Fiddler's Reach Fog Signal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Fiddler's Reach Fog Signal
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Restored, in August 2009, lacking bell to hang from projecting beam
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 Location in Maine
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| Location | N. shore of Kennebec River, E. of Doubling Point Light Station, Arrowsic, Maine |
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| Area | 0.13 acres (0.053 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 09000594 |
| Added to NRHP | August 5, 2009 |
The Fiddler's Reach Fog Signal is a special building that used to make loud sounds. These sounds helped ships find their way in thick fog. It is located on the Kennebec River in Arrowsic, Maine. This important signal was built in 1914. It was needed because a large steamship, the Ransom B. Fuller, got stuck in the fog nearby. This happened just two years before the signal was built.
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Why Was the Fog Signal Built?
The fog signal was very important for ships. It helped them navigate a tricky S-shaped part of the river. This area is known as Fiddler Reach. The signal first used a bell starting in 1914. Later, in the late 1960s, it changed to a loud horn. The signal stopped being used in 1982.
How the Signal Worked
Even though it was separate, the signal was looked after by the keeper of the nearby Doubling Point Range Lights. The keeper walked along a path to reach it. This path even had a boardwalk and two wooden bridges.
When it was a bell, it worked using a special clockwork system. This system used weights to make the bell ring. The keeper had to rewind this system every four hours. Different bell signals helped ships know where they were. This signal rang two times every twenty seconds.
Bringing the Signal Back to Life
Over time, the building started to fall apart. The original bell was taken away by the Coast Guard in 1972. You can now see this bell at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.
But then, a group of volunteers decided to help. They called themselves the "Range Light Keepers." They worked hard to restore the fog signal. They even found a new bell. This bell was kept at the Arrowsic Town Hall for a while. In 2016, the new bell was finally put back on the tower's outside arm.
The Fiddler's Reach Fog Signal is an important piece of history. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on August 5, 2009. This means it is recognized as a special historic site in the United States.
Images for kids
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The fog signal (left) was tended by the keepers of the Doubling Point Range Lights a short distance downriver. The keeper's house is in the center and the front range light is to the right.
