The following letter by an unnamed keeper at Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine, appeared in the March 1957 issue of the Maine Coast Fisherman…
A view of the lighthouse and fog signal tower at Whaleback Light Station in 1957.
(Photo from the Jeremy D’Entremont collection)
“Well, here it is the end of January already, and the year is going by so fast that we here at Whaleback can scarcely believe it. In our last letter, I stated that I would write as soon as something exciting happened here, so here goes.
“I guess that the most newsworthy item here was the caper pulled off by Hickey (Engineman Third Class Francis D. Hickey) on the last day of 1956. He departed the light at 08:30 to go on liberty, and resulted in only getting lost on the way in to shore.
“He had a little engine trouble, and by the time he repaired the outboard, the tide and wind had changed and swung the boat out to sea. The extensive search performed by the Coast Guard boats and ships from Portsmouth Harbor Lifeboat Station, Hampton Beach Lifeboat Station, Merrimac River Lifeboat Station, and a ship from the C.G. Base in Portland took a total of six and a half hours.
A postcard view of Whaleback Light Station.
(United States Lighthouse Society image)
“Hickey was found drifting by the C.G. 40-footer from Merrimac River, about seven and a half miles out to sea off Rye Beach, N.H. He was taken aboard the ship from Base Portland and brought into Portsmouth Harbor, where he was met by an ambulance and taken to Portsmouth Hospital, only to be released less than an hour later, none the worse for his experience.
“Need it be said that he had had enough excitement for the day, and that he spent a quiet New Year’s Eve at home on the sofa watching television.
“In December we had quite a bit of time running the fog signal, a total of 99 hours and 45 minutes, starting off the month with 41 consecutive hours of running time, in the first two days yet. What a way to start a new month. In spite of all the noise and labor involved, we all slept like babies.
The keeper reported seas dousing the lantern where the fourth order Fresnel lens resided.
(Photo from the Jeremy D’Entremont collection)
“The weather has really been rough out here this winter. There have been many days that the water broke around the gallery windows, giving them a good washing. The results of this bad weather are that we spend most of our time inside working, and keeping warm.
“The lowest temperature so far had been a mighty windy cold 21 below zero. No time for fishing. We thought that the harbor had been moved up in the Arctic Circle at times when the tide brought chunks of ice down from up the river. There was better than an inch and a half of ice on the outside of the structure at one time, with more forming as each wave left its own deposit.
“I was out in the rowboat the other day trying to catch a seal so we could have it for a pet, but I didn’t have any luck. The nearest I got was 20 or so yards. I tried whistling, but all they did was look at me, so after an hour or so, I gave up the expedition. I must say here though that was the best workout I’ve had since last summer.
Offshore Whaleback Light could be a very lonely spot, especially during the winter.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo)
“Contrary to all the letters I’ve read in the MCF, we haven’t seen anybody out here since last summer either. It would be good to see a new face out here once in a while. There are a few of the lobster boats going by now and then, but not too often. We make the best of it though, and are all pretty happy when we have a good day.
“It’s been pretty hard to get off the light at times. Once in a while the wind stops us, or the swells, or the snow, but we manage somehow to get in and get our supplies. Seems like we have been eating more than before though. I guess that is because we are inside, and are not able to catch any of those beautiful flounders or mackerel that we did so often last summer.
“Well, I guess that that is all the news from Whaleback at this time. We still haven’t heard from old Brownie (Henry Brown, BMS 1), the former keeper, except for a Christmas card that is. He said that he would be coming out to see us sometime, but not in sight as yet. Too busy, I guess. He won’t know the place when he sees it, as we have gotten a lot of new kitchen equipment in and have the place all painted out.
“If any of the other keepers have a pet seal, let me know how they caught it will you, as I would like to get up next to one of them. I hear that when tamed, they make good pets, and only eat fish. A little word of common sense for a closing: When it’s cold, keep warm, but when it’s warm, keep cool. Our best to all the other wickies along the coast, and a good New Year. Happy Easter.”
A present day view of the wave-swept Whaleback Lighthouse, which stands at the mouth of the Piscataqua River and remains an active aid to navigation.
(Photo by Bob Trapani, Jr.)
