These two images of Maine’s Pemaquid Point Lighthouse prove why it is so vital to save old photos of lighthouses. Both photos show the lighthouse with a red cupola on the lantern and a forest green color around the bottom of the lantern, which is much different than today’s fully colored black lantern. One of the photos, believed to have been taken in the mid-1950s, also shows a garage, which is no longer there.
What is known, is that the lantern cupola was painted red from 1901 to 1907 and then black from 1907 to 1914 and perhaps, from looking at old post cards images, up to 1930. But exactly when it was painted red and then back to black after that is unclear at this time. Until further facts can be uncovered, perhaps some of our readers will find the answer.
Because Pemaquid Point Lighthouse is one of Maine’s most visited lighthouses reader photos may help us pinpoint dates of color changes.
This story appeared in the
Jan/Feb 2021 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
|