Narraguagus Light facts for kids
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 Narraguagus Light
Location in Maine
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| Location | Narraguagus Bay |
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| Coordinates | 44°27′21.5″N 67°49′52.35″W / 44.455972°N 67.8312083°W |
| Year first constructed | 1853 |
| Deactivated | 1934 |
| Foundation | Stone |
| Construction | Granite blocks |
| Tower shape | Cylindrical attached to workroom |
| Markings / pattern | White |
The Narraguagus Light is an old lighthouse located on Pond Island. This island is found at the southern end of Narraguagus Bay in Downeast Maine. Lighthouses like this one helped ships find their way.
This lighthouse was built to guide boats safely into Narraguagus Bay. It also helped ships reach the port of Milbridge. Milbridge was once a very important port for building large ships. The Narraguagus Light stopped working in 1934. Today, it is owned by private individuals. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 20, 1987.
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Exploring Narraguagus Light and Its Past
Narraguagus Bay is a large, deep inlet on the southeastern coast of Maine. Many islands and rocky areas are scattered throughout the bay. The Narraguagus River flows into the western side of the bay. This is where the town of Milbridge is located.
Pond Island is one of the bigger islands at the southern edge of the bay. From here, the bay opens up into the larger Gulf of Maine. The Narraguagus Light stands in a small clear area on the east side of Pond Island.
What Narraguagus Light Looks Like
The lighthouse building includes a round brick tower. An L-shaped workroom connects the tower to the keeper's house. The tower itself is about 31 feet (9.4 m) tall from its base to the top where the light used to be.
An iron deck and railing surround the top part of the tower. This area is called the lantern house. It has ten sides, and the original light lens is no longer there. A round vent sits on top of the lantern house. The L-shaped workroom is a single-story building made of brick. The keeper's house, where the lighthouse keeper lived, is a 1.5-story wooden building. There are also two small wooden sheds on the property.
A Brief History of the Lighthouse
The Narraguagus Light Station was first built in 1853. This was just one year after the United States Lighthouse Board was created. This board was in charge of building and managing all the lighthouses in the country.
The main tower you see today is the original one from 1853. It was first built with the keeper's house wrapped around it. The current keeper's house was built later, in 1875. Around that same time, the railing around the lantern house was also installed. The lighthouse was turned off in 1934. Since then, the property has been sold to private owners.
Lighthouse Keepers
Many people worked hard to keep the Narraguagus Light shining. These are some of the keepers who lived and worked at the lighthouse:
- Joseph Brown (1853-1855)
- Wyman Collins (1855-1859)
- Daniel Chipman (1859-1861)
- Alfred Wallace (1862-1865)
- Joseph W. Brown (1865-1869)
- George L. Upton (1869-1876)
- Solomon G. Kelliher (1876-1880)
- Ambrose Wallace (1880-1882)
- Warren A. Murch (1882-1885)
- James M. Gates (1885-1893)
- William C. Gott (1893-1915)
- Lester Leighton (1919)
- Charles E. Tracy (1929)
