Mount Desert Light

Year Built

1830

Cost

$10,000

Type

Conical

Height

57 feet

Location

Mount Desert Island, Frenchboro

Automated Year

1977

First Lit

1847

Lens Type

Third order Fresnel Lens (1858–Unknown), VRB-25 (1995–)

Fog Signal

Horn: 2 every 30s operates continuously

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Unpainted tower, black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Douglas Nute ( – 1977)

Description

A lighthouse, a stone dwelling surmounted by a wooden tower and lantern.

Brief History

•  The original 1830 optic consisted of a chandelier of ten Argand lamps backed by fourteen-inch reflectors displayed at a focal plane of fifty-six feet above sea level.
•  1858, A new lantern installed on the tower and 3rd order Fresnel lens installed. Bell tower built and fog bell installed.
•  1931, Generators installed to provide electricity.
•  In 1962, Hurricane Daisy blew through and swept two empty 1500-gallon fuel tanks, a paint locker, concrete walkway and the covered walkway between the tower and keeper’s house into the sea.
•  In 2014, Jacomien and Forrest Mars, whose company sees over $30 billion in annual sales of candy bars, donated $425,000 to upgrade the facilities at Mount Desert Rock.