On August 20, 2022, we will celebrate 150 years of the Burnt Coat Harbor Light Station, Swan’s Island, Maine. The tower was first lit up in August 1872 and has been marking the entrance to Burnt Coat Harbor ever since. The program on August 20 will begin with a flag raising and reveille at 9 am. There will be a community lunch at the Oddfellows Hall from 11 am to 2 pm with story telling and music to follow from 2 to 3:30 pm. The keeper’s house will be open for extended hours, and between 4 pm and 5 pm there will be a time capsule ceremony (time capsule prepared by students from the Swan’s Island School) and a cake cutting. The grand finale will be evening fireworks over Burnt Coat Harbor.
TO CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF THE BURNT COAT LIGHT, YOU CAN HAVE A PIECE OF LIGHTHOUSE HISTORY!
The glass block pictured here was formerly part of a window in the Burnt Coat Harbor Light Tower. Ten of these glass blocks have been transformed into lights and will be auctioned off as part of the 150-year anniversary celebration.
The lights will be auctioned off in a blind auction. Bidding starts at $100. Samples may be viewed and bids will be accepted at the lighthouse during regular hours (11 am to 3 pm, Tues-Sat.)
- Fill out a bid sheet, seal it in one of the envelopes provided, and hand it to the manager or drop it into the bid box.
- Alternatively, you may register your bid on-line via FOSIL’s e-mail, [email protected]. Your email bid will be printed, sealed and added to the bid box.
- Deadline for bids is 2 pm on August 20.
Winners will be announced August 20 at 4:00 PM. You need not be present to win.
Lights can be collected beginning August 20 after 4:00 PM or shipped to your address. (Shipping costs will be added to the bid total.)
The blocks were installed in the light tower around 1940 and removed in 2020. Each block has been individually cleaned, hand-painted, and mounted on a cherry wood stand which also conceals the light’s batteries. Pitting on the glass is evidence of the off-shore wind, rain, sleet and salt water that buffeted the tower windows for 80 years. A certificate of authenticity accompanies each light.