Grindle Point Light facts for kids
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| Location | Ferry Rd., Islesboro, Maine |
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| Coordinates | 44°16′53.151″N 68°56′34.997″W / 44.28143083°N 68.94305472°W |
| Year first constructed | 1850 |
| Year first lit | 1874 (current structure) |
| Automated | 1934 |
| Deactivated | 1934-1987 |
| Tower shape | Square Tower |
| Markings / pattern | White |
| Focal height | 39 feet (12 m) |
| Original lens | 5th order Fresnel lens (original), 9.8 inches (250 mm) (current) |
| Range | 4 nautical miles (7.4 km; 4.6 mi) |
| Characteristic | Fl G 4s |
| Fog signal | Bell originally None now |
The Grindle Point Light is a cool lighthouse located in Islesboro, Maine. It helps guide boats safely into Gilkey Harbor, which is on the west side of the island. The first lighthouse here was built in 1850. The tower and the house you see today were built in 1874. This lighthouse was turned off in 1934 but started working again in 1987. It's also recognized as an important historical place, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today, the old keeper's house is a museum called the Grindle Point Sailor's Museum, and you can even visit the lighthouse tower in the summer!
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About Grindle Point Light
The town of Islesboro is on an island in Penobscot Bay, along the coast of Maine. The island looks a bit like two round parts connected by a narrow strip of land. Grindle Point is the westernmost tip of the island. It's at the end of a small piece of land that sticks out from the southern part of the island.
The lighthouse stands west of Ferry Road. It's close to the dock where the ferry connects Islesboro to the mainland town of Lincolnville.
What the Lighthouse Looks Like
The Grindle Point Lighthouse is a short, square tower made of brick. It gets a little narrower as it goes up. At the very top, there's a special room called a lantern house. This room holds the light. Around the lantern house, there's a metal deck with a rounded railing.
A covered walkway connects the tower to the keeper's house. This walkway is slightly below ground. The keeper's house is a rectangular building made of wood, with a sloped roof. Near the house, there's a wooden boathouse. A small brick building, called an oilhouse, stands a bit further north.
History of the Light Station
The United States Navy decided to build a light station here in 1849. The first tower and keeper's house were finished the next year, in 1850. These original brick buildings became too old and damaged by 1874. So, the current lighthouse and house were built on the same foundations.
The lighthouse got its official name, Grindle Point, from Francis Grindle. He was the second person to work as the lighthouse keeper there. The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is in charge of lighthouses. They thought about making the Grindle Point Light automatic as early as 1923.
Changes Over Time
People in the area didn't want the lighthouse to be automated. But in 1934, the Coast Guard put a new light on a steel tower nearby. The original lighthouse was then turned off. The town of Islesboro bought the old lighthouse for $1,200. They turned the keeper's house into the Sailors' Memorial Museum.
After many people asked for it, the Coast Guard turned the Grindle Point Light back on in 1987. It has been helping guide boats ever since.
See also
