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Whitehead Island Lighthouse Fun Facts
Location: Western Entrance, Muscle Ridge Channel
Closest City: Spruce Head, Maine
Latitude: 43.9784 Longitude: -69.125
Body of Water: Penobscot Bay
Open to Public: No
Station Established: 1807
Present Tower Activated: 1852
Status of Light: Operational
Tower Height: 41 ft.
Optic: 300mm, 1982
Third Order Fresnel, 1855
National Register Reference #: 88000154
Listing Name: Whitehead Light Station
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This area of the Maine coast is the undisputed fog champion, receiving an average of 80 days (more than 11 weeks) of fog per year. Accordingly, the Whitehead Island lighthouse has played host to several fog sound systems. A fog bell was first installed in 1830 but proved ineffective. In 1837, a new "tide-bell" was installed. Designed by Andrew Morse, Jr., a weight operated spring mechanism was wound by the rise and fall of the tide, powering the fog signal continuously without human assistance. Records show the contraption had many difficulties surviving the pounding surf but was in use until replaced in 1869 by a steam whistle.
The Whitehead Island lighthouse, located 2 miles south of Spruce Head, was established in 1807, making it one of the oldest in Maine. The original stone tower was replaced by the Lighthouse Board in 1852 by the existing 41 foot, unpainted, conical, granite tower attached to a red brick service room. In 1855, the new tower received a third order Fresnel lens. Later additions still standing at the site include the 1.5 story, T-shaped, duplex keeper's residence (1891) built on the foundation of the original stone house, a square brick fog signal building (1888), an oil house (1891), a boathouse, and a granite wharf dating from 1871. A principal's residence (for the school that once served this station) has been dismantled.
Whitehead station's first keeper left an indelible mark on the site. Looking to make a few extra dollars, Ellis Dorph started selling whale oil meant for the beacon to local inhabitants. To do so, however, he had to order extra quantities of the fuel which caught the attention of federal officials. An inspector was dispatched from Boston who quickly identified numerous individuals in the area that had purchased oil supposedly from Dorph's personal supply. He was quickly terminated from the position.
The Whitehead Island lighthouse was also the final keeper position held by legendary lightkeeper Abigail Burgess Grant. She and her husband transferred to Whitehead Island in 1875 from the Matinicus Rock lighthouse and served until 1889.
In 1933, the station was given a makeover including new lenses, foghorns, deisel engines, compressors and generators. Two diaphones were installed with one pointed seaward to the south and the other in a northeasterly direction toward the Muscle Ridge Channel. The light was manned by keepers until 1982 when it was automated by the Coast Guard.
The Fresnel lens, literally large enough for a person to stand in, was replaced by a much smaller 300mm optic at the same time. Both the lens and the schoolhouse (1891) are on display at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland.
Ownership of this site was transferred to the Pine Island Camp by the Maine Lighthouse Selection Committee in 1997. Campers can sign up each summer to help restore the remaining buildings on site. The Whitehead Island lighthouse station is closed to the public and viewable only by boat or air.
Lighthouse Accessibility
- This site is not visible from the mainland and is closed
to the public.
- The lighthouse may be viewable on a local boat tour.
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