New England Lighthouse Treasures

Cape Neddick Lighthouse, locally known as the Nubble Lighthouse, could be the vacation dream of a lifetime if a proposed raffle plan is approved.

On July 9, 2007, Edward MacGorman, Sohier Park Committee chairman, and Mike Sullivan, the York Parks and Recreation director, proposed an annual raffle to sell 1,000 tickets to raise $100,000 for park maintenance and repair.

The raffle winner will be allowed to live in the Keeper’s house at the Nubble Lighthouse for one week during the summer. If the raffle plan is approved than raffle tickets would be sold next summer and the raffle winner would enjoy a Lighthouse vacation in 2009.

The creative raffle plan may have been inspired by the need to raise funds for the costly repairs from the substantial damage to the rocky island of Nubble Lighthouse and the destruction of the dock at Sohier Park caused by the Patriots Day Nor’easter on April 16, 2007. (Refer to Post Nubble Damage Post)
Photo of Nubble Landslide

Nubble Lighthouse was First Lit on July 1, 1879 exhibiting a Fixed Red light illuminated by Fourth-order Fresnel Lens 88-feet above sea level visible to a range of 13 nautical miles. Currently, the Light blinks a Red Light for 6 seconds and winks for 6 seconds of darkness (Isophase Red 6-seconds).

The last Light-keeper, Russell Ahlgren and his family moved from the rocky island when the Nubble Lighthouse was automated on July 13, 1987. The former Light-keeper said he would move back to the Lighthouse if given the opportunity.

Every year, the Nubble Lighthouse is decorated with white lights outlining the Tower and houses. A “Christmas in July” event is scheduled for Sunday July 29, 2007 from 8-9pm to celebrate York Days. The Annual Lighting of the Nubble occurs on the the first Saturday after Thanksgiving from 5-6pm (Nov 25, 2007 this year).

Nubble Lighthouse is best viewed from Sohier Park which provides excellent views for photographing the scenic seacoast Lighthouse and a gift shop at the Welcome Center.

For Map Directions, please visit the Google Map of Nubble Lighthouse.

For more Nubble Light history, please visit the Nubble Lighthouse Guide.

Related News Source:
Innovative Nubble plan could put you in the keeper’s house

Technorati Tags: lighthouse, Win a Lighthouse Vacation, Cape Neddick Lighthouse, York, Maine, Vacation, Maine

This entry was authored and posted by Debbie Dolphin on Thursday, July 26th, 2007 at 10:20 pm and is filed under Lodging, Preservation News. You can subscribe via RSS 2.0 feed to this post's comments. You can comment below, or link to this permanent URL from your own site. Comments may be held for moderation, and I reserve the right to delete inappropriate or off-topic comments.