of Cape Elizabeth posted a guard of eight soldiers at Portland Head to warn citizens of coming British attacks.
In 1787, the government of Massachusetts gave the people of Cape Elizabeth $750 to begin building a lighthouse. In 1790, when the United States Government took over the responsibility of all lighthouses, Congress gave $1,500 to finish building it. The original tower measured 72' from base to lantern deck and was lit with 16 whale oil lamps. It was first lit on January 10, 1791.
Construction of the first Keeper's Quarters began in 1790. A one story dwelling built to replace the first keeper's house was erected in 1816. It measured 34' x 20' with two rooms, a cellar and a porch in the rear.
By 1864 a 4th order Fresnel lens and a cast iron staircase were installed.
By 1865, the tower was raised 20' and a 2nd Fresnel lens was installed. A part of this lens may now be seen at the Museum at Portland Head Light. This lens was in the lighthouse until 1958.
Late on Christmas Eve in 1886, the three masted ship, Annie C. Maguire, struck the ledge at Portland Head. Keeper Joshua Strout, his son, wife, and volunteers rigged an ordinary ladder as a gangplank between the shore and the ledge that the ship had crashed into. Captain O'Neil, the ship's master, his wife, two mates, and the nine man crew clambered onto the ledge and then to safety . The cause of the wreck is puzzling since visibility was not a problem. Members of the crew reported they "plainly saw Portland Light before the disaster and are unable to account for same."
The current Keepers' Quarters building was constructed in 1891 as a two story duplex. Until 1989, it was home to the head and assistant lighthouse keepers and their families.
In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took over the care of the lighthouse. On August 7th, 1989, Petty Officer Davis Simpson struck the US flag for the last time and decommissioned the lighthouse. That meant that the light would be run automatically and that there would no longer be a lighthouse keeper living there. In 1990, the Town of Cape Elizabeth finally took complete ownership of Portland Head Light. Senator George Mitchell played a big part in making this happen.
In 1787, the government of Massachusetts gave the people of Cape Elizabeth $750 to begin building a lighthouse. In 1790, when the United States Government took over the responsibility of all lighthouses, Congress gave $1,500 to finish building it. The original tower measured 72' from base to lantern deck and was lit with 16 whale oil lamps. It was first lit on January 10, 1791.
Construction of the first Keeper's Quarters began in 1790. A one story dwelling built to replace the first keeper's house was erected in 1816. It measured 34' x 20' with two rooms, a cellar and a porch in the rear.
By 1864 a 4th order Fresnel lens and a cast iron staircase were installed.
By 1865, the tower was raised 20' and a 2nd Fresnel lens was installed. A part of this lens may now be seen at the Museum at Portland Head Light. This lens was in the lighthouse until 1958.
Late on Christmas Eve in 1886, the three masted ship, Annie C. Maguire, struck the ledge at Portland Head. Keeper Joshua Strout, his son, wife, and volunteers rigged an ordinary ladder as a gangplank between the shore and the ledge that the ship had crashed into. Captain O'Neil, the ship's master, his wife, two mates, and the nine man crew clambered onto the ledge and then to safety . The cause of the wreck is puzzling since visibility was not a problem. Members of the crew reported they "plainly saw Portland Light before the disaster and are unable to account for same."
The current Keepers' Quarters building was constructed in 1891 as a two story duplex. Until 1989, it was home to the head and assistant lighthouse keepers and their families.
In 1939, the United States Coast Guard took over the care of the lighthouse. On August 7th, 1989, Petty Officer Davis Simpson struck the US flag for the last time and decommissioned the lighthouse. That meant that the light would be run automatically and that there would no longer be a lighthouse keeper living there. In 1990, the Town of Cape Elizabeth finally took complete ownership of Portland Head Light. Senator George Mitchell played a big part in making this happen.
What we need for our lighthouse stories:
Who? Who built it, designed it? Who lives there?
What ? What does it look like? Describe it.
When? When was it built? When were other parts of the lighthouse added to it?
Why? Why was a lighthouse needed in that location? Is there a story about why it was built?
Where? Where is your lighthouse? Is is in a place where a lighthouse is needed or appropriate?
How? How was it built? Is there an interesting story about how the lighthouse was built?
What ? What does it look like? Describe it.
When? When was it built? When were other parts of the lighthouse added to it?
Why? Why was a lighthouse needed in that location? Is there a story about why it was built?
Where? Where is your lighthouse? Is is in a place where a lighthouse is needed or appropriate?
How? How was it built? Is there an interesting story about how the lighthouse was built?