Name/Title
Libby Island Light Station | Machiasport, MaineDescription
From Sunrise County Architecture (2nd revised and enlarged edition) 1996, p. 112:
LIBBY ISLAND LIGHT (MACHIASPORT VICINITY)
Located at the mouth of Machias Bay since 1822, the 91- foot granite cone of Libby Island Lighthouse for many years guided much shipping and sailing to and from, East Machias, Machiasport and Machias. The bar, joining the larger northern island to the smaller southern island (on which Libby Light is situated), has been dangerous at high tide, causing wrecks of ships not picking up the beacon and fog bell of Libby Island Light. During the years Libby had keepers, not the least of their tasks during bad weather was coming aboard a lifesaving boat or going ashore at the island after a rescue. Libby Island was the third oldest in Washington County and the 14th lighthouse built in Maine. In the last half of the 19th'century,'there were 38 major wrecks in Machias Bay, but few deaths. Libby Island Lighthouse never had to be reconstructed, a tribute to the superior builders of this high tower, visible only from the air or from sailing vessels. Since June 18, 1976, Libby Island has been on the National Register of Historic Places. Libby Island Station is still an active navigational aid in 1995. KFM, JCB
From Libby Island Light Station National Register Nomination form:
LIBBY ISLAND Light Station was ordered built by President James Monroe In 1822 and has never been rebuilt. According to old journals at the station there were thlrty-five wrecks from 1856 to 1902, and out of this number only fifteen lives were lost owing to the efficient work and valor of the light keepers at the station.
Among the ships lost to the sea near the LIBBY ISLAND STATION were the Schooner Caledonia of Windsor, Nova Scotia. The
captain and crew were swept overboard by the breakers but two passengers were rescued by the volunteer lifesaving crew from Starboard in 1878. The Bark Fame drifted shore on the point In a heavy gale; twelve of a crew of fifteen were rescued by the heroic keepers, who waded Into the surf and threw a rope to the crew, then rigged a boatswain chair and got all but three ashore safely. In 1892 the ship PRINCEPORT was wrecked on the bar between the two Islands. After a perilous trip from the light the keepers reached the small piece of the bow, all that remained of the ship, and rescued the crew.
The Schooner F.C. LOCKHART with all sails set, making a beautiful picture, struck the point where she lodged between a natural cradle of rocks where she had to be left until the sea claimed her.
The Barkentlne JOHN N. MYERS met disaster on the southwest end of East Libby Island In 1925. The crew managed to take a small lonely Island from which they were taken off by the Coast Guard the next morning. The last square rigger to go ashore at LIBBY ISLAND was the Barkentlne AFRICA In 1902.
In a vain effort to save the ship both anchors, weighing over 5000 pounds, were thrown overboard by the crew, which subsequently escaped to the Island by small boat. These anchors, the only remnants of a once proud ship exist today In an excellent state of preservation.