Evening star., 1934-10-07
LIGHTHOUSE SITES
PLACED ON BLOCK
Government Offers Aban-
doned Tracts in Maine
to Highest Bidder.

sand now, ladies and gentlemen,
perhaps we can interest you in our ex-
elusive line of lighthouses.
Many have prof1ted by Uncle Sans
bargain sales of surplus or condemned
Federal property in the past, but so
far none has been able to satisfy the
romantic desire to be skipper of
seacoast light. And now the Govern
ment has raised the gavel over nine
of Names no longer useful beacons,
for the first time in history. They
are "going-going-" to the highest
bidder.
If you are interested in a practical
way you will find the exhibits at the
counter of the superintendent of
lighthouses. first district, Portland,
Me, in the bargain basement. For
the highest upset price is $4,000, and
there are three to be had for $500
each. This for properties on which
the Government spent thousands on
initial cost, not to mention upkeep.
The Government doesn't mind though
as it hopes to save $4,000 year on
upkeep and keeper in each instance.
The necessary legal form for bids and
pamphlet telling all may be had from
the superintendent in Portland.
Beacon Not Included.
Your investment in one-of these ex-
elusive shore sites will not include a
beacon light, which may be a diSap-
pointment to the lover of local color
or the warning bell, which means ST.
200 to the Government, and which
would be no use to you save to annoy
your neighbors. You are at liberty,
however, to purchase your own fog
horn and toot it at will on foggy
days to lend that atmosphere.
The properties for sale are more or
less standardized, of course, and the
difference in price represents location
in more or less populous districts. For
instance, Hendricks Head, for which
S2,250 has been bid, is located on
Southport Island in the midst of
Names most pOpulouS Summer re-
sorts, being midway between Bath
and Boothbay Harbor. 1t consists of
1929; a dwelling, barn, boat house, a
brick oil house and a workshop. EX-
cept for a few details, the other prop
critics are similar, the most important
exception being that Hendricks Head
is the proud possessor of the only
bathtub among them.
Indian Island Best Buy.
Indian Island, said to be the best
all-around buy, is off Rockport sur
rounded by spruce, with the lofty
Camden Mountains thrown in as
back drop. Bidding stands at $1,025.
The other three most favored sites
are Grindel Point, in Islesboro, to the
east of Penobscot Bay for which ST.
$50 has been offered Narraguagus,
on Pond Island. east of Petit Manan.
near the Bay of Fundy, a most iso-
lated location, and Doubling Point, on
the Kennebec River, for each of which
the set price is now $500, bidding hav-
ing been so low.
For the rest, there are Pumpkin Is
land, in Penobscot Bay, and Winter
Harbor, just east of Mount Desert Is
land, either of which is yours above
S552: the Tenant Harbor Light and
Isle au Haut, PenobScot Bay, upset
price for each being $500.
The glamour of lighthouses is no less
than traditional. They are the focal
points of hundreds of vacationing
cameras every year. This should be
a warming. to those who want seclu-
sion. that the safest bet is an island
light, for many a lighthouse keeper
will aver that barbed wire will be quite
unavailing, and private" sign mere
ly laughable. Such is the lure of
romance.
Keepers on FurlOugh.
And what is happening to the for
nler occupants of the stations? They
are on furlough until vacancies in the
service are found for them, according
to Charles c. Brush. superintendent
Of the Portland district. Due to the
decreases in shipping at the points for
sale, the Government feels that au-
tomato lights will be quite sufficient,
and thus hopes to save same $4,000
annually on each discarded beacon.
Other lights will be given up in the
near future. Mr.. Brush said, and sold
to the public This policy is an inno-
walton of the State of Maine. Other
lighthouse reservations have been
abandoned in the past, but have been
turned over to communities as bathing
resorts or memorials.