Ladies Delight Light facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Cobbossee Lighthouse
|
|
 |
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Ladies Delight Island, Winthrop, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1908 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001369 |
| Added to NRHP | January 12, 1984 |
The Ladies Delight Light is a small lighthouse located on Cobbosseecontee Lake in Winthrop, Maine, United States. It was built in 1908. This lighthouse is special because it's thought to be the only active lighthouse on an inland lake in Maine.
The tower stands about 25 feet (7.6 m) (7.6 meters) tall. It uses a 100-watt light bulb that shines even brighter with a special lens. When it was first built, it was the only inland lake lighthouse east of the Mississippi River. This historic lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Contents
Building the Lighthouse
The Ladies Delight Light was designed by Frank Morse, an architect from Boston. He specialized in marine (water-related) buildings. The lighthouse was built on a tiny island called Ladies Delight. This island is actually part of a big underwater reef.
The lighthouse was needed to help a passenger launch (a type of boat) avoid getting stuck on the reef. The Cobbossee Yacht Club built the tower. They even used two oxen to help!
A Tricky Delivery
Transporting the oxen to the island was quite an adventure. The barge (a flat boat) they used was too small for both oxen at once. So, they took one ox to the island. Then, they went back to shore to get the second one.
While they were gone, the first ox got lonely. It started swimming back to the mainland! Finally, both oxen were safely on the island. The lighthouse was then built during that summer.
How the Light Works
Members of the Cobbossee Yacht Club have always taken care of the lighthouse. When it was first built, its light came from kerosene lanterns. A volunteer lighthouse keeper would go out every evening. They would trim the wicks, clean the glass globes, and light the beacon.
A special reflector inside the light would spin around. This was powered by weights, just like an old longcase clock. In the 1930s, a wind-powered generator provided the power for a while. Today, electricity comes through a cable from Manchester.
Changes Over Time
The top part of the lighthouse, called the lantern, has been blown off the tower twice! In the 1990s, the original iron lantern was replaced with one made of wood. At one point, an osprey (a type of bird) even built its nest on top of the tower.
Recent History
The Ladies Delight Light is located in the North Bay of Cobbosseecontee Lake. It was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
In 2001, the lighthouse was leaning badly, so it was fixed. In 2005, a new top made of strong marine-grade aluminum was put on. This new top was officially dedicated on July 16, 2005.
On August 9, 2008, the lighthouse celebrated its 100th birthday! A special celebration was held at the lighthouse. Afterward, there was a party nearby to mark the big anniversary.
