Type:
Year Established:
1829
Existing:
Yes
Source:
New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide at www.newenglandlighthouses.net
Download:
Hendricks Head ME 2009 Chad Kaiser (1) copy.jpg (939.54 KB)
File Type:
jpg (image/jpeg)
Photo Date:
2009
Photo Credit:
Chad Kaiser
LOCATION
Location:
EAST SIDE OF SHEEPSCOT RIVER ENTRANCE
Latitude:
43° 49.4'
Longitude:
69° 41.4'
City / Town:
WEST SOUTHPORT
U.S. State:
Maine
Location County:
LINCOLN
Country:
United States
OWNER & ACCESS
Owner / Manager:
Privately Owned
Open to Public:
No
STRUCTURE
Year Discontinued:
1933-1951
Year Tower Established:
1875
Tower Construction Material:
BRICK
Tower Foundation:
NATURAL/EMPLACED
Height of light above mean high water, in feet:
43
Height, in feet, from base of structure to center of lantern:
39
Tower Shape:
SQUARE
Fog Signal Building?:
Yes
Year Fog Signal Building Constructed:
1890
Fog Signal Bldg Construction Materials:
WOOD
Keeper's Quarters?:
Yes
Year Keeper's Quarters:
1875
Keeper's Quarters Style:
VICTORIAN
Keeper's Quarters Construction:
WOOD
Other Structures:
2 CISTERNS, BRICK OIL HOUSE (1895), GARAGE, STORAGE BUILDING, CATWALK, BARN (BY 1880)
OPTICS
Current Optic:
250 MM
Original Optic Type:
FIFTH ORDER, FRESNEL
Year Original Lens Installed:
1875
Private Aid:
No
USCG Access to Optics:
Yes
Entered by:
Entered Date:
Jul 20, 2017
The light was converted to automatic operation utilizing acetylene gas in 1933, and the fog bell was discontinued. The light was soon replaced by an offshore buoy. The light station and the entire peninsula were sold into private ownership in 1934.
After electricity came to the house in 1951 the Coast Guard decided to reactivate the light, since boating traffic in the area had increased. In 1991, Benjamin and Luanne Russell of Alabama bought the 4 1/2-acre lighthouse property, and they subsequently restored all of the structures.