Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-16
coBBossEEcoNTEE YACHT CLUB
Commodore Daniel Z. Robinson Make
Interesting Report.


Interesting Report.
The following is a report just issued
to the officers and members, of the
Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club by Com
modore Daniel c. Robinson:
To the officers and Members of the
Cobbosseecontee Yacht Club.
The undersigned having attended to the
duties assigned him by the Club at its
last annual meeting in connection with
lighthouse construction begs leave to
make the following report.
he CObbOSSeecontee lighthouse Is fin
ished. Perhaps a word concerning its
usefulness and construction may be of in
terest not only to the members of the
Ccbbosseecontee Yacht Club, by whom it
was built, but to others who enjoy its
ever-changing lights by night. There are
now about one hundred and twenty
launches and power boats on the Lake.
ten of which are for public use. There
twenty-five cottages and about a dozen
hotels and large boarding houses.
During the summer months there is
much passing on the Lake at night by
power boats, rowboats, sailboats and ca
noes to and from the theatre, public
daHcing parties and other entertainments
at Island Park. as well as in other direc,,
departures of hotel guests and cottagers
by late cars of the electric railroad.
Ladies Delight Island and it's rocky
shoals, situated in the middle of the open
sheet of water at the northerly end of the
Lake, and in the direct line of traffic, has
long been a menace and source of danger
to naviga ton. 1t was, therefore. impera
nent beacon be established there for the
common safety. Realizing this, the Cob
bosseecontee Yacht Club seized upon the
idea of supplying this want and, possibly.
of adding one more attraction to their
beloved Lake and to set to work to ac
quire control of the island. Having Sc
cured ninety nine year lease of the
owner, Mrs. Clifford B. Farr, of Phila-
delrhia, derrick was transported to the
spot and in the autumn of 1907 they pro,
ceeded to construct protecting wall
around it. During the winter while the
ice was firm many loads of rocks were
there.
The following summer work was begun
in earnest and the construction of the
lighthouse was commenced in accordance
with design and plan obtained at the
United States Lighthouse Engineers
Office in Boston The contract was given
to William w. Jackson of Augusta, and
contract to furnish and transport ma
terials was made with Albert E. Farr, of
Manchester. Probably not less than one
hundred loads of stone, gravel, sand, ce-
ment. lime and lumber as well as all the
carpenters, masons and laborers, were
taken to the island in large scow. A
solid stone and concrete foundation seven
feet deep was first put in, then twenty
was built. surmounted by an octagonal
lantern and dome. the stonework white
washed, the lantern and dome painted
black and so the only inland lighthouse
yet builded in the State of Maine was
made ready for it's tenant.
Then began a series of experiments to
determine upon suitable light At first
la stationary white light was adopted. It
WAC however that this 1iph
could not be distinguished from the doz.
ems of other lights on shore standing iii
range from almost all points. So it be-
came necessary to devise some means of
givinp the light a distinguishing charac-
teristic. A red light was tried but since
it has become the custom of cottagers and
hotelkeepers to hang out red. white and
green lights on their ,verandas in imita-
ton of the colored lights carried by YES
sells at sea, and to run up red lanterns on
their flag poles, it was evident that some
Then it was decided to make it white
light which should have the popularity
of appearing and disappearing at regular
intervals. But it was finally agreed that
disappear but to alternately flash out and
grow dim. This. of course. called for
some thing like clockwork mechanism and
again the lighthouse officers were con-
suited and men familiar with the con-
stIuction of such devices were found and
induced to undertake the work of build
| ing regular lighthouse clock of the
Kind used in the fourth magnitude light
house of the Government. In due time
it was completed and installed under the
personal supervision of one of the build
ers and wound up and set to work. The
machine is carried by heavy weights fal-
ling from the top to the base of the
tower causing an iron table to revolve
upon which are fastened two metallic
astral oil lamps fitted with refectors like
the headlight of locomotive. These re-
Electors stand back to back. thus throw
ing their light in opposite directions.
One lamp is furnished with white and
the other with red chimney. Upon the
outer rim of the reflector is bolted an
iror flange which causes the light to
flash for an instant as the reflector
faces the eye of the observer.
By proviso in the lease the Club IS
bound to maintain light of some kind
upon the island from the fifteenth of June
to the fifteenth of September every year,
or the island reverts to the lessor.
Thus the lamps revolve providing an I'M
mist akable warning to navigator to
avoid the dangerous neighborhood, and
flashing forth their brilliant rays not only
npon the beautiful waters of the Lake
hut reaching to the distant hills of Itch
field. Monmouth. Manchester and Win
throp giving pleasure to those who dwell
,IDor the land as well as those who go
dowr to the sea in ships.
Thanking the Club for its patience and
for bearance during the progress of the
work and for Withholding it's criticism
until completion, the above is respectfully
DAN'L c. ROBINSON
Commodore.