West Quoddy Head Light

Year Built

1808

Cost

$5,000

Type

Conical

Height

49 feet

Location

West Quoddy head/Bay of Fundy

Automated Year

1988

First Lit

1858

Lens Type

Third order Fresnel lens

Fog Signal

Horn: 2 every 30s

Year Deactivated

Active

Color

Red and white bands with black lantern

Last Keeper - Date

Malcolm Rouse (1986 – 1988)

Description

The tower is circular and built of brick, a small gabled entry vestibule, also brick, projects from the tower. The keeper's house is a wood-frame structure.

Brief History

•  In 1866, a Daboll fog signal trumpet was established at the station, but just two years later, plans were in the works to install an eight-inch steam whistle.
•  In 1899, two kitchens and pantries were added to the west side of the dwelling, and the house was divided into a duplex.
•  In 1939 Howard Grey was the last civilian keeper of the station prior to its transfer to the U.S. Coast Guard.
•  In 1988, West Quoddy Head, which was one of the Coast Guard’s six remaining “family-operated lighthouses” was automated.
•  Ownership of West Quoddy Head Lighthouse was transferred to Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Land under the Maine Lights Program in 1998.