The Portland Head Light

Posted byLinda Osborne CynowaPosted inUnited States Atlantic Coast LighthouseTags:, , , ,

Linda’s Monthly Monday Morning Moaning’s for September 5, 2022.

This month, I am writing about a lighthouse that is further east than our Great Lakes Lights, the Portland Head Light in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Once again I was given a great opportunity to see and photograph one of the most photographed lighthouses in the United States, the Portland Head Light.

“Portland Head and it’s light seem to symbolize the state of Maine — rocky coast, breaking waves, sparkling water, and clear, pure salt air.” As anyone seeing this beautiful light would probably agree. The city of Portland took it’s name from the headland where the lighthouse now stands, but Portland Head is actually within the boundaries of the town of Cape Elizabeth.

In 1790, President George Washington remarked ‘that it should be possible to build the tower from rubblestone found in the fields and shores of Cape Elizabeth, and that the stone could be handled nicely when hauled by oxen on a drag’. The original plan was for a 58-foot tower, but the realization that it would be blocked from the south by a headland, it was to raised to the height of 72 feet.

Author Image
Author Image
Author Image

By 1812, it was felt that the upper 20 feet of the tower, which had problems with leaking and the opinion that it had not be properly built, was soon removed and it became 25 feet shorter with the removal of the stonework. The headland that had blocked the light to the south was no longer a great concern. A single story stone cottage 20 by 34 feet and comprised of two rooms, with an attached kitchen was built in 1816. Could this be a path to further my love of lighthouses by heading to the eastern US and the lights of the Atlantic coast?

Next month, Part 2 on the Portland Head Light of Cape Elizabeth, Maine with vintage images of this most photographed light. On that ‘wee note’ till next month Monday, October 3, 2022.

Content from the books of Jeremy D’Entremont, ‘The Lighthouses of Maine’.

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Published by Linda Osborne Cynowa

Linda Osborne Cynowa has lived in the Washington Township community since 2007. She moved to this area because of its beautiful hills, stunning scenery, and fruit orchards. Linda’s background is in photography, genealogy, and with a lifelong love of history, found herself working in a voluntary capacity with the Romeo Community Archives at the Romeo Kezar Library. She researched the many historic homes and families in the Romeo and Washington area, which led to a keen interest and knowledge of the area’s history. With a love of the Arcadia Publishing ‘Images of America’ books, she was always bothered that Washington Township wasn’t represented. When inquiring about this, she was told, “You haven’t written it yet”! With the encouragement of the Archivists at the Community Archives, a proposal was submitted for consideration. In September of 2019, WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP became part of the ‘Images of America’ series.

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