The Maine Coast - Which Part?

The last part!



We splurged and spent one night at the adorable Pomegranate Inn in Portland, Maine. At breakfast, we met a mother-daughter team touring the northeast colleges, and an older couple from New York. The conversation topics were interesting - moving from the intensity of undergraduate requirements, expensive tutors and pressure, to the agony of a second home on Cape Cod, and the excitement and anticipation of traveling overseas. A very interesting experience, indeed!

Portland is a great, quirky town. Oddly enough, it reminded us of Portland, Oregon. It is a walkable community - and that is just what we did.


We experienced cobblestone streets, creative sidewalk art, unique architecture, enjoyed a cup of freshly roasted coffee, and goofed around in the local store selling various styles of the sock monkey beanie and animal mittens. As we scooted passed sailboats along the coastline path, we spotted a crude, ancient-looking vessel named Raw Faith.


It turns out that this ship is a homemade replica of a 16th century English race-built galleon (boat). The builder and owner, George McKay, first set sail in Raw Faith from Addison, Maine back in August 2003. It was pushed into the water by a bulldozer.

The mission: To offer free sailing adventures in order to provide a fun and safe environment for the wheelchair bound and their families to learn how to sail, meet others with similar life situations, and have a fantastic adventure.
(This mission was inspired by his daughter who is wheelchair bound due to Marfan's Syndrome.)


According to McKay, the reason behind the name Raw Faith is: "My entire family believes that kids with a disability have faith that life is worth living. And that faith is raw. That is why we named the ship Raw Faith."

Raw Faith hopes to make it to New Jersey and has already sailed many miles with its volunteer crew (which are recruited through the website). It has made the news numerous times due to breakdowns, and most notably for losing all three masts in a bad storm! Yet it still sails. Guess that is why they call it faith, heh?!?!?

Check out the ship's website here.

The basketballs on the anchor made me smile.

We wanted to view Portland's skyline, so we traveled across Portland Harbor to South Portland. The original Indian name for this area was "Purpooduck." We chuckled when we discovered it means "place that conspicuously juts out into the water and is little frequented." Amazing how that one word can mean so much!

Fort Preble

The first interesting structure in the park is Fort Preble, or remnants of it. Built in 1808, it was used to enforce the Embargo Act - which prevented exchanging goods with the British. The fort housed units from the War of 1812, and was even witness to action in the Civil War. Today, the fort serves as green space for the community to enjoy.

Spring Point Ledge Lighthouse

Nearby is Spring Point Ledge Light, which is named for the spring that once flowed nearby. Congress authorized $45,000 to build the lighthouse in 1895. The design called for "a circular cast iron foundation pier, 25 feet in diameter and forty feet high, which would support a three-story dwelling, topped by a veranda and parapet." The lighthouse went into service in May 1897, and automated in 1934. The breakwater to the lighthouse was completed in June 1951 with 50,000 tons of stone.

We spotted a few structures on strips of land across the water. One was of Fort Gorges. It was built in 1865 of granite, and its purpose was to support the other two forts in the area. It was strategically built on Hog Island Ledge, which is located in the middle of the pass to Portland Harbor. We thought it might be fun to kayak to the island one day, but read about the fierce rip tides and thought not.

Fort Gorges

Fort Scammel, on House Island, completes the triangular shape formed by Fort Gorges and Fort Preble. It was also built in 1808 (same year as Fort Preble).

We thought it interesting that the island was used as an immigration quarantine station from 1907 to 1937. Some considered it the "Ellis Island of the North."

Fort Scammel on House Island

House Island is privately owned, but we understand you can rent the island at an undisclosed price. They advertise to bridal parties, school groups, and offer lobster bakes or a quiet place to "get away from it all." We hear a few buildings from 1907 still stand, including the doctor's house, detention barracks, and the quarantine hospital.

Portland Head Lighthouse

We were anxious to head south to Cape Elizabeth to view the Oldest Lighthouse in Maine - Portland Head Lighthouse. It was commissioned in 1790 by George Washington, with the first light shining in January 1791. Portland Head Lighthouse was the 16th lighthouse built in the US, and 7th built in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (now Maine).


The deteriorating lighthouse in the background of the photo (above) is called Ram Island Ledge Lighthouse. In 1855, a simple iron spindle served as the first navigational marker placed on the island, then it was upgraded to a 50-foot wooden tripod. After millions of dollars of cargo were lost in multiple shipwrecks, a Congressional act of June 28, 1902, finally authorized the construction of a lighthouse and fog signal on Ram Island Ledge at a total cost of $166,000 and appropriated an initial $83,000 for the project.

The 3rd Order Fresnel lens was delivered in April 1905 to light the structure, but the lighthouse was automated in 1958. In 2001, it was converted to solar power and is now licensed by the American Lighthouse Foundation.

"Annie C. Maguire shipwrecked here Christmas Eve 1886"
(story below)

Late on Christmas Eve in 1886, the three masted bark Annie C. Maguire struck the ledge at Portland Head. The crew was safely rescued, but the wreck is still puzzling. According to crew member reports, they "plainly saw Portland Light before the disaster and are unable to account for same."


Portland Head Lighthouse stands on what today is known as Fort Williams Park. This land was originally established in 1872 to serve as a sub-post for Fort Preble (located in South Portland). Additional land was purchased around the fort and three gun batteries were added. In April of 1899, the 90 acres of land and new structures were renamed Fort Williams.

In the 1900's other structures were built on the fort - officer's quarters, enlisted barracks, a balloon hangar, telephone switchboards and a disappearing searchlight. The fort was closed and deactivated in June 1963, and instead of allowing the fort to deteriorate, residents of Cape Elizabeth petitioned to purchase the fort.

The Central Powerhouse

Their success to maintain the old acreage is obvious. It is home to numerous community events - and we spotted hundreds of people with their kids and dogs.

While heading south, we resisted the urge to visit Kennebunkport, but reminisced about Dana Carvey and his wonderful Bush senior impressions from Saturday Night Live. And who could forget his bathroom bit from Opportunity Knocks...

Man: Paper towel, Mr. President?

Dana Carvey: Not gonna do it. Not gonna do it. Wouldn't be prudent at this juncture. You know, what do you say we try that blower thing over there?

Man: It's right over here, Mr. President.

Dana Carvey: You know, Bar and I love these things. Love... love doing that blower thing. Good for the hands. Good for the economy. You know, make a note, Tom. We'll get one up there in the White House. Get one up in Kennebunkport. Maybe a gift set for Gorby. You know, seems to me, blowers good, paper towels bad!

Goodbye Maine Coast!