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After years of controversy the ownership of the 1820 Baker’s Island Lighthouse near Salem, Massachusetts has been transferred under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act to the Essex National Heritage Commission, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Essex National Heritage Area.
Automated in 1972, the light station was leased in 1988 by the Coast Guard to Baker’s Island Association, which is comprised of the private island homeowners, who also own the only dock on the island, which they have refused to let outsiders use. In 2005 when the lighthouse was offered up for adoption under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act both the Baker’s Island Association and the Essex National Heritage Commission applied for ownership. The government awarded ownership to the Essex National Heritage Commission. Naturally, the Baker’s Island Association protested and appealed the decision citing that the National Park Service had a conflict of interest in their decision because the Essex National Heritage Commission is partially funded by the National Park Service. They lost.
Things really heated up when the Heritage Commission and the National Park Service announced they were going to give limited tours to the lighthouse, something that the locals did not want. Over the years the island residents, who adamantly protect their island privacy, in most circumstances, have not allowed outsiders to us their wharf.
However, for the Transfer of Ownership Ceremony, which was attended by Coast Guard Rear Admiral Linda Fagan, the wharf was available to those attending the ceremony. But, that one-time gesture may have been all it was; a one-time gesture. Most are now hoping that the Transfer of Ownership can bring about some type of negotiated agreement, otherwise the Heritage Commission will have to land their people on the island via a small boat on the beach, something that is only accomplished if the weather and water conditions are favorable.
In 1798, twin lighthouses were established on Baker’s Island, which is located on the approach to Salem Harbor about five miles from the city of Salem on the mainland. Those twin lighthouses were among the first twin lights in the United States. The twin towers lasted until 1820 when they were replaced by two new light towers of different heights that were not twins. The taller tower was affectionately called “Pa” and the shorter tower was affectionately called “Ma.” Others simply referred to them as “Mr. & Mrs. Lighthouse.”
During the War of 1812, harbor pilot Joseph Perkins, who lived on Baker’s Island, viewed the USS Constitution being chased by British warships. He rowed out to “Old Ironsides” and safely piloted the vessel into the harbor and safety. Probably as a reward for his services, in 1815, keeper Perkins was appointed as the lighthouse keeper and he partook in the demolition of the first twin towers, and in 1820, the construction of the two new towers.
Tragedy struck the two lighthouse families living at Baker’s Island Lighthouse in March of 1825. A boat laden with supplies from the mainland and carrying the lighthouse keeper and the assistant lighthouse keeper to the lighthouse met with high waves and bitter cold wind. The men never reach the island alive. Head keeper Ward was washed off the boat and drowned. His body later washed up on the shore. The boat was later found with assistant keeper Marshall still on board; dead from exposure. One can only imagine the heartbreak that those two lighthouse families went through at the time. There were no death benefits to lighthouse families in those days.
Jane Martin, who grew up on the island learned lighthouse keeping from her father, Ambrose, who was a keeper at Baker’s Island Lighthouse in the 1830s. She went on to secure the position of lighthouse keeper at Marblehead Lighthouse in Marblehead, Massachusetts.
Arthur L. Payne, who arrived at Baker’s Island Lighthouse in 1918, was the last U.S. Lighthouse Service keeper to serve at the lighthouse. It was during his tenure that the shorter of the two light towers at Baker’s Island was deemed obsolete. When “Ma” was demolished in 1926, “Pa” was left as a widower lighthouse. Payne served at Baker’s Island for an amazing 25 years, retiring in 1943.
From 1943 until the lighthouse was automated in 1972 U.S. Coast Guard keepers and their families occupied the lighthouse station. The life of one of the Coast Guard families who once lived at the lighthouse was recounted in the story, “Memories of Bakers Island” that appeared in the April 2005 edition of Lighthouse Digest. If you do not have that back issue in your collection, the story can be found in the on-line archives at www.LighthouseDigest.com.
After automation the 4th order Fresnel lens that was once in the tower was removed and it is now on display at the Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, Maine. The light tower at Baker’s Island was last restored in 1996 during a $250,000 project that was funded by the Coast Guard.
As the Baker’s Island Lighthouse now enters a new era it is hoped that the island residents and the Essex National Heritage Commission can work in tandem for the benefit of the future of the historic lighthouse.
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