This episode of Light Hearted featured an interview with the owners of one of the most rugged and remote lighthouses in New England. Congress authorized the building of a lighthouse on the east point of 30-acre Mistake Island, about five miles offshore from Jonesport, Maine, in March 1825. The station was established in October 1826. A 24-foot-tall round rubblestone tower and dwelling were originally constructed; the 57-foot brick tower that stands today was built in 1851. A new two-family house was completed in 1903. In 1982, a decade after the station was automated and de-staffed, a military team blew up the keeper’s house as a training exercise.
Under the guidelines of the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act, the lighthouse was sold via online auction in 2012. It was later sold to Jeremey Richardson and Miriam Davidson. Jeremey was born in Bangor, Maine, and has lived in the state his entire life. Miriam was born and raised in Colorado, but has spent time in New England throughout her life. She says she is drawn to the region’s history and cold weather.
Miriam moved to Maine full-time in 2013 and currently works for the Maine Department of Corrections as a Forensic Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. Jeremey enjoys varying occupations and claims to be impartial to the days of the week. Together, with their five dogs, the couple enjoys outdoor adventures and is excited for the opportunities Moose Peak Lighthouse and Mistake Island present.
Instagram for Moose Peak Lighthouse
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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
From Bob Trapani, Jr., executive director of the American Lighthouse Foundation and a lighthouse technician for the Coast Guard: “Just an FYI…during the podcast, there was some question if the fog horn is still operational. The sound signal (FA-232/2) is indeed an active aid to navigation. The fact that the horn is not sounding during periods of fog is due to it being equipped with the Mariner Radio Activated Sound Signal (MRASS) system. This is an on-demand activation system that requires the mariner to utilize their VHF radio (keying their mic five-plus times in succession) to turn the horn on. When activated, the horn will remain sounding for a 45 to 60 minute duration. The radio activated system was installed at Moose Peak on June 26, 2014.” Thanks for the clarification, Bob!
Sir i was stationed with jimmy pope on whaleback then went to isle of shoals as officer in charge from June 61 to June 62 Hope to be visiting jimmy sometime this coming summer.
Thank you so much for posting! What an experience it must have been being a keeper at both Whaleback and White Island. Jim Pope talked about you in the interview I did with him. If possible, please email me at Jeremy@uslhs.org — thank you.
The interview with Jim Pope is here –
https://news.uslhs.org/2019/11/18/light-hearted-ep-34-jim-pope-keeper-of-whaleback-lighthouse-kittery-maine/