If you’re ever in Maine and up to catching a glimpse of the supposedly haunted Owl’s Head Lighthouse, head on over to Owls Head Park, which is open all year round. In this article, you will learn why it may be of some interest to paranormal enthusiasts.
Providing delightful views of Penobscot Bay, you can visit Owls Head Park any time of the year. It is here that you will find a small lighthouse and residence used for the keeper that is part of the park. The lighthouse and keeper’s house belong to the United States Coast Guard, but the grounds are open to the public. Unfortunately, you cannot gain access into the lighthouse. The story attached to the structure is also fun to explore.
Situated on top of a hill located south of Rockland, Maine, you will find the Owl’s Head Lighthouse at the southern tip of the Rockland Harbor. Only measuring 30 feet tall, the lighthouse is positioned 100 feet above the sea.
The tale of the Owl’s Head Lighthouse begins with the 3-year-old daughter of the previous keepers. One time, the young girl told her parents that the fog was rolling in and that it was time to put the foghorn on. Sometime later, they learned that she had an “imaginary friend” that came in the form of an old sea captain.
In town, residents acknowledge the presence of the ghost and have reportedly seen his footprints in the snow. They claim that the spirit is responsible for polishing the brass and lowering the thermostats.
If the lighthouse and this sort of history are interesting to you, take a side trip to Rockland, Maine to visit the Lighthouse Museum, which is home to the largest collection of Fresnel lenses in the United States.
The History of Owls Head Lighthouse
During the 1800s, Rockland experienced the boom of the lime trade. Because of this, establishing a lighthouse to guide the ships traveling to Rockland Harbor at night became very necessary. In 1825, President John Quincy Adams gave the thumbs up to construct the Owl’s Head Lighthouse. After the lighthouse was built, the President himself appointed a keeper. At the time, the job paid $350 per year. Isaac Stearns was a native of Massachusetts and a veteran of the War of 1812. when the light went into service, he was 32 years old when he took up the position.
The history of Owls Head Lighthouse is dotted with colorful tales. In the second part of this article titled, “Haunted Lighthouses in Maine: Owls Head Light II,” you will encounter interesting tales about the lighthouse and its former keepers. There was even an entertaining dog that played an important role in the services of the lighthouse.