Lighthouses of Maine

Summary (from the publisher): From Grand Manaan to Mount Desert to the Isles of Shoals on the New Hampshire border, sixty-eight light-houses stand along the coast of Maine and her rivers. In his conversational way, Bill Caldwell leads his readers on an historical tour of all the Maine lighthouses. In Bill's hands the legends, lore, and history of the impressive signals come to life. Black and white photos or drawings of individual light-houses in many of the sections add to the experience.

Maine's lighthouses are symbolic of her proud maritime heritage and of a way of life that has long passed. Who better to pass on the traditions than master storyteller Bill Caldwell?

Review: Caldwell's book was published in the 1980s, and what it lacks in up to date information and editing, it makes up for in heart. The subject matter and many of the locations mentioned obviously mean a great deal to Caldwell and it shows. This book gives an overview of the dozens of lighthouses in Maine and speaks to their history, anecdotes about storms and lighthouse keepers they've all seen, and their status now. Perhaps most moving was the gruesome and grueling lives lighthouse keepers and their families had to endure often in remote and harsh settings. I felt like every other lighthouse has a storm about people drowning and being incased in ice or infants being discovered after their entire families drowned. One story that really got to me was about a ship's dog that tried to jump into the life boat, was brutally knocked out using an oar, and ended up washing to shore on an island where a lighthouse was located and being nursed back to health by the lighthouse keeper's daughter. It was a hard knock life in Maine back in the day. I was happy to see that Connie Small, who wrote the memoir The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife was interviewed by Caldwell for this book, since I had read and her enjoyed her memoir previously.

Despite the brutal lifestyle, it was sad that the conclusion of almost every lighthouse's story was that the lighthouse has been automated and "demanned." Probably very few are alive today that remember the hardship but noble calling of living to serve those at sea by keeping the light burning through rain, snow, or fog.

Stars: 4