We left Connecticut in the early hours of June 7, looking forward to a nice leisurely trip to Maine.
Our first stop was in Stockton Springs, Maine, where we saw the Fort Point Light in a state park.
The lighthouse, established in 1836 to aid vessels bound for Bangor (a leading lumber port), was situated in the center of the park with benches for people to sit and enjoy the view.
There also were markers to explain what you were seeing, and small walking paths to explore.
The next stop was in Belfast. We stopped at Perry’s Nut House, which had lots and lots of nuts, curiosities and fudge available for purchase. The nut house has been family owned and operated since 1927. It offers travelers unusual fun for the entire family.
One cute thing they have is an outhouse that has a talking Maine fisherman when you open the door.
They have many souvenirs and Maine-made products.
Next, we were off to Camden, where we saw the Curtis Island Light.
Capt. John Smith arrived in Camden Harbor during the early 1600s. He arrived with a cook, and the cook mentioned that if he could have any place in the world, the small island would be the place. Captain Smith then awarded the cook ownership.
More than 200 years later, the island’s name became Curtis Island in memory of Cyrus H.K. Curtis, publisher of the Saturday Evening Post, and longtime summer resident and benefactor of Camden.
We then set our sights on Indian Island Light in Rockport. The present lighthouse is a square, brick tower attached to the original one-and-a-half story, T-shaped brick keeper’s house.
Afterward, we were off to see the Breakwater Light in Rockland.
In 1902, a permanent lighthouse was built at the breakwater’s end and a 25-foot tower was added atop the roof of the brick keeper’s house.
The lighthouse is now owned by the City of Rockland and leased to the Friends of Rockland Breakwater, a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation.
We also made a stop to see the Owls Head Light in Owls Head.
The 1854 keeper’s house remains a residence for Coast Guard personnel, and the surrounding grounds are now a state park.
The bell tower is gone, but the 1895 oil house remains.
To end the day, we went on the hour-long Camden Lobstering & Lighthouse Cruise in St. George.
This was a very enjoyable ride where we saw schooners, bald eagle nests, buoys, lobster traps, islands, seals, bridges and several houses.
We got to see Cadillac Island, which had benches facing the water.
In addition to all of this, we also had a close-up view of two additional lighthouses. One was named Curtis Lighthouse and the other was Indian Island Lighthouse.
This marked the end of a hectic and long day.
We rested up for the following day where time was already planned out for us.
We started the next day by having a nice breakfast in the motel and then going to Marshall Point Light located in Port Clyde.
The lighthouse was built in 1832, and at this time, the village of Port Clyde was a major port. The structure was a 20-foot tall tower.
In 1857, the present 31-foot brick-and-granite lighthouse was built with a fifth-order Fresnel lens installed.
The lighthouse is connected to the shore by a wooden walkway.
In 1971, the light was automated, the Fresnel lens removed and a navigation station set up in the keeper’s house.
A local resident we were talking to suggested that we see Horse Point Road.
This is a scenic drive overlooking the water and houses. We were glad he recommended this spot, as it was a lovely ride.
We then went to see Pemaquid Point Light in Bristol. We saw some of the most majestic, stark and striking scenery on the Maine coast.
The lighthouse sits atop unique rock formations, and the light is visible on a clear day for 14 miles. It was the first lighthouse in Maine to be automated, which happend in 1934. The keeper’s house now houses the Fishermen’s Museum, which displays artifacts of Maine lighthouses, and the fishing and lobster industry. A park area is adjacent to the lighthouse grounds.
Stay tuned for Part Two of our trip.
By Helene Rubenstein
Grand Horizons
Published June 28, 2017
