Narraguagus
(Pond Island) Lighthouse
Milbridge, Maine
Built in 1853
Location:
On Pond Island, near the entrance to Milbridge Harbor. Private residence.
Latitude: 44° 27' 19" N
Longitude: 67° 50' 00" W
Historic Stories:
Narraguagus (Pond island) Lighthouse was built in 1853 to accommodate the shipping traffic, of predominantly lumber, from the Narraguagus River into the harbor by Milbridge.
Joseph Brown served as the first keeper and was later replaced in 1855 by Wyman Collins.
| Keepers had to walk a half-mile from shore to reach the lighthouse. |
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Elizabeth Hitchcock was a local girl who loved to visit the Gott family at the lighthouse. One day, Elizabeth was visiting one day as Keeper Gott went out fishing near the lighthouse. She happened to be looking out the window and spotted the lighthouse inspector’s boat approaching the island. Knowing the keeper was on the other side of the small island, she grabbed his uniform, and ran to where the keeper was fishing to inform him of the surprise inspection. Keeper Gott came out of the woods in his full uniform, just as the inspector landed on the island.
On August 4, 1929, when the Schooner Valdare shipwrecked on Petit Manan Bar nearby, the Keepers of Petit Manan Lighthouse found the crew and officers had all safely made it to nearby Narraguagus Lighthouse in a rowboat where they were cared for by Keeper Charles Tracey for nearly two weeks to regain their strength.
Early Narraguagus Light |
Both Keeper Tracey and the keepers at Petit Manan Light received a letter of thanks from the British Counsel after the crew had arrived safely back in Nova Scotia. |
The keeper's building has been the scene of some paranormal activity of a female foriegn ghost who is very protective of any changes made to the house.
Places to Visit:
Milbridge offers 75 miles of very rural coastline with spectacular views of the Narraguagus River and the Gulf of Maine. Milbridge's historical museum of local history provides insight to this town of shipbuilders. Take a picnic down to McClellan Park and enjoy the ocean views, or stroll along the river through Riverside Park or go fishing.
The Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge is part of the Maine Coastal Islands National Refuge Complex is less than a half-hour from Milbridge, with its nesting area serving over 300 species of birds.
| The lighthouse is a private residence and is not open to the public, but there are some boat tours that will pass by the beacon. | 
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You can visit the Cross Island National Wildlife Refuge year round as long as you can gain access to a personal boat.
The Maine Historic Preservation Commission lists twenty-eight prehistoric archaeological sites along the Addison coastline. You may have an opportunity to visit some of these sites by getting their permission.
Local Boat Tours
Boat cruises mentioned below offer many types of cruises. They pass by Narragaugus Lighthouse during lighthouse cruises, as part of charters, narrated wildlife and historic tours, ferrying passengers, fishing tours and other types of excursions.
Robertson Sea Tours
Lighthouse cruises and nature trips along the shores of downeast Maine and Schoodic Peninsula area aboard a classic downeast lobster boat. Special lighthouse cruise covers Narraguagus (Pond Island) Light, Nash Island Light, and Petit Manan Light, along with natural wonders and hauling up a lobster trap.
Contact: Captain Jamie Robertson
Home Phone: (207) 483-6110 or Cell: (207) 461-7439
Email: info@robertsonseatours.com
Books to Explore
Lighthouses and Coastal Attractions of Northern New England: This 300-page book (with over 360 images) provides human interest stories from each of the 76 lighthouses in northern New England, along with plenty of coastal attractions and tours near each beacon. Take a look inside! |
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This self-published book is available in paperback, hardcover, and as an eBook for all devices.
Enjoy a 10% discount on the hardcover version. Printed and distributed globally by IngramSpark. |
The Rise and Demise of the Largest Sailing Ships: In the early 1900s, New England shipbuilders constructed the world’s largest sailing ships amid social and political reforms. These giants of sail were built to carry massive quantities of coal and building supplies and measured longer than a football field! These true stories include competitions, accidents, battling destructive storms, acts of heroism, and their final voyages. |
