The jagged ledge known as Whaleback lurks menacingly on the northeast side of the entrance to the Piscataqua River. Portsmouth, New Hampshire, on the Piscataqua, was established as an important port for shipbuilding and trade before the American Revolution, and wrecks occurred around the ledges at mouth of the river with sickening regularity. The first lighthouse built on the ledge in 1830 was poorly built, but it lasted 42 years and has been cited as the first successful wave-swept lighthouse in the United States.
The granite tower that still stands on the ledge today was completed in 1872. The light was automated and the station was destaffed in early 1963. Among the last Coast Guard keepers was Jim Pope, a local Maine native who was one of the crew from 1960 to 1962. He went on to a long career as a tugboat captain.
(Collection of Jeremy D’Entremont)
Jim is a bit of a local legend who has made a number of appearances at events for Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. Most of this episode is an interview recorded with Jim at the Kittery Historical and Naval Museum a few months ago, with special thanks to Kim Sanborn and videographer Jim White.
A Keeper’s Letter from Whaleback Lighthouse, 1957
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U.S. Lighthouse Society Historian Jeremy D’Entremont is the author of 24 books and hundreds of articles on lighthouses and maritime history. He is a past president of the American Lighthouse Foundation and founder of Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses, and he has lectured and narrated cruises throughout the Northeast and in other regions. He is also the producer and host of the U.S. Lighthouse Society’s weekly podcast, “Light Hearted.” He can be emailed at Jeremy@uslhs.org
Hello, I am a resident of Kittery Estates and I wwas wondering if we could get you or someone to come in and speak on the Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouses. The talk should take an hour or so. Please get back to me . We already have a picture of the Nubble Light, however we are having a picture very soon of Whaleback which is being mounted by Dave Pratt who owns the framing business across from Golden Harvest on Route 1. I have ben searching for someone like you to help unvail this picture. Right now I have Bob Gray coming in. We still don’t have a date for this unvailing but you sure could add to it.
Please get back to me ASAP the talk on lighthouses would not co-inside with this., however
Please email me at jeremy@uslhs.org