FORT POINT LIGHTHOUSE
Stockton Springs, Maine
This is another one that I missed my first trip. Sorry I did, it is rather nice. Very clean grounds. I especially liked the pyramid shaped fog signal building. Got there early in the morning still for most folks in Maine, it seemed. I had already seen Bass Harbor and Dice Head. you could see this one from across the Penobscot River, whose entrance is marked by Fort Point Lighthouse. Not to be confused with the lighthouse that sits atop a fort underneath the Golden Gate Bridge. When I first pulled up to the Fort Point State Park entrance and found it blocked for the winter season, I was disheartened at first thinking about how heavy that camera bag is. But some local resident said I could drive down to the next turnoff and there was a dirt road that would take me back to the lighthouse. Off I went, found it, parked and walked onto the grounds. No barking dogs either.
A park employee actually lives in the house so the light is off limits. I was not challenged at all as I walked about looking for a different perspective.
The lighthouse was constructed and lit in 1837 to guide traffic into the Penobscot River and up to Bangor, Maine which had the reputation of being the biggest lumber port. The 31 foot tower still contains the same 4th order lens that was installed in 1837. The cool looking sound signal building had a large bell hanging in front of it. This tower was erected in 1890.
Here's how I
saw it:
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OF THE MOUNTAINS
John B Caddell
Copyright 2001