|
I have a really good Nubble Light story.
|
When my mother was growing up she
spent every summer at Cape Neddick. There are pictures of her on "her rock"
near the Nubble light from various ages of her growing up. She always told my
brother and I of her trips there and spoke of the Nubble with much passion. We
never got a chance to see the lighthouse in person as children. When I was 23 my
mother was diagnosed with lung cancer. She only lived 3 months after her
diagnosis. We were all devastated. My brother and I decided to take a trip to
Cape Neddick and put my mother's ashes in the ocean near "her lighthouse" and
"her rock". It was a very memorable trip. Now I have framed pictures of the
lighthouse all over to remind me of my mother.
The next great thing was that my brother moved to Colorado shortly after my
mom's death. He met a really nice girl from Indiana while he was there. When
he went to her house he saw a photo of the Nubble Light framed on the wall in
her living room. Her father was a recreational photographer and she happened to
have a picture of my mom's lighthouse on her wall. We all think that was a sign
of what was meant to be. They are now happily married and have a daughter.
I am hoping to get married at the Nubble Light (I am currently engaged)
because it would be like my mom was able to be there with us for my special
day. I don't really know how to go about it because I actually live in New York
at the moment.
Anyway, I hope you liked my special Nubble Light story.... I think it is a
pretty nice tale.
Sincerely,
Stacy Adams |
|
Nubble Light - Memories
|
|
When I was a child, my family vacationed in Maine with our best friends,
the Martin family. My parents and the Martin's were best friends and spent a
lot of time together; we called them our second parents and second family. My
two sisters and I had two "brothers", the two Martin boys. We had the best
vacations, traveling around the northeast, heading out on vacation with our
destinations unknown many times. We would just head out and end up where we
ended up. However, our absolute favorite state to vacation in was Maine. Our
"second mother", Edna Martin, absolutely loved a little lighthouse named Nubble
Light, and we always would visit there as kids and thought it was cool to climb
on the rocks and watch the waves below our feet. As kids, it was a cool place.
Now, as adults, we have fond memories of the lighthouse and the many visits we
made there as children. However, the memories are even more special now, as we
lost our second mother to leukemia in 1989. I never got to say goodbye to her,
as my husband and I were married on May 20, 1989, and Edna passed away on May
24, 1989, while we were on our honeymoon. One of her last requests to my mom
was that they not contact us when she passed away, as she wanted us to enjoy our
honeymoon, that was her gift to us. We try to visit Maine annually (we live in
Vermont), and every time we visit, we make a stop at Nubble Light. Words can't
describe the warm feeling I get when I drive up and see the lighthouse. I feel
very close to Edna at Nubble Light. The memories come flooding back to me, and
I feel a sense of total peace. It doesn't matter what time of year it is when
we visit, I always get out of the car and sit on the rocks and breathe in the
ocean air. I have to say that Nubble Light is my absolute favorite place to
visit. Some day I hope to put a bench there in honor of Edna Martin, one of the
greatest women to ever live on this earth.
Julie LeBeau
|
|
God Bless the Nubble - By Toby Owen
|
|
My name is Toby Owen and I live in Asheville, N.C. (western part of NC). York Beach and the Nubble light has been seared
in my memory forever. I will always be grateful for the beaches of York
and always Nubble light, in case of my passing I have requested that my ashes be
spread off the rock of the light house..after all that is where my Heaven
is........God Bless you Cheryl and all those that have had the opportunity to
experience what I have........."One could do worse than be a swinger of
Birches.
In God's Love , Toby Dean Owen
And finally (03/2006) a look at the man that everyone has prayed for.
"I feel great and back in shape, I sure miss that Maine Lobster"
This man has recently gone through a life saving operation and wanted to share his gratitude with all of you!
I want everyone to know that on Dec 22nd I had a underwent a kidney transplant. Everything went smoothly with no complications!!
I will always be grateful for the presence of God and the beaches of York
and Nubble light.
God Bless the Nubble in his love,
Toby D, Owen
|
| |
|
|
| Childhood Memories, Sandie Schultz |
|
Dear Cheryl, I enjoy reading
the Nubble Light stories and news. I have a story to share.
Since I was born, (65 years ago this year) my family had always gone to York
Beach in the summer. We are from the Albany, NY area. We used to have a cottage
on Juniper Lane near the Old Anchorage. When I was in high school, I was friends
with the lighthouse keeper's daughter who was the same age as myself. I cannot
remember her name, but on certain days in the morning, we would meet on the land
side on the rocks.
This was back in the 50's. She was so brave, but a good swimmer and sometimes
swam across the channel. Three years ago, I was visiting a lighthouse chat room
on the internet and saw messages posted. A lady from No. Hampton, New Hampshire
asked a question about Nubble Light which I was able to answer. We started
corresponding and now are very good friends.
This past September, I returned to York after 12 years and my friend and I
met and spent a wonderful day together. We had lunch at Foxes and viewed Nubble
Light and then had our picture taken on the rocks. I also was able to chat with
Bill Thompson and tell him how I remembered him back then. What a wonderful
time!! It was like going home again and filled my heart with joy!
Thank you. Sandie Schultz Boynton Beach, Florida
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Wedding Proposal, Anne and Steve Kopp |
| Today, 10/9/01 is our 3-year
"Nubble Anniversary". In early October 1998, my husband told me to take a Friday
and a Monday and that we would just hang out together. Wow, was I surprised when
on the morning of Friday, 10/9/98 he says "psych! pack a bag, we're going on a
weekend trip!", but he wouldn't tell me where.
<
I tried getting him to
give something away as to where he was taking me, but he wouldn't budge. We
started our trip in Southern New Jersey heading North, so when we passed the
"New York Welcomes You" sign, I said, "awww, are you taking me to New York?!"
and he said "yes" and I said "Really?!" and he said "Nooooo", the same thing
happened as we passed "Connecticut WelcomesYou", and "Massachusetts Welcomes
You", etc. I was intrigued - For all I knew he was taking me all the way up to
Canada!
When we end up stopping at the Nubble Lighthouse in Maine, I was so overcome
that my then boyfriend was so thoughtful to take me to a romantic weekend get
away in bed and breakfast land, (which I had been talking forever) that I
already had tears in my eyes. We parked near the Lighthouse, and there was a
raging storm going on - it was very powerful and overwhelming - waves crashing
everywhere - it was breathtaking. I was in such awe of the sight before me that
when my husband says quickly, I'm going to go take a picture, I just offered to
go with him and hold the umbrella for him. (Turns out, he wasn't really going to
try to snap a picture in this raging storm, he was just going to get the ring!).
He says I don't have to do that, just wait in the car.
When he sits back in the car, he puts a tape that he made for me in - the
first song was Annie's Song by John Denver, followed by In Your Eyes by Peter
Gabriel and many others - very romantic. He turned to face me in the car and got
all serious and began to say something. Me, I interrupt with "I love this song".
He says, "I know you do, but I wanted to" and he tries to begin again. Again I
interrupt with "Let's turn this up". (He's probably freaking out at this point!
:-) Again, he starts, and this time he finishes. "Anne, I love you and I want to
spend the rest of my life with you, Will you Marry me?" as he opens the ring box
and turns the beautiful ring to face me. Well, I just started to cry, and kept
blubbering, "that's the most beautiful ring I've ever seen".
Then I realized he was looking at me. Oh my God! I hadn't answered his
question yet! "Yes!, Yes!" I say! "I will marry you!" We hug and I proceed to
keep crying in his arms. As this whole scene is going on in our car, I notice
there is a mini-van parked next to us at the Nubble viewing the whole scene. I
say to Steve, "oh my god, that whole car load of people is totally staring at
us". Steve looks over at them and they ask him, "Did she say yes?" with big
smiles on their faces. Steve gives them the thumbs up sign and nods his head
with a big smile! All the people in the mini-van gave us the big thumbs up.
It was so funny. I'll never forget that beautiful, wonderful, overwhelming,
romantic, awesome fun day at the Nubble. We spent the remainder of the weekend
up in Kennebunkport, Maine. We were married a little over a year later on
10/23/99 down in Charleston, South Carolina. We definitely plan on going to the
Nubble again in the future.
Anne and Steve Kopp, Haddonfield, New Jersey
|
| Wedding Proposal, Frank Francese and Marquita Hiemel
(Francese) |
|
Last September, we made our
annual visit to York Beach, ME. My family and myself have been vacationing in
York Beach for approximately 35 years, and every year it's the same thing, we
can't wait to go!
Last year proved to be "extra special" as my girlfriend and myself relaxed on
the rocks at Nubble Light under a beautiful starlit sky. Catching her totally
off guard, I slipped a ring on her finger and asked her to "marry" me.
She accepted!
September 1st 2001, just 12 days from now, will be our Wedding Day! We will
spend a couple of day's at home and then return to York Beach for our
"Honeymoon"! As always, "we can't wait"!
Frank Francese and Marquita Hiemel (Francese)
|
| History of the Nubble Light |
|
Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also
known as the Nubble Light, is located in York Beach, ME. The requests for
a light station on the "Nubble" began in 1807. Approval for the light
station was made by Congress in 1874, after numerous boating
accidents.
1879 Cape Neddick light was built and started operating in July of
1879. The tower stands 41 feet tall (39' to the center of the lantern) and is 88
feet above the ocean. The red beacon of the Nubble flashes at 6 second intervals
and can be seen from 13 nautical miles away. The tower is made of cast iron
which is lined with brick. Surrounding the tower is a railing that is supported
by 12 posts, each being topped with a small cast iron lighthouse. There are
conflicting stories over the original color of the tower, some say red some say
brown. It was repainted its current color of white in 1902.
In 1911 the walkway that connects the home to the tower was
constructed so that during bad weather the keeper could access the tower without
going outside. A bell tower was also constructed in 1911 and was later replaced
by a fog horn in 1961. The horn is activated by the weather and will sound
during rainy and foggy periods.
In 1950 the Coast Guard repainted the red house (where a generator is
housed) to white. Many people complained and it was repainted its original red
color again.
In 1977, NASA sent artifacts into space on board the Voyager II. Among
the artifacts that were to teach the extraterrestrial about us was a picture of
the Nubble Light.
On July 13, 1987 the lighthouse became automated and the last
Lighthouse Keeper of the Nubble, Russell Ahlgrea, moved out. The house is no
longer occupied. The town of York obtained ownership of the lighthouse on
December 15, 1997. Although the town maintains the property and owns the island,
the beacon itself is still maintained by the U.S. Coast Guard.
|
| Life at the Nubble Light |
|
Cape Neddick Lighthouse, also
known as the Nubble Lighthouse, was built in 1879 on the Cape Neddick
peninsula of York Beach, Maine. The Nubble is rock bound and is built on an off
shore island. It is remote and under certain weather conditions it is isolated.
It is also impressive and like many lighthouses it has a stately character. The
keepers house has a beautiful gingerbread trim under the eves. It is a six room
Victorian built in the shape of a cross. The points line up north, south, east
and west. Many local airplane pilots check directions when flying over.
Prior to 1961 the fog signal was a 1,200 pound bronze bell which keepers had
to hand wind. This bell had to be activated in all kinds of foul weather. If the
striker mechanism wasn't working and foul weather had set in, the keeper or any
visitors on the island would have to sit on a box next to the bell and hit it
with a hammer. This had to be done every ten or fifteen seconds until the signal
woult be back in operation.
Getting a good supply of fresh water was always a problem at most light
stations. The answer to water needs was to catch rain water, store it and use
it. The Nubble was no exeption. Rain water running off the roof was collected by
down spouts and held in a 4,000 gallon tank in the cellar of the main house.
Keepers did pray for rain. The first water running down the roof carried with it
all types of contamination. This included seagull and other bird droppings. Cups
were placed upside down in the down spouts which would stop the rush of the
first water. When the keeper felt that the contamination was washed out, the
cups were turned over to allow the rest of the storm water to enter the tanks.
Baths were few and far between during a dry season. Keepers had to constantly
check on the purity of the water. The tanks were periodically scrubbed and
bleached. The toilets were all salt water flush.
Reprinted with permission by local Author William (Bill) Thomson
|
| Keeper of the Nubble |
| James Burke who was
keeper from 1912 to 1919, opened a store which sold bait & tackle, real
estate and grocery items after his tenure at Nubble. The original building of
the store (on our property) is just down the road from Nubble on the corner of
Broadway and Fort Hill Ave. (104 Broadway) We have put a sign on the building
which reads Capt. Burke Store ...Circa 1920. Herb Carpenter |
| |
