Dyce Head Light
Castine is a village whose quite, historic elegance belies an eventful past. The town, located as the entrance to the Penobscot River, was initially settled as a trading post by the Pilgrims of Plymouth and later named after the Baron de St Castine who took over the town in 1676.
4x6 photo Add to Cart
5x7 photo Add to Cart
8x10 photo Add to Cart
11x14 photo Add to Cart
Because of its strategic location, Castine was variously occupied by the British, French and Dutch. In 1779, during the American Revolution, an entire American fleet was lost in the course of attempting to recapture Castine from the British. In the mid 19th century clipper ships regularly left Castine to trade goods around the world.
4x6 photo Add to Cart
5x7 photo Add to Cart
8x10 photo Add to Cart
11x14 photo Add to Cart
Built in 1828, Dyce Head Light was intended to guide mariners into Castine harbor and into the mouth of the Penobscot River toward Bangor. The stone tower was at one time surrounded by a six-sided wooden frame, removed by the late 19th century; in 1858 a fourth-order Fresnel lens was installed.
4x6 photo Add to Cart
5x7 photo Add to Cart
8x10 photo Add to Cart
11x14 photo Add to Cart
Dyce Head Light was discontinued in 1935 and replaced by a white skeleton tower on the north side of the harbor. The keeper's house and surrounding land became property of the town in 1937 and in 1956 the lighthouse became town property. The keeper's house is now rented with the income used for maintenance of the grounds. The lighthouse is easily accessible from the village; a trail leads to the front of the lighthouse and to the water.
All text copyright ã 1999 by Courtney Thompson/CatNap Publications. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted, in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.
All images copyright ã 2000 by Richard Asarisi/Photoworkings.com. All rights reserved. No part may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted, in any form without prior written permission from the publisher.