West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association

> HOME


Mrs. Dot Black (left), Jane Doré (center), Tim Harrison (right), July 7th, 2007.	West Quoddy Head Light House July 7th, 2007 Photo by: Chessie Johnson (c).

Summer 2007

The West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association (WQHLKA) opened the doors of the Visitor Center to the public on May 26, 2007.

After only a few weeks since opening day, more than 5500 visitors have come to see us from all fifty states and from eighteen other countries: Australia, Bermuda, China, Canada, France, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Holland, Ireland, Japan, the UK, Scotland, Singapore, Slovakia, Switzerland, Spain, and Sri Lanka.

On Saturday July 7th, several hundred visitors came to celebrate the Association’s fifth anniversary celebration. The day was warm, sunny, and clear; music opened the event with Paula Tinker on bagpipes and, as in past years, singer/songwriter Noel Veilleux delighted visitors throughout the day, and D. M. Ingalls entertained with his many songs, poems and tonepoems. Adding to the variety of music, we also enjoyed Gene Nichols and his Ukelele Club, and the Sanfilippos of Pembroke, who sang old time maritime songs and shanties.

Special guests included Christopher St. Martin, USCG, Chief of Aids to Navigation; John Smith, Quoddy Head State Park Manager; Tim Hall, Regional Manager, Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands; Mrs. Kenneth “Dot” Black aka Mrs. Lighthouse, and Tim Harrison and Kathy Finnegan, of the American Lighthouse Foundation and Lighthouse Digest magazine. This year's celebration honored the memory of Ken Black, Mr. Lighthouse, who died in January. He was the Coast Guardsman who began preserving lighthouse history and artifacts before retirement and continued for thirty years afterward. Black, whose service duties included Officer in Charge for a period at West Quoddy Head Light, is credited with being the founder of the modern lighthouse preservation movement. Tim Harrison, who knew Black well, discussed Black’s career and accomplishments, then introduced Black’s widow, Dot Black. Caught up in the emotion of the event, Mrs. Black’s written remarks were read aloud for her. Shown above, in the photo on the left, is Mrs. Black (left) being presented with a portrait of her husband by the artist, Jane Doré, (center). Tim Harrison is on the right.

Under the supervision of the U.S. Coast Guard, scores of adults and children climbed the stairs to the top of the tower, (see photo above on the right); the U.S. Postal Service were also on site, to cancel collectors’ stamped envelopes with a special Commemorative Postmark depicting an image of “Mr. Lighthouse”, Ken Black, 1923-2007.

Good ‘eats and drinks’ were provided this year by Bayside Chocolates; Lubec Skate Park Committee and Twin Spruces.

Raffle prizes were donated for the event by the following businesses: Annabell's Pub; Bar Harbor Bank & Trust; Broomstick Creations; Carlton E. Corey Garage; Corey & Corey Service Station; County Road Cuts; Lubec Hardware; Lyons Market; McFadden's Variety; Monica's Chocolates; Murphy's Village Restaurant; Northern Tides Art and Gift Gallery; Puffin Pines Country Gift Store; Sunset Point Campground; The Fitness Port; The Home Port Inn; Uncle Kippy's Restaurant, and West Quoddy Gifts. Several Visitor Center Gallery exhibiting artists also donated a raffle item: Constance Wiggin Photography; David Cope; David Oscarson; M. Bonnie Clymer, and Paul S. Ivan. The Association appreciates the generosity of these community businesses and exhibiting artists.

The lucky winners of the raffle items are: Junia Lehman, Sylvia Boomer, Kathy Day, Jane Scrivany, Claudia Mahlman, Chloe Alley, Jessica Olson, Pat Warner, and Katie Greenlaw, all of Lubec. Sally Brown, Calais; Tim Hall, Augusta; Barbara Laphan (SummerKeys); Tim Harrison, East Machias, ME; Katie Moser, Pennsylvania; Peggy Grubel, Arizona; Virginia Hutchins, Veazie, ME; Heidi Aukstikalnis, Massachusetts, and Bill Springsteen. Bill did not leave a phone number or address so if anyone knows him, please let him know he won a gift certificate and needs to call the Visitor Center at 207-733-2180 to claim his prize!

The Association extends thanks to the Americorps volunteers who generously assisted at the event.

On Wednesday evening, August 29th, at 7:30 PM, remember to attend the SummerKeys Mary Potterton Memorial Piano Concert featuring Peter Lewy on cello and Bruce Potterton, piano, playing Grieg, J.S. Bach and Lewy compositions. The West Quoddy Head Light Keepers Association are providing refreshments at intermission. We look forward to seeing you there.

If you’ve not yet come to the Visitor Center this year, make the time to join us for an hour or two. There are many new, interesting exhibits and a fine selection of art being shown.

Quoddy Lighthouse merchandise is available at West Quoddy Gift Shop, on South Lubec Road in Lubec, and at The Puffin Pines Country Store, in Whiting.

View our past newsletters >