Portland Breakwater Light

Year Built

1855

Cost

$44,417

Type

Conical

Height

25 feet

Location

NE end of Portland Breakwater in Portland Harbor, South Portland

Automated Year

1934

First Lit

1875 (current tower)

Lens Type

Sixth order fresnel, 1855

Fog Signal

N/A

Year Deactivated

1942

Color

White w/black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Preston L. Marr (1919 – 1934)

Description

The structure used a design based on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates, a structure near Athens, Greece dating from the fourth century B.C. Completed in 1875, the twenty-six-foot-tall cast iron tower is slightly shorter than its predecessor. Six cast-iron Corinthian columns were positioned at equal intervals around the tower’s perimeter, and Greek roof edge decorations called palmettes were used to finish the top of the gallery deck and lantern.

Brief History

•  In 1855, an octagonal wooden tower with sloping sides was completed atop two courses of ashlar stone.
•  The first keeper was W.A. Dyer, who was paid an annual salary of $400 and resigned after two years and was replaced by William Willard.
•  1856, The small tower was fitted with a sixth order Fresnel lens.
•  In 1942 the light was extinguished and the lighthouse was sold to a private party.
•  2002, the light was re-lit. It is a private aid to navigation.