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Lighthouse Digest has hundreds of old newspaper clippings and articles from old magazines that we have gathered over the years to help fill in many blanks in lighthouse history. This one is from a 1948 edition of Maine Coast Fisherman, which used to publish short letters from lighthouses keepers. The keeper’s often referred to lighthouse pets in their letters and occasionally their letters were just ramblings. Both letters refer to the year 1947 and they are published in their entirety.
Lighthouse Digest has hundreds of old newspaper clippings and articles from old magazines that we have gathered over the years to help fill in many blanks in lighthouse history. This one is from a 1948 edition of Maine Coast Fisherman, which used to publish short letters from lighthouses keepers. The keeper’s often referred to lighthouse pets in their letters and occasionally their letters were just ramblings. Both letters refer to the year 1947 and they are published in their entirety.
The Fox Had an Accident
This is the first time we have written from this station,” writes Payson K. Tucker of Little River Lighthouse Station in Cutler, so I will endeavor to give you a few of the highlights.”
This light is a fourth order I.O.V. flashing white light which can be seen for thirteen (13) miles and flashes every fifteen (15) seconds, The top of the lantern above ground is 41 feet. WE have a bell for a fog signal. This runs by weights, and has to be operated by hand-winding every five hours. During the month of July, 1947, the log registered 542 hours of foggy weather. That is the record here.
A big red fox walked up to our front door this fall, no doubt searching for our two newly acquired kittens, namely Tommy” and Skipper.” Incidentally, the fox met with a shooting accident prior to interviewing the kittens, hence they are still intact.
At this writing, we have twelve inches of snow and about every day the wind blows a gale. We had a lovely Christmas and would like to say here that we hope for a very fine and Happy New Year for all readers and friends at the Coast Guard Light Stations and Light Ships.
The lobster fisherman have taken up about all their traps and we surely miss seeing them about. We have an 18 foot motor dinghy for transportation back and forth to Cutler. The Cutler folks are always friendly and willing to lend a helping hand. So long for now”
Sampson Got a Phoney
Browns Head Lighthouse - Vinalhaven, Maine
Well, we sure have had a tough December,” declared Merrill E. Poor. I have been at this light for four years, but there is more snow now than I have seen since I was a small kid.
I will now tell you how the coons got here. They were here about ten years before I came to this light and what few are on Vinalhaven Island either swam across, or in 1945 this thoroughfare was frozen over and Mr. Coon just walked over to see us. He liked it, so he thought he would stay. Don’t accuse anyone of doing wrong until you are sure of what you are saying.
Now a little bit about the big game guide, Sampson. I understand he got a phoney mirror for Christmas, so, to you who haven’t seen it, ask him to show it to you.
Well, my time in the Service is up January 25, 1948, but I guess I will be shipping over for one more hitch. Sometime in the future I am going to write a little piece about Bob Waterman of North Haven. He is known far and wide.”
Editor’s Note: We would like to locate a photograph of Payson K. Tucker. Also, other than at Little River Lighthouse, we don’t know where Payson Tucker might have been stationed. If any of our readers can help, please write to us or email us at editor@lighthousedigest.com. This is the first time we have written from this station,” writes Payson K. Tucker of Little River Lighthouse Station in Cutler, so I will endeavor to give you a few of the highlights.”
This light is a fourth order I.O.V. flashing white light which can be seen for thirteen (13) miles and flashes every fifteen (15) seconds, The top of the lantern above ground is 41 feet. WE have a bell for a fog signal. This runs by weights, and has to be operated by hand-winding every five hours. During the month of July, 1947, the log registered 542 hours of foggy weather. That is the record here.
A big red fox walked up to our front door this fall, no doubt searching for our two newly acquired kittens, namely Tommy” and Skipper.” Incidentally, the fox met with a shooting accident prior to interviewing the kittens, hence they are still intact.
At this writing, we have twelve inches of snow and about every day the wind blows a gale. We had a lovely Christmas and would like to say here that we hope for a very fine and Happy New Year for all readers and friends at the Coast Guard Light Stations and Light Ships.
The lobster fisherman have taken up about all their traps and we surely miss seeing them about. We have an 18 foot motor dinghy for transportation back and forth to Cutler. The Cutler folks are always friendly and willing to lend a helping hand. So long for now”
Sampson Got a Phoney
Browns Head Lighthouse – Vinalhaven, Maine
Well, we sure have had a tough December,” declared Merrill E. Poor. I have been at this light for four years, but there is more snow now than I have seen since I was a small kid.
I will now tell you how the coons got here. They were here about ten years before I came to this light and what few are on Vinalhaven Island either swam across, or in 1945 this thoroughfare was frozen over and Mr. Coon just walked over to see us. He liked it, so he thought he would stay. Don’t accuse anyone of doing wrong until you are sure of what you are saying.
Now a little bit about the big game guide, Sampson. I understand he got a phoney mirror for Christmas, so, to you who haven’t seen it, ask him to show it to you.
Well, my time in the Service is up January 25, 1948, but I guess I will be shipping over for one more hitch. Sometime in the future I am going to write a little piece about Bob Waterman of North Haven. He is known far and wide.”
Editor’s Note: We would like to locate a photograph of Payson K. Tucker. Also, other than at Little River Lighthouse, we don’t know where Payson Tucker might have been stationed. If any of our readers can help, please write to us or email us at editor@lighthousedigest.com.
This story appeared in the
Nov/Dec 2012 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.
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