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By Margaret Kepler, Friends of the Doubling Point Light Board Member
On September 9, 2023, during Maine Open Lighthouse Day, unexpectedly and without warning, Friends of the Doubling Point Light organization and our guests were shaken by the sudden collapse of a portion of the 130-foot access walkway to the Doubling Point Lighthouse.
Lighthouse lovers may recognize Doubling Point Light, as it is one of the most photogenic lighthouses in Maine. The flowing white trusses of its walkway are as memorable as they are graceful. For those of us who cherish this little lighthouse on the Kennebec River, this accident was heart-wrenching. With the passage of time, we are grateful for subsequent healing and peace. Because of the collapse, the lighthouse, an important beacon for local residents and visitors, must remain closed to the public until Friends of the Doubling Point Light can raise the funds needed to rebuild the entire walkway.
Friends of the Doubling Point Light is a small organization, consisting of only eight board members, but we now find ourselves at the beginning of a massive fund-raising campaign unlike any we have done before. We must raise a staggering $500,000 to fully rebuild the walkway and connected catwalks. This is crucial in order to reopen to the public and solidify Doubling Point Light’s future. Our goal is to secure these funds as quickly as possible so that we can begin construction. We would be deeply grateful if you could find it in your heart to contribute to our cause, ensuring that Doubling Point Light can once again welcome visitors for generations to come.
More About the Project and
How YOU can help:
In the immediate aftermath of the collapse, the grounds of Doubling Point Light were closed for safety, and remnants of the broken walkway were removed. We contracted with a local company to have a custom aluminum causeway installed to allow access to the lighthouse for maintenance or in case of emergency. With this in place, the United States Coast Guard was able to install a solar panel to re-activate the light permanently, which had been on battery back-up power since the accident.
Friends of the Doubling Point Light then turned its attention towards the future. We collaborated with a marine engineering firm to design a new walkway. The design process alone took almost a year and cost $25,000. Our organization has paid all fees for the plans to date with the help of a generous grant from the Maine Lighthouse Trust in 2023. Additionally, the design plans were reviewed and approved by the Maine Historic Preservation Commission to ensure the rebuild would preserve the lighthouse’s historical accuracy, including the impressive white trusses that make Doubling Point Light so recognizable. The new walkway and catwalk design will incorporate enhanced structural integrity while maintaining the majestic and historic features. Additionally, all hardware and steel I-beams will be coated to withstand the Kennebec River’s challenging environmental conditions.
We have received estimates from several marine contractors, and our fundraising goal of $500,000 is based on these estimates. We’ve made some progress, thanks especially to a generous $50,000 private donation. However, we still have a LONG way to go. Our annual fundraising campaign is currently underway, and we cannot stress enough how crucial your support is. Every donation, whether $5 or $500, brings us closer to reaching our goal.
As a volunteer-run organization, 100% of the funds we raise will go directly towards the walkway restoration project. Donations are tax-deductible.
The History of Doubling Point Light and Friends of Doubling Point Light:
The Kennebec River has long been central to Maine’s maritime history. Settlers arrived in the region in the 1600s, and by the 1700s, the lower Kennebec River became renowned for shipbuilding. The river served as a major transportation route, bringing people and supplies to Bath, Augusta, and beyond.
According to the 1892 Annual Report of the Lighthouse Board, over 3,000 large vessels were transiting the river annually. The Kennebec was noted to be difficult to navigate and the report noted that, “On dark nights, it is sometimes impossible to tell where the water ends and the shore begins.” For years, the Kennebec Steamboat Company and local towing companies kept lanterns lit on posts along the river, but the dangers persisted. In 1895, Congress appropriated $17,000 to devote to aids of navigation on the Kennebec River, and in 1898, four lighthouses were established on the river, including our beloved Doubling Point Light.
When initially constructed in 1898, Doubling Point Light was part of a complex that included an octagonal lighthouse, a keeper’s dwelling, a small barn, and a fog bell tower. Just one year later, the lighthouse was moved to its current location situated at the end of a 130-foot walkway that extends from the shore, over tidal marsh, and to a granite pier in the river. At this time the iconic trusses of Doubling Point Light were constructed. The fog bell was relocated to the lighthouse itself, and the fog bell tower was repurposed as an out-building.
The lighthouse remained manned by the United States Lighthouse Service (USLHS) for nearly forty years, with only two keepers, Merritt Pinkham (1898-1931) and Charles W. Allen (1931-1935). However, by 1935, the government decided to operate the Doubling Point Lighthouse remotely from the nearby Range Lights, and the lighthouse station, except for the lighthouse itself, was sold to a private owner. The U.S. Coast Guard took over lighthouse operations in 1939, continuing to maintain it for over 50 years.
In 1996, Congress passed legislation establishing the Maine Lights Program, a program that would ultimately result in the transfer of 27 Maine lighthouses to local nonprofit organizations. A diverse, dedicated group of volunteers and friends joined together to establish Friends of the Doubling Point Light. We were awarded stewardship of Doubling Point Light in 1998. Under the Maine Lights Program, the Coast Guard ensures the operational readiness of the light lens and batteries, but the organization is responsible for maintenance of the lighthouse structure and the walkway.
For twenty-six years, Friends of the Doubling Point Light has worked tirelessly to fundraise for, preserve, and maintain this historic treasure. During this time, the lighthouse grounds were open to the public from 9am and 5pm and you would always find an open door to the tower during Maine’s annual Open Lighthouse Day. Dan and Karen Mclean, who served as active duty US Coast Guard Lighthouse keepers at the Kennebec River Light Station from January 1982 until automation in July 1990, tended three of the four Kennebec River lighthouses, including Doubling Point Light. You would often find them in the Doubling Point Light tower to welcome visitors on Open Lighthouse Day. Karen and Dan are now fully retired, but are our most valued board members, currently serving as secretary/treasurer and president respectively.
Since Friends of the Doubling Point Light took over stewardship of the light, notable projects have included lifting the lighthouse in 1999 to rebuild its ice-floe-compromised granite foundation, rebuilding the walkway trusses, routine maintenance and painting, and in 2023, installing a new parking lot to accommodate growing visitor numbers. While rebuilding the Doubling Point Light’s foundation seemed like a monumental fundraising project 25 years ago, the current walkway project is proving to be much more expensive. With YOUR support, however, Friends of the Doubling Point Light is determined to rise after the collapse. We will restore Doubling Point Light, reopen it to the public, and ensure its legacy for future generations. Thank you in advance for being part of this important journey. Please donate what you can. Every dollar amount, large or small, will bring us closer to reaching our goal.
This story appeared in the
Jan/Feb 2025 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.
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