| The booming lime trade of the 1820's on Maine's | | | | schooner and found the young couple frozen in a |
| midcoast led to the construction of a lighthouse on | | | | block of ice. The couple appeared to be dead, but the |
| Owls Head, an area located at the entrance to | | | | men brought the block to the kitchen of the keeper's |
| Rockland Harbor, Maine. In 1825, President John Quincy | | | | house. They chipped the ice away, and slowly, if not |
| Adams authorized the building of a lighthouse on a | | | | miraculously, the couple began to show signs of life. |
| promontory south of Rockland Harbor in Penobscot | | | | The young couple soon recovered, eventually married |
| Bay. | | | | and had four children. Unfortunately, the seaman who |
| The relatively short, brick lighthouse - only 30 feet tall - | | | | perpetuated their rescue never recovered. |
| is situated on a hill about 100 feet above the water. | | | | A second tale is that of a keeper's dog who lived in |
| A tall lighthouse was unnecessary because of the | | | | the lighthouse in the 1930's. The dog, named Spot, was |
| height of the promontory. The present brick tower | | | | trained to pull on the fog bell's rope when he heard a |
| was constructed in 1852 and fitted with a fourth-order | | | | boat approaching. In one incident, the rope was buried |
| fresnel lens. The tower remains relatively unchanged | | | | in the snow and Spot was unable to ring the bell. |
| from the time when it was first built. Besides it's | | | | Instead, he barked continuously until he heard the |
| unusually short height, the lighthouse also has a long | | | | approaching boat's whistle beyond the rocks. Spot's |
| series of wooden steps leading up to the light from the | | | | loud barking has been credited with warning the |
| keeper's house, which is a feature unique to this house. | | | | captain just in time to steer the boat and avoid the |
| The original lamps and reflectors were replaced by a | | | | rocks. Spot was known as somewhat of a local hero |
| fourth-order Fresnel lens in 1856, and the lens remains | | | | and celebrity and is said to be buried on the side of the |
| in use today. The lighthouse was fully automated in | | | | hill near the former location of the fog bell. |
| 1989 and continues to shine it's that can be seen up to | | | | Oddly enough, the hauntings of Owl's head Light don't |
| 16 nautical miles away to this day. Because the | | | | appear to be linked to either of these tales. The |
| lighthouse is located in a region that is particularly prone | | | | keeper's house is said to be haunted by an "old sea |
| to fog, the light is equipped with a powerful fog signal. | | | | captain" - who is most likely a former keeper, although |
| The origin of the name "Owl's head" is somewhat of a | | | | no one is sure. According to local legend, one night the |
| mystery. Some have suggested that the promontory | | | | three-year-old daughter of a keeper woke her parents |
| where the lighthouse sits looks like an owl from the | | | | and announced, "Fog's rolling in! Time to put the |
| water. Others say Owl's Head is the English translation | | | | foghorn on!". The parents had never brought up that |
| of the Indian name for the location, Medadacut. | | | | subject with their daughter and had no clue where she |
| Owl's Head Light is known for many tales that have | | | | would have picked up the lingo. They soon discovered |
| been passed down through the years. One of the | | | | that she apparently had an imaginary friend who |
| most memorable tales is that of the frozen lovers. The | | | | resembled an old sea captain. He has been seen by |
| area was hit by a massive storm on December 22, | | | | other former keepers and likes to leave his footprints |
| 1850 which caused five vessels to go aground. One of | | | | in the snow outside the lighthouse and polish the brass. |
| those, a small schooner, whose captain had gone | | | | He also may be responsible for lowering the |
| ashore, was send out to sea after the cables tying it | | | | thermostat and keeping the place chilly, perhaps in an |
| to the dock broke loose. The first mate, his fiance and | | | | effort to conserve energy. |
| and a seaman were left onboard to huddle together | | | | The second spectre in the lighthouse is known as the |
| on the deck and nearly froze in the surf. The seaman | | | | "Little Lady". The lady spirit is frequently seen in the |
| was able to escape at one point and made it to shore, | | | | kitchen. She seems to like to slam doors shut |
| exhausted and nearly frozen. Fortunately, he reached | | | | unexpectedly and rattle the silverware. Everyone who |
| the road the road to the lighthouse where he was | | | | has encountered her has stated that her presence |
| rescued by the keeper. Barely able to speak, he | | | | brought about a feeling of peace. Most agree that she |
| alerted the keeper about the others still on the | | | | is probably a wife of one of the many former keepers |
| schooner and a rescue party was rounded up. | | | | of the light who loved the place so much she decided |
| The rescue party found what was left of the | | | | never to leave. |