Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
woodislandlighthouse.org
PO Box 26, Biddeford Pool, ME 04006
Newsletter
Who is This?
This is Wood Island Keeper
Russ Lowell tended the light
with his wife Terry 1979-1982
(Photo from
the Coast Guard Historians Office)
From the Executive Committee
We are sad to report that Maine's Kenneth Black has passed away. He was known as "Mr. Lighthouse" since he was instrumental in saving so many lighthouse artifacts and is largely credited as being one of the principle founders of the lighthouse preservation movement in the United States. Read More.
Report from the Membership Chair
Those who become members of FOWIL each year or who make donations are all important to the Wood Island effort. They are the people who will make the restoration possible. Thank you to all who are part of this group.
FOWIL had 228 members in 2006, with annual memberships running from January to January. Of these 228 families, 154 were renewal memberships and 74 were new. We are heartened by the continual support by so many people and apprieciate those who are new to FOWIL. At the year end, memberships and donations have totalled $10908. So far in 2007, 102 families have already sent in their membership donation. If you haven't yet done so, please consider joining now.
Click here for the application.
We send our condolences to the Peter Kosiba family. Julia Kosiba passed away on January 30th. She loved the lighthouse and was on Wood Island on Work Day last September along with her daughter Ali and husband Peter. The family requested that donations in Julia's memory be made to the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
a lasting tribute to a wonderful lady.
Sheri Poftak and Judy MacGillivray interviewed
Wood Island Keeper Russ Lowell and wife Terry.
They shared many stories about their life on the island as well as lots of photos from their family album. The taped interview and pictures will become part of FOWIL's archives. We are happy to have been able to interview one of the last few remaining living keepers of Wood Island Lighthouse.
"Tibet" helps Russ
with his duties.
Russ and Terry treasured their life on the island. One of the many duties which they performed at the Light Station was to call in the weather report every three hours 6:30/6:30 daily. For wind speed they used a hand held anemometer but soon learned to estimate the wind by looking at the flag. If it was just gently flapping, the wind speed was 5kph. If it was flapping harder, that would be 10kph. If it was really flapping, it would be 20kph. If the pole was bending a bit, they would grab the anemometer and run to the top of the tower to take a reading. During one tremendous storm with winds in excess of 100kph -
the flag disappeared altogether.
Booboo is ready to assist in the tower.
Preparing for a trip to the mainland.
Terry and wee
keeper zachary.
The 67 ton American schooner, George and Albert went ashore on Wood Island not more than 100 yards from Wood Island Light at about midnight on November 17th, 1887. Built in Brewer, Maine, she was bound from Boston to Saco carrying 100 tons of pig iron for the Saco Water Power Machine Shop Co.There was no gale or heavy seas. When the tide went out, it left the schooner high on the rocks. The Captain and crew got off safely but the ship is a total loss.
Biddeford Daily Journal 11/18/1887
The Friends of
Wood Island Lighthouse
is a chapter of the
American Lighthouse Foundation.
It was formed in the Spring of 2003 specifically to preserve and restore the Wood Island Light Station.
Please visit our website to learn more.
photo from the Lowells