Matinicus Rock Light

Matinicus Rock Light Matinicus Rock Light is located about five miles from Matinicus Island in Matinicus, Maine and 15 miles from the mainland. The station there was established in 1827, however the lighthouse that is there today was not built until 1857 out of granite. Originally two different lights were lit, but by 1924, the northern light was discontinued. By 1983 the southern light became automated.

The height of the south light is 48 feet. The flashing of the light allows for sailors to know that it is Matinicus Rock – so it flashes white every ten seconds. In the fog, in gives off one blast every 15 seconds.

There or two other buildings still standing on the island. A keeper’s house that was build in 1846 and an oil house that was built in 1890.

Matinicus Rock Light is an Active U.S. Coast Guard post, and the station is owned by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It was because of the Coast Guard that my dad lived there for two years. Most of the highlights of his time living on Matinicus Rock includes eating lobster everyday given to him by the local fisherman, and reading a book or more a day, mostly because there was nothing else to do. Mostly he said that there were a lot of Puffins, a black and white bird that is endagered now. Pictures taken of the rock from when my dad lived there (as well as some postcard pics) can be found HERE.

Perhaps one of the most famous lighthouse keepers of Matinicus Rock Light was Abbie Burgess Grant, who was the assistant keeper from 1854-1875. Her father, Captain Burgess, was appointed keeper in 1853 and so he, his wife, Abbie and her brother and three younger sisters moved to Matinicus Rock. Her brother, Benjy, was often away, so Abbie ended up learning how to take care of the lights, which were not electric at the time (since it was the 1800s and they were in the middle of the ocean). Soon she became the assistant keeper with her father. In order to get supplies, Captain Burgess went to Matinicus Island for supplies, medicine, food, consumable stores for the lights and feed for the chickens that they kept on the Rock. Abbie was good enough at taking care of the lights (which included lanterns, trimming the wicks, and cleaning the lenses of light in the two towers), that there was normally no worry for her to take over for 2 nights. However in 1856 one of the largest storms of the 19 century his the Rock while Captain Burgess was at Matinicus Island that lasted weeks. The storm included hurricane force winds, drove sleet, rain and snow and some of the highest waves Abbie ever saw in her years working at the lighthouse. Along with taking care of the lights, Abbie had to take care of her three sisters and her sick mother. Their only real source of food was the eggs from the chickens, who were brought to live with them inside the house. The story of her experience eventually became the children’s story “Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie."

If you are interested in learning more information on the Rock or about Abbie, you might find the following links helpful:

• ABBIE BURGESS GRANT

  This site is the Coast Guard website about the life of Abbie.

• Matinicus Rock Light

  This site is from the New England Lighthouses virtual guide and gives some basic information about the site.

• Project Puffin - and the Seabird Restoration Program

  This site is mostly about puffins, the bird that lives on the rock and the methods used to help protect them.