History of Grindle Point Lighthouse, Islesboro, Maine
© Jeremy D'Entremont. Do not reproduce any images or text from this website without permission of the author.
Gilkey's Harbor is one of the best on the coast of Maine. Easy of access, it is large, with plenty of water for the largest class of vessels. - John Pendleton Farrow, History of Islesborough, Maine, 1893
The first (1851) lighthouse at Grindle Point in a circa 1859 view (National Archives)
Islesboro, once known as Long Island, is a 13-mile long, narrow island in upper Penobscot Bay. Technically, the town of Islesboro encompasses North and South Islesboro, which are joined by a narrow strip of land, as well as Seven Hundred Acre Island, Job Island, Warren Island, and several others. The largest commercial shipping fleet in the bay was based at Islesboro in the nineteenth century.
More recently, the island has been known as a haunt for the rich; in the early 1900s it was frequented by the likes of J.P. Morgan. In recent years, actors John Travolta and Kirstie Alley have been among those who live part-time on Islesboro.
After a Congressional appropriation of $3500 in March 1848, a light station was established at Grindle Point on South Islesboro's west coast in 1851 to aid mariners entering Gilkey Harbor. The deep and spacious harbor is named for an early settler, John Gilkey, who came to Islesboro in 1772. Gilkey's house long served as a landmark for passing mariners.
The first lighthouse consisted of a one-and-one-half-story brick dwelling with a lantern on its roof. It was built for $3100.16 on land purchased for $105 by the government from Francis Grindle (sometimes spelled Grindel).
More recently, the island has been known as a haunt for the rich; in the early 1900s it was frequented by the likes of J.P. Morgan. In recent years, actors John Travolta and Kirstie Alley have been among those who live part-time on Islesboro.
After a Congressional appropriation of $3500 in March 1848, a light station was established at Grindle Point on South Islesboro's west coast in 1851 to aid mariners entering Gilkey Harbor. The deep and spacious harbor is named for an early settler, John Gilkey, who came to Islesboro in 1772. Gilkey's house long served as a landmark for passing mariners.
The first lighthouse consisted of a one-and-one-half-story brick dwelling with a lantern on its roof. It was built for $3100.16 on land purchased for $105 by the government from Francis Grindle (sometimes spelled Grindel).
Early 1900s (National Archives)
Francis Grindle succeeded the first keeper, Rufus Dunning, as keeper in 1853. Grindle, who was originally from Mount Desert, went to sea at a young age and achieved the title of master mariner. Grindle died in 1857 at the age of 73.
Circa 1900
Nelson Gilkey, who also served stints as Islesboro’s postmaster and town clerk, was the keeper from 1861 to 1869. His older brother, Avery Gilkey, was in charge in 1872 when a report by the local inspector found the station poorly kept. The lamp burned dimly, according the inspector, and “had not the brilliancy of an ordinary family lamp, at four miles distance.”
Gilkey showed “no interest in his duty” and spent most of his time at the grocery store and post office, wrote the inspector. Avery Gilkey was removed as keeper later that year.
The present (1874) lighthouse is a 39-foot-tall square brick tower attached by a covered walkway (part of the original dwelling) to a one-and-one-half-story keeper’s house. A boathouse was built in 1886, a 16- by 24-foot barn was built in 1892, and an oil house was added in 1906. The oil house remains standing, a good distance away from the lighthouse. The station received a 1,000-pound fog bell, rung by hand, in 1897.
Gilkey showed “no interest in his duty” and spent most of his time at the grocery store and post office, wrote the inspector. Avery Gilkey was removed as keeper later that year.
The present (1874) lighthouse is a 39-foot-tall square brick tower attached by a covered walkway (part of the original dwelling) to a one-and-one-half-story keeper’s house. A boathouse was built in 1886, a 16- by 24-foot barn was built in 1892, and an oil house was added in 1906. The oil house remains standing, a good distance away from the lighthouse. The station received a 1,000-pound fog bell, rung by hand, in 1897.
James E. Hall, who had been an assistant keeper and then principal keeper at Matinicus Rock, became keeper at Grindle Point in 1908. Hall was killed in a rock blasting accident at the station in 1916.
Willam C. Dodge, keeper in the 1920s and '30s, had a collie named Tray who learned to sound the fog bell by pulling a rope with his teeth whenever a vessel passed the lighthouse.
In 1934, Grindle Point Light was deactivated and replaced by a nearby light on a skeleton tower. The lighthouse and grounds became the property of the Town of Islesboro for $1,200 and the keeper's house was converted into the Sailor's Memorial Museum, which opened in 1938.
The people of Islesboro convinced the Coast Guard to relight Grindle Point Light in 1987. A solar-powered optic was installed with a flashing green light, and the skeleton tower was removed.
A 1,000-pound fog bell was put on display in front of the lighthouse. Grindle Point Light remains an active aid to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard.
In 1934, Grindle Point Light was deactivated and replaced by a nearby light on a skeleton tower. The lighthouse and grounds became the property of the Town of Islesboro for $1,200 and the keeper's house was converted into the Sailor's Memorial Museum, which opened in 1938.
The people of Islesboro convinced the Coast Guard to relight Grindle Point Light in 1987. A solar-powered optic was installed with a flashing green light, and the skeleton tower was removed.
A 1,000-pound fog bell was put on display in front of the lighthouse. Grindle Point Light remains an active aid to navigation maintained by the Coast Guard.
The Sailor's Memorial Museum is open in summer. There is a public beach on the island and roads for driving, biking or hiking, with beautiful views of the Penobscot Bay and the Camden Hills.
Inside the Sailor's Memorial Museum
The ferry from Lincolnville Beach docks right next to the lighthouse, so there's no need to bring your car if lighthouse viewing is your main goal.
You can also see Grindle Point Light distantly from the ferry landing at Lincolnville Beach.
Keepers: (This list is a work in progress. If you have any information on the keepers of this lighthouse, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected]. Anyone copying this list onto another web site does so at their own risk, as the list is always subject to updates and corrections.)
Rufus Dunning (1850-1853?), Francis Grindle (1853?-1856?), Mansfield Clarke (1856), Charles Nash (1856-1861), Nelson Gilkey (1861-1869), Avery Gilkey (1869-1872), Seth H. Higgins (1872-1876), Isaac Hatch (1876-1894), Ira D. Trundy (1894-1908), James E. Hall (1908-1916); Edward K. Tapley (1916-1919); William H. C. Dodge (c. 1921-1934)
You can also see Grindle Point Light distantly from the ferry landing at Lincolnville Beach.
Keepers: (This list is a work in progress. If you have any information on the keepers of this lighthouse, I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at [email protected]. Anyone copying this list onto another web site does so at their own risk, as the list is always subject to updates and corrections.)
Rufus Dunning (1850-1853?), Francis Grindle (1853?-1856?), Mansfield Clarke (1856), Charles Nash (1856-1861), Nelson Gilkey (1861-1869), Avery Gilkey (1869-1872), Seth H. Higgins (1872-1876), Isaac Hatch (1876-1894), Ira D. Trundy (1894-1908), James E. Hall (1908-1916); Edward K. Tapley (1916-1919); William H. C. Dodge (c. 1921-1934)