Spring Point Ledge Light - South Portland, ME
Posted by: 
neoc1
N 43° 39.123 W 070° 13.436
19T E 401300 N 4833955
Spring Point Ledge Light, a spark-plug light, extends out from the campus of Southern Maine Community College and guards the west side of the main shipping channel into Portland Harbor in South Portland, ME.
Waymark Code: WMP690
Location: Maine, United States
Date Posted: 07/08/2015
Views: 2
Spring Point Ledge Light was constructed by the United States government in 1897 after many vessels ran aground on the rocks around Spring Point Ledge. Thomas Dwyer of New York, NY oversaw the construction of the cylindrical white-brick tower, sited on top of a cast-iron caisson. The lighthouse had a fog bell that sounded twice every 12 seconds, and a lantern fitted with a fifth order Fresnel lens. It was first lit on May 24, 1897 by William A. Lane, the first light keeper.
The lighthouse, which was owned and operated by the United States Coast Guard, was electrified in 1934. A 900' long breakwater connecting the lighthouse to the shore was completed in 1951. The station was automated in the 1960s and the Fresnel lens replaced by a 300mm lens. The automated foghorn sounds once every ten seconds.
On April 28, 1998, the Maine Lights Selection Committee approved a transfer of ownership of the tower to the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust. The United States Coast Guard retained the light and fog signal. On May 22, 1999, Spring Point Ledge Light was opened to the public.
Street address:
14 Fort Road
South Portland, ME United States
04106
County / Borough / Parish: Cumberland
Year listed: 1988
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Periods of significance: 1925-1949, 1900-1924, 1875-1899
Historic function: Transportation
Current function: Transportation
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 2: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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