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REVIEW:
At Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, stands the Portland Head Light. This spectacular lighthouse is the granddaddy of all lighthouses and one of the most recognizable historic structures in the U.S. With its cupola-like top and whitewashed stone base, it stands as a powerful beacon—one with a long history.
Timothy E. Harrison, the cofounder and editor of Lighthouse Digest and the president of the American Lighthouse Foundation, is a particular fan of the Portland Head Light. In Portland Head Light: A Pictorial Journey Through Time, he has created a charming and comprehensive scrapbook. A compilation of letters, photos, architectural drawings, historical documents, and memoirs from keepers who lived there, the book explores the rich history of the lighthouse beginning with its construction in 1791.
This full-color, paperback book includes information on the building and various renovations of the lighthouse and its accompanying keeper’s house; surprisingly, the tower was lowered by twenty feet and returned to its original height, twice. Harrison also tells the stories of the keepers at Portland Head Light: their uniforms, their duties, and the difficult work necessary to keep the light shining brightly. Three generations of the Strout family served as keepers here, and Harrison relates their stories, along with those of later keepers. His respect for those who kept the light burning is palpable.
Harrison delights in sharing tales of the lighthouse: how it absorbed a 60-foot tidal wave, how Henry Wordsworth Longfellow found his inspiration for the poem “The Lighthouse” here, even stories about the dogs that belonged to the keepers. This wealth of information compliments the many photographs of the lighthouse, both historic and contemporary. Those by Maine photographer Michael Francis Berry are particularly spectacular. A spread of historic advertising featuring the lighthouse backs up Harrison’s claim that the Portland Head Light was used to promote more products and services than any other lighthouse in the world.
While Portland Head Light makes for a delightful browse, Harrison’s nearly overwhelming attention to detail ensures that it offers the most to those with an interest in maritime history or historic preservation. It is a worthy addition to the coffee table or the bookcase.
BookWire Review
September 18, 2OO6
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