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The booming lime trade of the 1820s in Midcoast Maine led to the construction of a lighthouse on Owls Head, an area located at the entrance to Rockland Harbor, Maine. In 1825, President John Quincy Adams authorized the building of a lighthouse on a promontory south of Rockland Harbor in Penobscot Bay.

The relatively short, the lighthouse bricks - only 30 meters high - is situated on a hill about 100 feet above the water.
A tall lighthouse was not necessary due to the height of the promontory. The tower Current brick was built in 1852 and equipped with a Fresnel lens of the fourth order. The tower remains relatively unchanged from the time it was built. In addition to the height is unusually short, the lighthouse is also a long series of wooden steps leading to the light of the caretaker's house, which is a unique feature of this house.

The lights and reflectors were replaced by original one quarter to the Fresnel lens 1856 and the goal remains today. The ligthhouse was fully automated in 1989 and contnues shine is that you can see up to 16 nautical miles away to this day. Because the lighthouse is located in a region that is particularly prone to fog, the light is equipped with a fog signal powerful.

The name "Owl's Head" is something of a mystery. Some have suggested that the promontory where is the lighthouse looks like an owl in the water. Others say that Owl's Head is the English translation of the Indian name for the location, Medadacut.

Owl's Head Light is known to many stories that have been passed down through the years. One of the most memorable stories is that of ice cream lovers. The area was hit by a massive storm of December 22, 1850 which caused five vessels to go aground. One of them, a small schooner, whose captain had gone ashore, will be sent to sea after tying the wires to the dock broke loose. The first officer, her and boyfriend and a sailor remained on board to huddle together on the deck and nearly froze to surfing. The sailor was able to escape at one point and made it to shore, exhausted and nearly frozen. Fortunately, the road was the road to the lighthouse where he was rescued by the holder. He could barely speak, warned the owner of the other still on the schooner and a rescue team is rounded up.

The rescuers found the remains of the schooner and the young couple found frozen in a block of ice. The couple seemed to be dead, but the men wore the block to the kitchen of the house's caretaker. It chips away ice, and gradually, if not miraculously, the couple began to show signs of life. The young couple soon recovered, married and had evenutally four children. Unfortunately, the sailor who perpetuates their rescue never recovered.

A second story is that of a guard dog that lived in the lighthouse in the decade 1930. The dog, named Spot, was trained to pull the bell rope of fog when he heard a boat approaching. In one incident, the cord was buried in the snow and Spot was unable to ring the bell. Instead, continually shouted until he heard the whistle of the ship approaches the rocks beyond. Spot barking has been credited with Captain's warning just in time to steer the boat and avoid the rocks. Spot was known as something of a local hero and celebrity, and is said to be buried in the hillside of the hill near the former location of the fog bell.

Interestingly, the ghosts of Owl's Head Light does not appear to be linked to any of these stories. The caretaker's house is said to be haunted by the captain of an "old sea" - which is more likely that a previous owner, although no one is safe. According local legend, one night three years old daughter of a caretaker woke her parents and announced, "Fog Rolling! is time to put the foghorn on!". Parents never raised that issue with her daughter and had no idea where he had picked up the lingo. They soon discovered that apparently had an imaginary friend resembled an old sea captain. It has been seen by other previous holders and likes to leave their footprints in the snow outside the lighthouse and polish the metal. They may also be responsible lowering the thermostat and keeping cold place, perhaps in an effort to conserve energy.

The second ghost in the lighthouse is known as the "Little Lady ". The lady spirit is frequently seen in the kitchen. He seems to like to slam doors shut unexpectedly and the rattle of silver. Anyone who has found his declared that their presence caused a sense of peace. Most agree that is probably the wife of one of many former light keepers who loved the place so much that he decided not leave.

Owls Head Light is located in an active center of the Coast Guard. The caretaker's house is still used as a residence for Coast Guard personnel and surrounding land are known as Owl's Head State Park. The belfry Orignial has disappeared, but a 1895 oil house still stands.

About the Author:

Denise Villani is an author and the webmaster of several websites and article directories. Find more articles and information on haunted lighthouses by visiting
HauntedLightHouses.info.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Haunted Lighthouses - Owls Head Light, Owls Head, Maine

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