Wanted: Owner to keep light shining
Source: Portland Press Herald, by Allison Ross
August 14, 2007
The Coast Guard will give Whaleback Ledge to an interested party with the right financial resources.
Perched on a rocky outcropping where it is surrounded by water at high tide and pummeled by waves during storms, the Whaleback Ledge Light Station is certainly not the most accessible or tourist-friendly lighthouse in Maine.
But fans of the lighthouse are hoping that someone loves this isolated icon off the coast of Kittery enough to become its owner and pay for much-needed repairs.
The Coast Guard has decided to give away the historic lighthouse to an interested party with the right financial resources. While many nonprofit groups and government agencies are interested in preserving the legacy of the offshore lighthouse, its difficult location will require a big commitment from potential owners.
"It's a huge responsibility to say you're taking over ownership of a lighthouse," said Bob Trapani, executive director of the Rockland-based American Lighthouse Foundation, which helps take care of Whaleback and has expressed interest in becoming its owner.
Whaleback poses more difficulties than many other lighthouses, he said, because it's difficult to land people and supplies on the rocky ground and because the interior needs considerable work.
Jon Carter, Kittery's town manager, said Whaleback is a "historic icon to the Portsmouth/ Kittery port entrance," but he is not sure his town wants to take charge and become its owner or co- owner.
"Unlike the Nubble Lighthouse, the Whaleback is a very difficult place to land on," Carter said. "Just Google it, and you'll see how difficult it is. But it is an icon and something people recognize about the area. It's something that should be preserved as much as we can."
The lighthouse, which was built in 1831, was listed as available on June 18 under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
The purpose of the act is to provide a way for the federal government to relinquish ownership of historic lighthouses. Since the act was passed, five other lighthouses in Maine have been put up for availability.
The General Services Administration will accept letters of interest until Friday from those who might want to acquire the property for free.
After that, the application process will begin. The group that ends up with the lighthouse will be expected to use it for "park/ recreation/ historic/cultural or educational" purposes. If no suitable applicant is found, the government will put the land up for sale to individuals.
In addition to the American Lighthouse Foundation, three groups have already formally expressed interest in owning Whaleback, said Kirk Mohney, assistant director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. Those other groups are the Wood Island Preservation Group, Life Wise Community Projects Inc. and the American Light Foundation, based in New Jersey. That does not necessarily mean they will end up applying.
Another offshore Maine lighthouse, the 1890 Lubec Channel Lighthouse, didn't attract a non-private owner when it was available in 2006. It is up for bidding by private owners.
"I don't like to see these lighthouses auctioned to private individuals," said a lighthouse historian, Jeremy D'Entremont. "It's dangerous, even despite maybe the good intentions of the person buying them."
D'Entremont said many private owners don't know what they are getting into and have no experience dealing with the various aspects of upkeep and day-to-day expenses. There can also be issues when an owner dies or can no longer take care of a lighthouse. He said it would be best for Whaleback to find a group to care for it.
Squirrel Point Light Station ran into such problems when its owner, Michael Trenholm, let the lighthouse fall into disarray because of increasing expenses and personal health concerns. The government was forced to retake control of the lighthouse in February 2005.
"I hope we can find a good owner," D'Entremont said. "These lighthouses are tangible reminders of our maritime history. They stand as monuments to keepers and families who lived at them, who were committed to maintaining the lights."
Staff Writer Allison Ross can be contacted at 791-6330 or at:
