Boon Island Light by Greg Marlett

At 133 feet, Boon Island's lighthouse is the tallest in Maine. It is also thought to be one of the most isolated and most dangerous. In fact, the island's name is a result of legends and lore. Boon Island is frequently pummeled by deadly storms, and many a ship was wrecked there in bad weather. One legend, which supposedly took place in 1710, has the shipwrecked crew of the Nottingham Galley resorting to cannibalism! As a result locals and mainland fisherman began leaving packages of food and clothing, known as "boon," on the island to be used by shipwreck victims who were able to reach the rocks.

Boon Island is, in reality, a pile of rocks about 400 square feet in size. The first lighthouse to be built there, in 1799, lasted five years in spite of being made of wood. The original light was blown away in a storm and replaced with two more lights before the tower that is there today was built in 1852. The cylindrical tower is made of hand-hewn granite blocks.

Boon Island was not the greatest place to end up if you were a keeper. The isolation, danger, and basic deprivation resulted in quite the high turnover! The final straw occurred during New England's famous Blizzard of 1978. As the entire island was submerged under water and the other structures on the island were destroyed by flying boulders, two keepers retreated to the lantern room until they were rescued by helicopters. Needless to say, the light was automated shortly thereafter!

Boon Island is located six miles off York, and in good weather, because of its height, can be seen all along the southern coast. The best viewing spot is right across from the Cape Neddick Lighthouse, at Sohier Park.

Year Established: 1811

Year Automated: 1980

Shape: Cylindrical

Height: 133 ft.

Characteristic: White flash every five seconds. Fog signal: one blast every 10 seconds.

Accessibility: If you want to view the tower by land, the best place is Sohier Park, right across from the Cape Neddick Lighthouse in York. You can also view the light by boat or by air.

Copyright 2007 All rights reserved. No duplication or publication without expressed permission of author.