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This past July 27, Maine’s Little River Light Station, made history by becoming the first lighthouse in Maine, as well as the first lighthouse in all of New England and only the third lighthouse in the nation to be transferred from federal ownership to that of a non-profit organization under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

The lighthouse was transferred to the American Lighthouse Foundation, which had already had a license on the property from the Coast Guard and had previously restored the tower last year when it was relit after being dark for a quarter of a century.

The Transfer of Ownership Ceremony held in Cutler, Maine’s town circle was attended by a number of local and federal dignitaries. Directly before the patriotic ceremony the crowd was entertained by the River City Salon Orchestra and after the ceremony by the Blue Hill Brass Quintet. Those in attendance were also treated to hot dogs, Humpty Dumpty Potato Chips, Sea Dogs Root Beer, and Mt. Desert Spring Bottled Water, all of which had been donated for the event. Even our tent was donated by our printer, Cummings Printing.

Little River Light Station was established in 1847 and the current tower dates from 1876 and the keeper’s house dates from 1888. The entire station, which is located on a small island in Cutler Harbor, is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The American Lighthouse Foundation now estimates that it will cost well over $250,000 to restore the keeper’s house and other outbuildings at the site before the station can be opened to the public on a regular basis. Donations can be sent to The American Lighthouse Foundation, Little River Lighthouse Restoration, P.O. Box 889, Wells, Maine.

This story appeared in the September 2002 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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