Bass Harbor Head Light

Infobox_lighthouse

---

caption = Bass Harbor head light - side view
location = Tremont, Maine
coordinates = coord|44|13|19|N|68|20|14|W|region:US_type:landmark
yearlit = 1858 [http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/maine/bassharbor.htm Cyberlights: Bass Harbor Lighthouse] ]
automated = 1978 [http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/maine/bassharbor.htm Cyberlights: Bass Harbor Lighthouse] ]
yeardeactivated =
foundation = Stone [http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/park/basshbr.htm Inventory of Historic Lighthouses: Maine Lighthouses] ]
construction = Brick [http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/park/basshbr.htm Inventory of Historic Lighthouses: Maine Lighthouses] ]
shape = Cylindrical Tower [http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/maine/bassharbor.htm Cyberlights: Bass Harbor Lighthouse] ]
marking = White with Black Marking [http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/park/basshbr.htm Inventory of Historic Lighthouses: Maine Lighthouses] ]
height = 32ft [http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/maine/bassharbor.htm Cyberlights: Bass Harbor Lighthouse] ]
lens = Fifth Order Fresnel lens [http://www.cyberlights.com/lh/maine/bassharbor.htm Cyberlights: Bass Harbor Lighthouse] ]
range = 13 miles
characteristic = Occulting, Red

Bass Harbor Head Light is a lighthouse located within Acadia National Park on the southeast side of Mount Desert Island, Maine, United States, marking the entrance to Bass Harbor and Blue Hill Bay.

History

The history of Bass Harbor Head Light started in 1855 when it was deemed that there was sufficient reason for a lighthouse at the mouth of Bass Harbor. $5000 was appropriated by Congress for its construction in 1858. The construction of a fog bell and tower, which no longer remains today [http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/history.html New England Lighthouses, A Virtual Guide: Bass Harbor Head Light] ] , was completed in 1876 with a much larger 4000 pound bell being placed inside the tower in 1898. The keeper's house remains in its original configuration with the exception of a 10-foot addition that was added in 1900.cite book |title=The Historic Homes of the Town of Tremont... A Perspective In Time |last=Silverman |first=Irving |year=1998 |publisher=Tremont Historical Society |location=Tremont, Maine |pages=page 7 ]

In 1902, an oil storage house constructed of brick was built 205 feet northwest of the lighthouse. [http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/history.html New England Lighthouses, A Virtual Guide: Bass Harbor Head Light] ]

Bass Harbor's fifth order Fresnel lens was replaced in 1902 with a larger fourth order. This lens was manufactured by the French company Henry-Lepaute. This lens remains in service today. [http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/history.html New England Lighthouses, A Virtual Guide: Bass Harbor Head Light] ]

Viewing

Today, the house is a private residence for a local Coast Guard member and his family. Tourists can get close to the bell and light via a concrete path, but most of the grounds remain private. There is a short walk which takes you to a series of wooden steps that lead you down onto the many granite boulders that provide a great view of the harbor side of the lighthouse. [http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/history.html New England Lighthouses, A Virtual Guide: Bass Harbor Head Light] ]

Keepers

John Thurston (1858-1861)
John Rick (1861-1865)
John Wilson (1865-1869)
Charles B. Gilley (1869-1872)
James L. Wilson (1872-1880)
C. F. Chase (1880-1890)
William T. Holbrook (1890-1894)
Willis Dolliver (1894-1912)
Joseph M. Gray (c.1921-1938)
Elmer Reed (1938-1940)
Eugene L. Coleman (?)
Leverett Stanley (1940-1950) [http://lighthouse.cc/bassharbor/history.html New England Lighthouses, A Virtual Guide: Bass Harbor Head Light] ]

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External links

[http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?collId=hhphoto&fileName=me/me0200/me0220/photos/browse.db&action=browse&recNum=0&title2=Bass%20Harbor%20Head%20Light%20Station,%20At%20southwest%20tip%20of%20Mount%20Desert%20Island%20off%20State%20Route%20102,%20Bass%20Harbor,%20Hancock%20County,%20ME&displayType=1&itemLink=D?hh:1:./temp/~ammem_Z5MU:: Photos of Bass Harbor Head Light - Library of Congress - Historic American Buildings Survey/Historic American Engineering Record]

References