Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Abbie Burgess & the Matinicus Light
On some occasions wild winter waves as high as 40 feet would
sweep across Matinicus Rock, often taking parts of structures
with them. In January of 1856 there was such a storm. Sam Bur-
gess, who had gone in for supplies (keepers in those days rowed
and sailed to the mainland), was trapped ashore by the weather.
Abbie bravely keep the lights burning for a week and kept her
family safe as well.
When Sam Burgess was replaced by President Abraham Lin-
coln, he and his family remained on Rock for a time to train the
new keeper. Abbie ended up falling in love and marrying the new
keeper's son Isaac Grant. The couple lived on the barren rock and
had four children over 14 years.
Whether it is picturesque Nubble Light in York, perched on a rocky nob,
Pemaquid Light near Damariscotta, with its dramatic position astride
long fingers of granite bedrock stretching out to a frothy sea, Southern Is-
land Light, home for a time to renowned artist Andrew Wyeth and sub-
ject of his spectacular painting “Groundwire,” or any of the “lesser”
beacons of the Maine coast, lighthouses are places where human en-
deavor, great natural forces, and the tidal wash of history inevitably
meet.
For Lighthouse Buffs
The Shore Village Museum is Maine's Lighthouse Museum. It is lo-
cated at 104 Limerock Street in Rockland. It claims to have the largest
collection of lighthouse artifacts on display in US. It also has other ma-
rine exhibits such as ship models and a scrimshaw display. Open daily
June through October. Admission is free; donations are accepted.
594-
0311.
For people who just can't get enough lighthouses, Maine boasts the
Lighthouse Depot , which claims to have the largest collection of light-
house gifts, books, images and collectibles in the world. Just one quick
look at the store and mail-order headquarters on US 1 in Wells will be
enough to convince you their claim is true.
Founded by lighthouse lovers Tim Harrison and Kathy Finnegan, the
Lighthouse Depot features two floors of items covering lighthouses ev-
erywhere from Maine and Florida to Canada, the Great Lakes and in-
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