After a refueling with a hearty breakfast at the B&B, we headed out to explore Nubble Light in Cape Neddick, Maine. I find old lighthouses to be fascinating - caretakers and their families used to actualIy live in the lighthouse that they tended until very recently (there are still a few that are manned by Coast Guard families). So many have eerie stories of their past, like Ledge Light in Groton, Conn. and Presque Isle Lighthouse in Michigan. I found a brief history of Nubble Lighthouse here:
"In colonial days mariner traffic was important to the commerce of the area. Knowing that Maine’s rocky coast was very dangerous to those mariners and their livelihood, the Citizens petitioned the United States Government for a lighthouse.
In 1874 President Rutherford B. Hayes appropriated the sum of $15,000 to build a lighthouse on this “Nub” of land. On July 1, 1879 construction was completed on what, at the time, was known as the Knubble Lighthouse with a 4th order light began to protect our men and women on the sea. The men and women serving in the Lighthouse Service were the first guardians who provided great care for the light and its surrounding buildings.
INITIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Once the Lighthouse Service completed their work, the United States government transferred this valuable service to the U.S. Coast Guard in 1939. They gave Nubble Light the official name of Cape Neddick Lightstation. The Coast Guard and their families were wonderful caretakers of our Maine Lighthouses. Eventually this service became short of resources and funding to care for our majestic beacons. Because of this in part, as well as the growing development of technology, the Lighthouses became automated. Nubble Light was automated in July, 1987. As the last service man from our Coast Guard and his family left their home on the island, the future of the buildings and the beauty of the island were left in question.
RECENT HISTORY
In order to insure the protection of our valuable Maine treasure, Nubble Lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places to preserve and protect its historical presence in history. This is overseen by the United States Secretary of the Interior and the State of Maine’s Historic Preservation Office.
In addition, a lease agreement was signed in 1987 between the United States government and the Town of York to ensure that the property would be maintained and cared for."
Definitely worth the trip if you are in the area!