Keepers of The Burnt Island
Light Station
Boothbay Harbor, Maine
P.O. Box 738
Boothbay Harbor , ME 04538
ph: 207-633-7239
keeper
History of the Burnt Island Lighthouse
The oldest known photo of the tower and keepers dwelling. 1859
The oldest known photograph of the Burnt Island Light Station
On March 3, 1821, President James Monroe directed Congress to purchase the five acre island and construct a thirty foot high lighthouse.
In those days, Boothbay Harbor and the surrounding area was a very busy shipbuilding and fishing port. Because the harbor was large and well protected, it became a safe haven for the many commercial sailing vessels that traveled the coast of Maine. In May of 1821 a group of captains and owners of the commercial vessels drafted a petition to the local customs collector, requesting that a lighthouse be placed on Burnt Island at the entrance of the harbor. The petition was granted and construction of the tower was started that same year. On November 9, 1821, Keeper Joshua B Cushing lit the oil lamps for the first time.
This 1885 photo shows a barn that housed the keeper's livestock. The keepers were known to have pigs, sheep, chickens and cows. Burnt Island got it's name because the early farmers would graze sheep on the island. In late fall, they would burn off all the overgrown bushes and grass. Come spring, a fresh crop of grass would grow for the sheep to graze on.
An early postcard showing the bell tower fog signal.
The tower is 30 feet high. The beam of light is 61 feet above mean sea level. The tower is made of rubble stone granite. It is believed that some of the stone came from the excavation of the keepers house basement. The tower walls are 4 foot thick at the base and lined with red brick.
Keepers Log
P.O. Box 738
Boothbay Harbor , ME 04538
ph: 207-633-7239
keeper
