Ladies Delight Light
Encyclopedia
The Ladies Delight Light is a small lighthouse
on Lake Cobbosseecontee, Maine, United States
. It was constructed in 1908 and is believed to be the only active inland waters lighthouse in Maine. The tower is 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, and is equipped with a 100-watt light bulb further intensified by a lens from a ship's anchor light.
The lighthouse was designed by Frank Morse, a Boston
marine architect
. The small island
on which it was constructed, Ladies Delight, is formed by the central part of a large reef
; the lighthouse was built to keep a passenger launch at the south end of the lake from running aground in the area. The Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club erected the tower with the help of two oxen. Due to the size of their barge
, they could only transport one at a time. They took the first one to the island, and then returned to shore for the second. In the interval the first ox grew lonely, and began swimming back to the mainland as the workers returned with its partner. Finally, both oxen were successfully transported, and the lighthouse was built over the course of the summer.
Members of the Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club have always maintained the lighthouse. Originally its light was provided by kerosene
lanterns; a volunteer keeper
went out each evening to trim the wicks
, clean the globes, and light the beacon. A reflector
in the light was rotated by a system of weights from a longcase clock
. A wind-powered generator
powered the light for a while in the 1930s; currently, power is provided by cable
from Manchester
. The lantern has been blown off the tower twice; sometime in the 1990s the original iron one was replaced by one made of wood. At one time there was an osprey
nest
on the top of the tower.
Located in the North Bay of Lake Cobbosseecontee, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In 2001 it had a severe list corrected and in 2005 a new top constructed of marine grade aluminum was installed. The structure was formally dedicated on July 16, 2005 in a ceremony conducted by retiring CYC Commodore, Hugh Stephens.
On August 9, 2008 a 100th anniversary celebration was held at the lighthouse followed by an anniversary party at the nearby home of a former commodore.
For further information regarding the Ladies Delight Island Lighthouse and the Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club visit their website at http://www.cycmaine.org.
Lighthouse
A lighthouse is a tower, building, or other type of structure designed to emit light from a system of lamps and lenses or, in older times, from a fire, and used as an aid to navigation for maritime pilots at sea or on inland waterways....
on Lake Cobbosseecontee, Maine, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was constructed in 1908 and is believed to be the only active inland waters lighthouse in Maine. The tower is 25 feet (7.6 m) tall, and is equipped with a 100-watt light bulb further intensified by a lens from a ship's anchor light.
The lighthouse was designed by Frank Morse, a Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
marine architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. The small island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
on which it was constructed, Ladies Delight, is formed by the central part of a large reef
Reef
In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water ....
; the lighthouse was built to keep a passenger launch at the south end of the lake from running aground in the area. The Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club erected the tower with the help of two oxen. Due to the size of their barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
, they could only transport one at a time. They took the first one to the island, and then returned to shore for the second. In the interval the first ox grew lonely, and began swimming back to the mainland as the workers returned with its partner. Finally, both oxen were successfully transported, and the lighthouse was built over the course of the summer.
Members of the Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club have always maintained the lighthouse. Originally its light was provided by kerosene
Kerosene
Kerosene, sometimes spelled kerosine in scientific and industrial usage, also known as paraffin or paraffin oil in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Ireland and South Africa, is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. The name is derived from Greek keros...
lanterns; a volunteer keeper
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
went out each evening to trim the wicks
Candle wick
A candle wick is a string, cord, or wooden object that holds the flame of a candle. A candle wick works by capillary action, drawing the fuel to the flame. When the liquid fuel, typically melted candle wax, reaches the flame it then vaporizes and combusts. The candle wick influences how the...
, clean the globes, and light the beacon. A reflector
Reflector
-Science:* Reflector, a device that causes reflection * Reflector , used to control lighting contrast* Reflecting telescope* Reflector , the part of an antenna that reflects radio waves...
in the light was rotated by a system of weights from a longcase clock
Longcase clock
A longcase clock, also tall-case clock, floor clock, or grandfather clock, is a tall, freestanding, weight-driven pendulum clock with the pendulum held inside the tower, or waist of the case. Clocks of this style are commonly 1.8–2.4 metres tall...
. A wind-powered generator
Electrical generator
In electricity generation, an electric generator is a device that converts mechanical energy to electrical energy. A generator forces electric charge to flow through an external electrical circuit. It is analogous to a water pump, which causes water to flow...
powered the light for a while in the 1930s; currently, power is provided by cable
Cable
A cable is two or more wires running side by side and bonded, twisted or braided together to form a single assembly. In mechanics cables, otherwise known as wire ropes, are used for lifting, hauling and towing or conveying force through tension. In electrical engineering cables are used to carry...
from Manchester
Manchester, Maine
Manchester is a town in Kennebec County, Maine, United States, located at . The population was 2,465 at the 2000 census. In the early 19th century, the town was known as "The Forks".-Geography:...
. The lantern has been blown off the tower twice; sometime in the 1990s the original iron one was replaced by one made of wood. At one time there was an osprey
Osprey
The Osprey , sometimes known as the sea hawk or fish eagle, is a diurnal, fish-eating bird of prey. It is a large raptor, reaching more than in length and across the wings...
nest
Nest
A nest is a place of refuge to hold an animal's eggs or provide a place to live or raise offspring. They are usually made of some organic material such as twigs, grass, and leaves; or may simply be a depression in the ground, or a hole in a tree, rock or building...
on the top of the tower.
Located in the North Bay of Lake Cobbosseecontee, the lighthouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. In 2001 it had a severe list corrected and in 2005 a new top constructed of marine grade aluminum was installed. The structure was formally dedicated on July 16, 2005 in a ceremony conducted by retiring CYC Commodore, Hugh Stephens.
On August 9, 2008 a 100th anniversary celebration was held at the lighthouse followed by an anniversary party at the nearby home of a former commodore.
For further information regarding the Ladies Delight Island Lighthouse and the Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club visit their website at http://www.cycmaine.org.
Further reading
- Caldwell, Bill. (1986) Lighthouses of Maine (Portland, ME: Gannett Books).
- Clifford, J. Candace, and Clifford, Mary Louise, (2005) Maine Lighthouses: Documentation of Their Past (Alexandria, VA: Cypress Communications). ISBN 0-9636412-6-3; ISBN 978-0-9636412-6-7
- Crompton, Samuel Willard & Michael J. Rhein, The Ultimate Book of Lighthouses (2002) ISBN 1-59223-102-0; ISBN 978-1-59223-102-7.
- Great Lakes Light Keepers Association, List of Resources.
- Jones, Ray & Bruce Roberts, American Lighthouses (Globe Pequot, September 1, 1998, 1st Ed.) ISBN 0-7627-0324-5; ISBN 978-0-7627-0324-1.
- Jones, Ray,The Lighthouse Encyclopedia, The Definitive Reference (Globe Pequot, January 1, 2004, 1st ed.) ISBN 0-7627-2735-7; ISBN 978-0-7627-2735-3.
- Noble, Dennis, Lighthouses & Keepers: U. S. Lighthouse Service and Its Legacy (Annapolis: U. S. Naval Institute Press, 1997). ISBN 1-55750-638-8; ISBN 978-1-55750-638-2.
- Putnam, George R., Lighthouses and Lightships of the United States, (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1933).
- Roberts, Bruce & Jones, Ray, (2006/05/01) Lighthouses of Maine: A Guidebook And Keepsake ISBN 0-7627-3966-5; ISBN 978-0-7627-3966-0 Paperback Globe Pequot Press, 96 pages.
- United States Coast Guard, Aids to Navigation, (Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office, 1945).
- U.S. Coast Guard, Historically Famous Lighthouses (Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1957).