Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse News

Trust Still Seeking Docents for Summer Openings

2012-01-23T19:40:00.001-08:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees is still seeking volunteer docents for the Open House tours this coming summer (2012). Docents lead tours through the lighthouse, interpret lighthouse history for visitors, assist in selling tickets, and assist in preparations for the openings. Docents play a vital role in the Trust's mission to promote public access to and education about the lighthouse and the surrounding harbor environment.

All docents will receive training prior to the commencement of the Open House season, which begins in June.

If you are interested in spending pleasant afternoons in the summer air and giving something back to this lighthouse, which a has stood guard to the entrance to the harbor for more than 100 years, send an email expressing your interest to Bill Berman, Chairman, at coordinator@springpointledgelight.com.

Board Members and Docents Sought

2011-10-23T17:56:00.001-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees is looking for volunteers interested in serving on the Board or acting as docents, or guides, during next summer's open house events. Here's your chance to give something back to a lighthouse that has stood guard over Portland Harbor for over 100 years.

If interested, especially if you have an accounting or management background, send a brief email of interest to Bill Berman, Chairman, at coordinator@springpointledgelight.com.

Visit Spring Point Light During Maine Lighthouse Day

2011-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

This weekend, September 17th, Spring Point Ledge Light will be among 25 lighthouses open for the third annual Maine Lighthouse Day. Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse will be open from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM and admission will be free.

Maine Lighthouse day was started to bring attention to the many lighthouses in Maine and permit visitors to explore as many towers as possible, some of which are rarely open to the public.

There are some age and height restrictions applicable to children. For details, visit the Events page on our website.

Open House this Weekend

2011-06-29T06:33:00.000-07:00

July marks the beginning of our Saturday and Sunday Open House events. This weekend, July 2nd and 3rd, the lighthouse will be open to the public both days. Be sure and come by for a visit and enjoy what is predicted to be a gorgeous weekend.

You can find more information and a complete schedule of Open House events on our website.

Docent Training Events

2011-06-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

There are two docent events in June. The first is open to the public, the second is intended for those who have volunteered to be docents this summer.

June 8th
Lighthouse History Lecture & Slideshow plus storytelling
Jewett Auditorium, Southern Maine Community College Campus
Fort Road, South Portland, Maine
Time: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm
There will be a call for docents and volunteers to help out at the ligthhouse as well refreshments.

June 15th
Docent training session in the Lighthouse classroom at SMCC near the lighthouse.
Time: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm

Summer Coordinator Named

2011-06-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

Mark McKenzie is our new summer Docent Coordinator. Mark has loved lighthouses since he was a child and grew particularly fond of Spring Point Ledge Light when he lived on nearby Preble Street in the 70s. Mark has worked with the public for many years, first as a Nursing Unit Coordinator at MMC and more recently as an instructor at Southern Maine Community College. He also brings many diverse talents to the job including photography, graphic art and fine art. Mark also runs a small gallery in downtown Portland called Time Gallery Portland (www.TimeGalleryPortland.com).

Summer Open House Dates Announced

2011-04-15T07:41:00.000-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust has announced the following dates for its summer Open House series in 2011:

Saturday – June 18, 2011
Saturday – June 25, 2011
Saturday – July 2, 2011
Sunday – July 3, 2011
Saturday – July 9, 2011
Sunday – July 10, 2011
Saturday – July 16, 2011
Sunday – July 17, 2011
Saturday – July 23, 2011
Sunday – July 24, 2011
Saturday – July 30, 2011
Sunday – July 31, 2011
Saturday – August 6, 2011
Sunday – August 7, 2011
Saturday – August 13, 2011
Sunday – August 14, 2011
Saturday – August 20, 2011
Sunday – August 21, 2011
Saturday – August 27, 2011
Sunday – August 28, 2011
Saturday – September 3, 2011 – Labor Day weekend
Saturday – September 17, 2011 – Maine Lighthouse Day – Date subject to change by Maine Office of Tourism (Special opening time TBA)
Saturday – October 8, 2011 – Columbus Day weekend

Opening times are 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Everyone is invited to join us on any of these days for an interesting day of lighthouse history and beautiful views of Portland Harbor. Admission is just $5.00 per person and all monies go toward the Trust's mission to preserve and promote the lighthouse.

Summer Coordinator Wanted

2011-03-24T06:34:00.000-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust is seeking a Summer Coordinator to take charge of lighthouse open houses this summer. This is a paid position.

The job involves openings and tours on Saturdays and Sundays from late June to Labor Day weekend, plus bus tours during the week, primarily from mid-August through October. There will also be special openings on Maine Lighthouse Day in mid-September and on Columbus Day weekend. Hours for most regular openings are from 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM.

The Summer Coordinator must be able to work weekends when Open Houses are scheduled. Duties include opening and closing the lighthouse, setting up and closing down the ticket and merchandise sales areas, installing the daily temporary signs for each opening along Broadway in South Portland, acting as a docent, and managing the inventory of merchandise sold. The Coordinator will also be responsible for scheduling trustees and docents needed for each opening or tour.

The ideal candidate will be reliable and of good character, enjoy working with the public, have access to a computer and be able to use email, and have a sincere interest in Maine lighthouses and history. Training will be provided as necessary.

Interested candidates should contact Bill Berman, SPLLT chairman, at wberman@smccme.edu for an interview.

Coast Guard Converts Spring Point to Solar

2011-01-24T07:54:00.000-08:00

The US Coast Guard in late summer of 2010 completed the conversion of the light (navigation) portion of the lighthouse to solar power. Two south-facing solar arrays mounted on supports on the breakwater at the base of the tower now charge battery banks in the basement that illuminate the lamp at night.

The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust voted in late 2010 to assume the costs of electricity supplied by the original

underwater electrical cable to avoid the loss of electricity to the remainder of the tower. This will allow the Trust to have lighting during the summer open houses and while performing interior maintenance, as well as for decorations during the Christmas season.

Main Gallery Roof Refurbishment Completed in 2010

2011-01-24T07:29:00.000-08:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust can point to several accomplishments on the maintenance front in 2010. The door between the watch room and the middle gallery was replaced, solving a water leak and replacing a deteriorating door frame.

In addition, roof panels on the main gallery which were improperly finished in 2004 had started to rust within a couple of years. They were removed and refinished in late 2010, with the last ones reinstalled in December.

New Trust Officers Elected for 2011; Priorities Set

2011-01-24T07:18:00.000-08:00

The new slate of officers for the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust were set at the January monthly/annual meeting on January 22, 2011.

From left to right, they are: Front-Mary Lynch, Vice Chair; Bill Berman, Chairman; Rear-Judy Davidson, Secretary; John McClean, Treasurer.

The Board of Trustees also established priorities for 2011, foremost of which is maintenance, which includes painting, repair of leaks in and around the lantern room, replacement of missing rail segments on the main gallery, replacement of a missing davit on the main gallery, and reinforcement banding around the lower caisson.

Join Us For the Lighting of the Christmas Lights

2009-11-29T20:45:00.001-08:00

The Friends of the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse invite the public to join them for the annual lighting of the Lighthouse's decorative Holiday Lights on Sunday, December 6th.

Cocoa will be served and carols will be sung beginning at 5:00 PM. The lights will be turned on at 5:30 PM. Please dress warmly.

Spring Point to Participate in Maine Lighthouse Day

2009-09-01T08:19:00.001-07:00

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse will participate in Maine Lighthouse Day Saturday, September 12, 2009 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy unprecedented access to 27 active Maine lighthouses! This first-of-its-kind event is the largest lighthouse Open House in the nation. Come celebrate Maine's maritime heritage and the rich history of our lighthouses and lighthouse keepers.

The partnership with the Coast Guard, the State of Maine, and the American Lighthouse Foundation is intended to increase awareness of Maine’s maritime heritage and the rich history of its lighthouses and lighthouse keepers.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse Trust to Hold Docent and Friend Reception May 31

2009-05-28T17:18:00.001-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse Trust invites anyone interested to attend a docent and friends reception on Sunday May 31, 10 am to noon at the Portland Marine Society Room, Fort Road, South Portland, on the campus of SMCC.

Earle Shettleworth, Director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission and Maine's State Historian, will present a slide lecture that will provide a broad overview of the lights and lighthouses of the Maine coastline. The Commission's color slides, by nationally recognized architectural photographer Richard Cheek, will include all of the Casco Bay lights and have never before been shown publicly.

Immediately following the reception at noon, there will be an opportunity for new and returning docents to discuss volunteer procedures and policies, as well as friends or any interested public to tour the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse.
For more information, including directions and the 2009 summer open lighthouse schedule starting every Saturday June 20th, visit www.SpringPointLight.org or call 699-2933.

Spring Point Trust Reports 2008 Visitor Results

2009-05-16T15:50:00.000-07:00

The number of people who toured the lighthouse:

1051 paid visitors;
191 free children;
17 free through corporate sponsorships;
598 via bus tours;
1857 Total Visitors.

The Friends of the Lighthouse hosted the first annual holiday lighting of the lighthouse in December.

Donations in 2008:

$459 donations from openings;
$10,400 donations for repairs;*
$1250 donations from the Corporate Sponsorships, The Kennel Shop and Time Warner;
$617 public donations ;
$990 from Friends of the Lighthouse;
$13716 total donations in 2008.

*(includes a $5000 grant from Saco and Biddeford Savings Institution and one anonymous $5000 donation)

Funds Still Needed For Critical Lighthouse Maintenance

2009-05-15T15:35:00.001-07:00

While the US Coast Guard is still maintains the navigation portion of Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse, the Trust is charged with the duty to "maintain the building consistent with the guidelines set by National Historic Preservation and to educate the public about maritime history through access to the lighthouse."

We, an all-volunteer group, are charged with keeping it open as often as possible for people to visit and with raising sufficient funds to preserve the structure. This will be our fourth year of opening every Saturday during the warm months. All revenue from our visitors is used to maintain the lighthouse. However some major repairs, needed to keep our lighthouse standing, require larger sums of money. We hope you will help!

So far, thanks to generous donations, we have raised money to begin the most urgent of the projects: repairing the lantern room windows and door to prevent leaks. Salt air and water are hard on our lighthouse, so we must repair and repaint the outside walls, as well as replace the bands that hold the protective plates on the caisson.

These projects are estimated to total at least $70,000. Every dollar you donate will go toward the maintenance of the lighthouse and the training of docents who lead the tours. To those who have donated before, we send grateful thanks and hope you will consider contributing again. Enjoy the benefit of visits to the best harbor view in Casco Bay as you help to preserve this beautiful and historic building.

$15 to $49 — 2 free tickets plus 10% discount on our merchandise
$50 to $99 - 3 free tickets plus 10% discount
$100 to $499 - 4 free tickets plus 10% discount
$500 and up - Private tour for 10 plus 10% discount.

Please make checks payable to Spring Point Ledge Light Trust.

The Spring Point Ledge Light Trust is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.

Spring Point Ledge Light Trust
PO Box 2311
South Portland, Maine 04116-2311

Pricing Set For Spring Point DVD

2008-07-21T18:06:00.001-07:00

The Board of Trustees has set the pricing for the new Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse DVD Video Tour-Slideshow at $10.00. The DVD is currently being sold during open house events.

The DVD contains a 17-minute video tour of the lighthouse and a slideshow of current and archival photographs.

The DVD may be purchased by mail from the:

Spring Point Ledge Light Trust
PO Box 2311
South Portland, Maine 04116

Please include a check or money order for $10.00 plus $2.50 postage and handling.

Trust Reports Results of Open House Events

2008-07-07T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees has reported the results of the first five weekend Open House Events of 2008. As of July 5th, 365 people have toured the lighthouse generating proceeds from ticket sales and sales of tee shirts, hats, and other items of over $1500. These proceeds will go towards maintenance projects for Spring Point Ledge Light.

Open Houses are held every Saturday from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Tickets are $5 each. For more information, visit the Events page at www.springpointlight.org.

Spring Point Video DVD Available This Week

2008-06-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

The new Spring Point Video is available for the first time this week on DVD. Produced for the Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees by Free Street Productions of Portland, the DVD contains a 16-minute movie discussing the lighthouse's history and giving viewers a tour of the lighthouse from top to bottom.

Pricing for the DVD will be set later this week. The DVD is expected to be available for sale during Open House events.

You can view an excerpt of the movie below.

More Lens Photos Received

2008-06-19T07:35:00.000-07:00

Steve Gronow, of the Maritime Exchange Museum, owner of the original Fresnel lens from Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse has sent us a couple more photos of the lens on its display stand. See the article below for more information.

Spring Point Ledge Light Trust Seeks Funding for Repairs

2008-06-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Board of Trustees of the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust has started a capital campaign to raise $71,000.00 for major repairs to the Spring Point Ledge Light located on the campus on Southern Maine Community College.

There have been two newspaper articles written about this campaign (one by Linda Hersey of the Current newspaper in its December 13, 2007, issue and one by Josie Huang in the Portland Press Herald in its January 16, 2008, issue). To date, SPLLT has received $5,000.00 from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution and two private donations of $25.00 & $5,000.00 from two South Portland residents for a total to date of $10,025.00.

Donations should be made out to "Spring Point Ledge Light Trust" and sent to the following:

Spring Point Ledge Light Trust
PO Box 2311
South Portland, ME 04116

Spring Point Ledge Light Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Spring Point Board of Trustees to Release Lighthouse Video

2008-06-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees is announcing the upcoming release of a new video DVD featuring Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse. The video, narrated by Mike Harris and produced by Free Street Productions of Portland, Maine, will treat lighthouse aficionados to a fascinating look at the history of Spring Point Lighthouse, a top-to-bottom tour, and a slide show featuring archival and current photographs of the interior and exterior of the lighthouse. The DVD is expected to be released by the end of June 2008.

The Spring Point Lighthouse was completed in 1897 and is the only caisson-style lighthouse accessible to the public by land. It was deeded to the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust in 1998 under the auspices of the Maine Lights Program.

Spring Point's Original Fresnel Lens Located.

2008-06-09T17:58:00.000-07:00

It's location has been a mystery since it was removed from the Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse in the 1950s. For over 50 years, no one knew what had happened to the original fifth-order Fresnel lens. Until now.

Through the efforts of volunteers working with the Spring Point Ledge Light Board of Trustees and a bit of luck in Internet research, the lens has been found in the hands of a private collector in Howell, Michigan. Researchers doing an exhaustive search of the Internet came upon a list of classic Fresnel lenses compiled by the American Lighthouse Coordinating Committee, part of the Optics Work Group of the World Lighthouse Society. The list was compiled by lens researcher Tom Tag and others, including Mike Vogel of Buffalo, NY.

This list included a notation for the Spring Point Light's Fresnel lens, including the fact that it had been verified, and the tantalizing notation "Howell" beneath the Location column. But Howell where?

The researchers finally managed to contact Mike Vogel who was able to pinpoint the location as Howell, Michigan. The lens is owned by Steve Gronow's Maritime Exchange Museum. He explains how he came into possession of the lens:

"We obtained it from the widow of the owner of Automatic Signal, which is the company that removed the Lens in the 1950's and converted it to a solar powered modernized optic. The Lens was given to him by the Coast Guard official in charge of that area back in those days. Both of them are now long gone, and the Widow said that they had the lens for over 50 years before her husband passed away. It was his personal legacy to his career in Navigational Aids and the family treasured it very much."

The Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse was completed in 1897 and is the only caisson-style lighthouse accessible to the public by land. It was deeded to the Spring Point Ledge Light Trust in 1998 under the auspices of the Maine Lights Program.