Restoration has started at Maine’s Cuckolds Lighthouse located on a rocky island near Boothbay Harbor.

When its last keepers were removed in 1975, the station, for all practical purposes, was abandoned by the Coast Guard. In 2004 the station’s ownership was transferred from the Coast Guard and is now under the care of the nonprofit Cuckolds Fog Signal and Light Station Council, which has been busy raising money since then.

The first phase of the restoration will stabilize, repair and paint the light structure, restore the boat house and access ways and clean up years of debris on the island. In the future, the group plans to rebuild the lost keeper’s house that was once attached to the rest of the structure.

Recently the group has received a commitment of $750,000 from the Bosarge Foundation through its directors Dr. Edward and Marie Bosarge to help fund the restoration. To learn more about the lighthouse you can visit their web site at www.CuckoldsLight.org (Photos courtesy Cuckolds Fog Signal and Light Station Council.)